Barrel turning

[butchlambert]

Wait. My perception is there a 'ton' [well, a lot] of top gunsmiths who buy blanks from barrel manufacturers and profile them to customers' needs.

I don't think so.

 

[butchlambert]

What specific tooling?

Honestly, I have no idea what you are talking about.

Sir, that was the reason for Jackie's post.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Sir, that was the reason for Jackie's post.

You lost me.

This whole thread lost me.

 

[Liven The Dream]

In with my Horse Shoe .
Year back had a HV SS Target Barrel pulled from a Winchester Pre War Action .
A long gone Barrel Fitter took it to Barrel Makers Shop . He put it in a Profiling Lathe.
Turn to #3 26” Barrel , installed on a 98 Mauser Action . chambered in 300 Win Mag.
It shot Dots…..

We took a chance !

 

[Ray123]

Sounds like a no to me ...first the guy with a lathe has to have a $2300 manufacturers license to work on some else's gun...unless the gun owner dissassembles it and reassembles it himself with all his gun parts, at home ....so the guy with a lathe is just turning ,"a metal tube", that a friend dropped by.
The profile to length "now" is prett good...So depending on caliber, maybe 28" and .850" ...no to the .625" at 28" ...So, order the profile you want but those skinny profiles usually stop a 26"...and caliber restrictions too, for skinny barrels.
Or, ya could put some heavy fluting on the barrel to reduce some weight and cut it to 25" or 26" and have a similar weight barrel... but buying a new profiled barrel is most likely the best choice.

 

[skeeljc]

I had a .22 caliber Krieger Heavy Palma re-contoured to a Heavy target once. The smith that chambered it (.223) sent it to a friend with a CNC lathe to get it done. It shot very well.

 

[L.Sherm]

You're not saying custom barrel makers contour before rifling are you?

I would like to see that done on a button barrel.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Sounds like a no to me ...first the guy with a lathe has to have a $2300 manufacturers license to work on some else's gun...unless the gun owner dissassembles it and reassembles it himself with all his gun parts, at home ....so the guy with a lathe is just turning ,"a metal tube", that a friend dropped by.
The profile to length "now" is prett good...So depending on caliber, maybe 28" and .850" ...no to the .625" at 28" ...So, order the profile you want but those skinny profiles usually stop a 26"...and caliber restrictions too, for skinny barrels.
Or, ya could put some heavy fluting on the barrel to reduce some weight and cut it to 25" or 26" and have a similar weight barrel... but buying a new profiled barrel is most likely the best choice.

Where did you get the info that every gunsmith needs a mfrs license to work on somebodys gun?

 

[Ray123]

Where did you get the info that every gunsmith needs a mfrs license to work on somebodys gun?

Obama era new regulations...requires a manufacturers license...for certain activities performed on firearms. Got to ATF, tell them the activities you intend to preform on firearms,...exactly...and they will tell you if you are required to have the expensive manufacturers license. Gunsmithing operations like GA Precision were complaining they had to have a manufacturers license because they put together components, barrels and actions for customers, chamber, bed actions, and charging money to do so...accurate records are required.
Try to read the regulations filing a sight base requires such s license if it's on someone else's firearm and "especially if you charge a fee"...
Check their confusing regulations on installation of a drop in trigger...if the drop trigger is installed for resale you must have a $2300 manufacturers license... example I have 5 AR 15s new for sale but installed a 3 lb drop in trigger in my shop must have a manufacturers license...even though I did no manufacturing. But I "MAY" not need the license if I install the same aftermarket trigger in an already purchased rifle for a friend ...If I don't charge him...
Maybe ...depending on who is observing and who is interpeting the rules...and who ya voted for.
So I do not do any gunsmithing work at all for others...even retapping an existing thread. The owner has to do that themselves with no money exchanged...you can instruct them, but their hands must be doing the work...and no money...Did I say no money exchanged hands?
Not every gunsmith needs a manufacturer license IF you only do zero alterations to a firearm, like installing scopes with existing tapped holes supplied by the orginal manufacturer.
Read the ATF rules...I would NOT do any real gunsmithing without a manufacturers license...plus keep all records of firearms, of the service preformed , owner compete information, how much you charged.
Have any questions submit them to the ATF...for real...they determine if "your gunsmithing" activities require a manufacturers license.
.

 

[jamesdmock]

You're not saying custom barrel makers contour before rifling are you?

Krieger contours before drilling.

 

[Walt Krafft]

A class 7 Manufacturers license is actually cheaper than a class 1 Firearms license. I just renewed mine. Where are you coming up with $2300?

 

[L.Sherm]

Krieger contours before drilling.

Different ball game between a cut and button barrel

 

[VA_XTC_Shooter]

That was the old price with Department of State covered manufacturers because they said it fell under ITAR. That is no longer the case.

 

[skeeljc]

Krieger contours before drilling.

So how do they hold the blank to cut the contour?

 

[Topstrap]

My Son got a great deal on a 1 1/4" 6.5 barrel. Thought it'd be easy to turn it down on my Heavy 10, we finally got it done with the slight taper he wanted but NEVER AGAIN. Shoots great but inexperience and not having a follow rest made for some tense times.

Buy it the way you want it.

Topstrap

 

[urbanrifleman]

Obama era new regulations...requires a manufacturers license...for certain activities performed on firearms. Got to ATF, tell them the activities you intend to preform on firearms,...exactly...and they will tell you if you are required to have the expensive manufacturers license. Gunsmithing operations like GA Precision were complaining they had to have a manufacturers license because they put together components, barrels and actions for customers, chamber, bed actions, and charging money to do so...accurate records are required.
Try to read the regulations filing a sight base requires such s license if it's on someone else's firearm and "especially if you charge a fee"...
Check their confusing regulations on installation of a drop in trigger...if the drop trigger is installed for resale you must have a $2300 manufacturers license... example I have 5 AR 15s new for sale but installed a 3 lb drop in trigger in my shop must have a manufacturers license...even though I did no manufacturing. But I "MAY" not need the license if I install the same aftermarket trigger in an already purchased rifle for a friend ...If I don't charge him...
Maybe ...depending on who is observing and who is interpeting the rules...and who ya voted for.
So I do not do any gunsmithing work at all for others...even retapping an existing thread. The owner has to do that themselves with no money exchanged...you can instruct them, but their hands must be doing the work...and no money...Did I say no money exchanged hands?
Not every gunsmith needs a manufacturer license IF you only do zero alterations to a firearm, like installing scopes with existing tapped holes supplied by the orginal manufacturer.
Read the ATF rules...I would NOT do any real gunsmithing without a manufacturers license...plus keep all records of firearms, of the service preformed , owner compete information, how much you charged.
Have any questions submit them to the ATF...for real...they determine if "your gunsmithing" activities require a manufacturers license.
.

This is incorrect.

Only applies if you are selling firearms that you manufactured. Usually includes serialized receivers that are being produced to be assembled into rifles. Not always, but usually. If you are assembling rifles out of parts to sell them, that is no longer "gunsmithing".

Gunsmithing is not manufacturing. Not even close.

Not saying the ATF couldn't decide tomorrow to make all gunsmiths pay $100k a year fee to install barrels. Because they could.

 

[boltfluter]

A class 7 Manufacturers license is actually cheaper than a class 1 Firearms license. I just renewed mine. Where are you coming up with $2300?

Walt,
I agree on pricing. Only problem with class 7 license is you will see the ATF every 5 years, by law, as you are considered to be a manufacturer. No thanks!! I will pay the extra for a class 1 any day. No visits is the correct number in my book.

 

[Acyr]

Krieger contours before drilling.

Drilling a blank always leaves some TIR. (Total indicated runout) If they contour before drilling it greatly increases the chance of an off center bore at one end. I am surprised that they would do it this way? Cut rifling a drilled, reamed and honed to size contoured blank is not a problem.

 

[std7mag]

If i'm reading the OP correctly, the receiver threads are already cut?
And your NOT shortening it, so the muzzle crown has already been done.

So your looking at least a tail stock with a brass "button" (for lack of a better term).

I would be thinking the only way I would have it done would be on a CNC with coolant.
Bear in mind, i would take small cuts.

Set up properly, i don't see where it will affect the internal dimensions of the bore.

Your customer would be best reccomended to start from scratch on his load development if they have gotten that far with the barrel.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Drilling a blank always leaves some TIR. (Total indicated runout) If they contour before drilling it greatly increases the chance of an off center bore at one end. I am surprised that they would do it this way? Cut rifling a drilled, reamed and honed to size contoured blank is not a problem.

I don't believe for a minute that Krieger is doing final contour before they drill and rifle their barrels. I'm sorry I just don't believe it.