gunsmith lathe

[liseo]

I am thinking of buying a lathe to work on my own bolt rifles.
The work to be done is to install new barrel, making the chamber, redo the crown and eventually work in action.
The Grizzly model G4003 have enough quality for this kind of service?

Will be used as hobby work, not professional, but with hight quality. After all, will be used in my competition rifles...

 

[cncmill]

I purchased a Shop Fox M1112 Gunsmithing lathe. It is identical to the Grizzly G4003. It is made by the same manufacturer. It was also a little cheaper than the Grizzly. I used it to chamber my first benchrest gun and I am getting ready to do a second. I don't know your skill level but I am an experienced Tool & Die Maker. I am sure I did alot of things to check the lathe out before chambering that the average person would not think of. So far I have had no problems. As a lot of others will tell you, old Amercan lathes are better for rigidity but I was able to haul this one in my truck and unload it with a engine hoist. Don't quote me on this but I think the Shop Fox has a 2 year warranty and the Grizzy only has a 1 year.

http://www.woodstockint.com/SHOP-FOX-Gunsmith-Lathe-with-Stand/M1112/


Erick Crouthamel

 

[itchyTF]

How does Jet compare with Shop Fox and Grizzly?

 

[jscandale]

How does Jet compare with Shop Fox and Grizzly?

They get many of the same lathes from the same manufacturer in China and give them a different paint job. I have 2 Grizzly G0554 lathes and all of the parts are interchangable with the Jet GH-1440W.
http://jettools.com/us/manufacturing/en/product.html?node=4642&product=361822

I have had one of the lathes for about 9 years and am impressed by its accuracy and ability to hold a close tolerance. I have been back to grizzly with a friend recently who was in the market for a lathe and we were both very dissappointed at the quality of the lathes in the $5K range. He ended up finding a South Bend 10" in great shape for a steal.

JS