Minting coins is one thing using a particular material, Making Rifles Barrels is another, using a differing type of material of a differing hardness.
The "Results" in rifle barrel making have spoken for themselves for years (IMO)
The art of cut rifling barrels, especially, captivates my attention. Certainly, I don’t have a single match rifle using a hammer forged barrel. I send as much business “Wisconsin-way” as I can justify, have and always will. (I say that because of commonality and to not use names). This kind of craftsmanship built the country. I have met the makers, they are the thinkers and doers that personify American know-how. I wouldn’t opt see Wisconsin barrel-making replaced if it meant a $40 barrel to me. Barrel-making is a sacred cow to us all, no doubt. That needs to be said.
In my mind’s eye, these drilling and rifling machines patiently coax such small portions of steel at a time from the barrel that it simply must yield dimensional perfection. So it seems.
Enter hand lapping. This is not just a mere detail, but an indispensable “process” using an abrasive-coated lead slug, and good old manpower, a lot of it for a long time. The fact that it has to be done in the first place says it all. The gun drill and single point cutter do not in fact produce mirror-finished, dimensional perfection. We know hand lapping easily changes steel dimensions because both ends then need to be cut back. (You can’t lap without changing the dimensions). Further, the steel now has a specific “direction” imparted by all the machining.
To my knowledge, a hammer forged barrel cannot be “improved” upon by what is essentially, sanding, and yes, a true mirror finish is possible and observable, it’s ridiculous.
I have borescoped a TRG, an FNH and others. They’re due some credit here. A .308 TRG off the shelf can shoot in the ones and two’s.
There’s one other observation to share, the annoying stress-induced ripple, spiral or wave that is visible looking down the length of some barrels, that’s pure, unwanted steel distortion. If you can see it, it’s significant to performance and value, and unattractive. At least in my own experience, no hammer forged barrel will display those ripples.
