Barrel OD turning

[LC Tikka]

When you buy an off the shelf sporting barrel (cut rifling) at 1.250" chamber end and need it turned down to 1.125" to fit, will this affect the bore size once the material is removed.
Is it best to order a barrel from a maker at the final OD size or are gunsmiths turning barrels to size as part of a normal installation job.
LC

 

[Roeder]

When you buy an off the shelf sporting barrel (cut rifling) at 1.250" chamber end and need it turned down to 1.125" to fit, will this affect the bore size once the material is removed.
Is it best to order a barrel from a maker at the final OD size or are gunsmiths turning barrels to size as part of a normal installation job.
LC

If you are talking about a typical sporter profile with a straight section of 1.25 at the chamber end, the effect of turning down just that area is minimal because the chamber is in this area. It is part of a normal installation job to turn off some material in this area if necessary to fit the stock or if a barrel nut is to be used.

Turning the full length of a barrel, such as to make the entire barrel a smaller profile is an entirely different matter. Most gunsmiths make it a point to order the desired profile because turning barrel contours in a small engine lathe is time consuming, labor intensive, and may indeed affect the internal bore dimensions.

 

[GabbyJs]

When you buy an off the shelf sporting barrel (cut rifling) at 1.250" chamber end and need it turned down to 1.125" to fit, will this affect the bore size once the material is removed.
Is it best to order a barrel from a maker at the final OD size or are gunsmiths turning barrels to size as part of a normal installation job.
LC

 

[GabbyJs]

First thing I would consider is that a sporting barrel is turned down even smaller for the shoulder and action threads. Most of all the length dimension of outside of the barrel would be used up by the chamber diameters, which always vary by small amounts. I always wonder about threaded muzzles, and the metal removed at that point. That's the last point that the bullet is engaged with the rifling, and any "flaring" of the bore can't possibly help the accuracy. That would be a better question for our experts to discuss.

 

[hoz53]

If you are talking about a typical sporter profile with a straight section of 1.25 at the chamber end, the effect of turning down just that area is minimal because the chamber is in this area. It is part of a normal installation job to turn off some material in this area if necessary to fit the stock or if a barrel nut is to be used.

Turning the full length of a barrel, such as to make the entire barrel a smaller profile is an entirely different matter. Most gunsmiths make it a point to order the desired profile because turning barrel contours in a small engine lathe is time consuming, labor intensive, and may indeed affect the internal bore dimensions.

this all sounds correct to me. just for my and the ops info if bore dimensions change when someone turns the full length of the barrel in their manual lathe whats to keep that from happening when they are turned on a cnc at the barrel makers?

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I have turned down many breach ends to 1.125 to fit the tikka actions. Nothing wrong with it at all. You may be surprised to hear a lot of barrel makers contour the barrels after rifling anyhow.

 

[hoz53]

I have turned down many breach ends to 1.125 to fit the tikka actions. Nothing wrong with it at all. You may be surprised to hear a lot of barrel makers contour the barrels after rifling anyhow.

"contour after rifling" thats what i thought

 

[Roeder]

this all sounds correct to me. just for my and the ops info if bore dimensions change when someone turns the full length of the barrel in their manual lathe whats to keep that from happening when they are turned on a cnc at the barrel makers?

In short, nothing.There are some barrel makers that profile after rifling, but the ones with any recent success in the benchrest world lap after profiling and control the final internal dimensions while doing so. Certain cut rifled barrels are actually contoured before drilling. The effect of outside contouring varies depending on the method of rifling (button, cut, hammer forged). I'm not stating that contouring after the bore is finished will always harm a barrel, just that there may be an effect however slight.

 

[hoz53]

In short, nothing.There are some barrel makers that profile after rifling, but the ones with any recent success in the benchrest world lap after profiling and control the final internal dimensions while doing so. Certain cut rifled barrels are actually contoured before drilling. The effect of outside contouring varies depending on the method of rifling (button, cut, hammer forged). I'm not stating that contouring after the bore is finished will always harm a barrel, just that there may be an effect however slight.

ok Thanks for that info. on those barrels that are contoured before drilling, they must get the drill to come out very close to center.

 

[Stan Taylor]

I profile all the barrels I use in competition from barrel blanks I haven't had a problem with the bore an groove opening up.

 

[hoz53]

I profile all the barrels I use in competition from barrel blanks I haven't had a problem with the bore an groove opening up.

ok thanks for that info--

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I profile all the barrels I use in competition from barrel blanks I haven't had a problem with the bore an groove opening up.

What would you know about contouring barrels anyway?

 

[rwk]

Can i recontour a barrel after its done.

 

[Stan Taylor]

Can i recontour a barrel after its done.

Young man send me a pm with contact info so I can ask questions about what you have be more than glad to let you know whether or not I feel you can turn the barrel in question.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Main thing is to have a machine heavy and big enough to do it. A grizzly gunsmithing lathe nor a true south bend heavy 10 will do it- in a reasonable amount of time we should say

 

[Stan Taylor]

Main thing is to have a machine heavy and big enough to do it. A grizzly gunsmithing lathe nor a true south bend heavy 10 will do it- in a reasonable amount of time we should say

What do you know about profiling.lol

 

[Dusty Stevens]

What do you know about profiling.lol

I know i made a barrel into a tomato stake and took all day to do it one time about 20years ago. Past that i know to let you do it- thats how i roll. Oh and when i see a guy wearing a bedsheet and a vest full of road flares i profile there too.

 

[Stan Taylor]

I know i made a barrel into a tomato stake and took all day to do it one time about 20years ago. Past that i know to let you do it- thats how i roll. Oh and when i see a guy wearing a bedsheet and a vest full of road flares i profile there too.

That's good Dusty

 

[hoz53]

I know i made a barrel into a tomato stake and took all day to do it one time about 20years ago. Past that i know to let you do it- thats how i roll. Oh and when i see a guy wearing a bedsheet and a vest full of road flares i profile there too.

sure those were road flares?

 

[hoz53]

Main thing is to have a machine heavy and big enough to do it. A grizzly gunsmithing lathe nor a true south bend heavy 10 will do it- in a reasonable amount of time we should say

youre saying these two will or will not. my very limited experience i think tapering 11/4 round stock in a lathe is light duty work inless a guy is taking .125 or so a pass