Gunsmith Lathe

[WayneShaw]

I'm basically trying a new thread.

There are many respectable lathes available to do barrel work, American or otherwise. Aside from the quality features, the headstock hole size and the width of the headstock should be major points of concern.

 

[bughole]

I would like to here more guys with the Grizzley chime in and let us know more about them. The large machine and the small machine.

 

[SRM]

Ya, a lot of machines to choose from.Many people have built precision rifles for years, you'd think the number of machines would be narrowed down. Good european machines are hard to get, asian machines-no telling who your mony is supporting. Cant be too picky I guess, and just get what you can and what works. Happy shootin SRM

 

[Clark]

Chinese lathes over the last 10 years have 80% interchangeable parts.

It is like 150 scope brands built at 3 factories.

 

[CPorter]

Love to have a Hardinge or a Monarch EE but the price is way to high. The Grizzly if it can hold .001" then maybe it's ok for occasional work and it fits into my garage. The Southbends and Clausings are apparently a medium price and the smith that built the girlfriend's rifle likes the Southbend for all his work.

 

[holstil]

My budget wouldn't allow for a nice piece of American iron so I got the Grizzly G4003G. No regrets yet. It will hold a thou easy and parts are readily available should you need any. I don't have a great deal of experience with lathe's, but I have used a couple of the big names, they are nice, but this little machine will do just fine for smithing.
Jim

 

[Sin_arms]

I can dial a barrel in to .0002" on my g4003g fairly easy. it is very rigid for size and price.

 

[p17enfeild]

for me one of the new clausing m300 they have just been up dated and are better than ever !

 

[riflecrank]

These threads always crack me up. Your expected to drop a minimum of 20 grand on a lathe so you can occasionally chamber a barrel. Get a Grizzly g4003g, It will do the job just fine.

 

[butchlambert]

So Mr. Crank, What do you use? Mr. Porter, how do you chamber on a 10EE?
Butch

 

[X Ring Accuracy]

My Grizzly 0554Z works very well. Haven't ruined one yet. FWIW I found a nice South Bend that would suit my needs, problem was,cost 3800 to ship it to me. Ugh

 

[Clark]

These threads always crack me up. Your expected to drop a minimum of 20 grand on a lathe so you can occasionally chamber a barrel. Get a Grizzly g4003g, It will do the job just fine.

They would like you to drive to work in a restored 1941 Cadillac.

They look down on anyone who would drive to their job at McDonald's in a Hyundai Accent.

My lathe makes less money than a job at McDonald's.

 

[wyoske]

Wow, you would almost think that a guy that knows wtf he's doing could do it on a lot of lathes. By the way, buy a real level while you're at it, not a 24" carpenter level.