Lothar Walther M14 barrels in the US now

[tonyben]

Lothar Walther sent me a barrel to test and review.

I received the barrel yesterday. The machining is impressive and the rifling is clean inside. My gas cylinder and flash suppressor fit with good taps from my gunsmith hammer. Not too loose and not too tight. Just right!

I found it interesting that forward of the front band, it holds a GI profile.

The barrel is not stainless and is in the white. I'll need to send it off to be park'd. I've got a guy lined up for it.

It hand timed at 55˚ on a LRB rear lugged receiver. It will go in a JAE first, followed by a McMillan, followed by a Fajen heavy walnut.

There are no markings at all on the barrel and I found it interesting that there is only one wrench flat by the chamber. It does not come with an operating rod guide. I ordered one from Kreiger today. It is made from LW-19 sulphurless steel and is "in the white" and will need to be phosphated, painted or DLC'd.

I posted a quick video with a new Teslong borescope...

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Tony.

 

[Texas10]

Do you know if they are still using their patented alloy steel, made in only two foundries in the world?

 

[tonyben]

The rep told me it was a special proprietary machine gun steel made just for them.

Tony.

 

[Tom Jones]

Very nice!

 

[Ares]

Do you know if they are still using their patented alloy steel, made in only two foundries in the world?

They still use they're LW50 steel in the Stainless match barrels they produce yes.
This being LW 19 it's another grade i'm not familiar with, not they're 'standard' cro moly steel either

 

[tonyben]

They said it's close to the US equivalent of 4337 or 4340. He said the steel number was
34CrNiMo6

Tony.

 

[Beruisis]

Has been my experience the LW barrels are hard to break in. I think the steel is so hard, it takes awhile.
Almost gave up on mine but it came around.
Beruisis

 

[nicholst55]

They said it's close to the US equivalent of 4337 or 4340. He said the steel number was
34CrNiMo6

Tony.

The US Army specifies 4150 CMV steel for machine gun barrels, and some rifle barrels (M4 Carbines), FWIW.

 

[tonyben]

The US Army specifies 4150 CMV steel for machine gun barrels, and some rifle barrels (M4 Carbines), FWIW.

I’m guessing their definition of machine gun steel is European spec?

I couldn’t tell you the difference between any steels if you gave me the numbers.

Tony.

 

[nicholst55]

I couldn’t tell you the difference between any steels if you gave me the numbers.
Tony.

I read up on it years ago, but I don't remember all the details. The American Machinist's Handbook has a whole chapter on it, and I'm sure that you can find the info online. IIRC, 4150 steel is very similar in composition to 4140, but it has Vanadium added to (slightly) better resist heat erosion.

 

[shortgrass]

I read up on it years ago, but I don't remember all the details. The American Machinist's Handbook has a whole chapter on it, and I'm sure that you can find the info online. IIRC, 4150 steel is very similar in composition to 4140, but it has Vanadium added to (slightly) better resist heat erosion.

The "50" in 4150 designates more carbon than 4140. Carbon being the element that determines hardness during heat treat.

 

[FilippoMo]

steel composition:


C Si Mn P S Cr Mo Ni
0.30-0.38 0.40 Max 0.50-0.80 0.025 max 0.035 max 1.30-1.70 0.15-0.30 1.30-1.7

Filippo

 

[Beruisis]

C Si Mn P S Cr Mo Ni
0.30-0.38 0.40 Max 0.50-0.80 0.025 max 0.035 max 1.30-1.70 0.15-0.30 1.30-1.7

took the words right out of my mouth!!

 

[Zero333]

tonyben.

How do you set the headspace on m14's m1a's ???

Do they come with short chambers and you finish them ???

 

[nicholst55]

tonyben.

How do you set the headspace on m14's m1a's ???

Do they come with short chambers and you finish them ???

Yes, the barrels come short chambered. You install the barrel and use a pull-through reamer and crank to cut the chamber until the bolt will just barely close on the reamer.

 

[tonyben]

That’s right. I’ll have to shave about 0.011” off the shoulder to get it to hand time at 15 degrees. From there, it will close headspace about 0.001” for every 5 degrees, so I can either use a lathe reamer to cut headspace until it’s 0.003” over target headspace, then torque the barrel down and close it the rest of the 0.003” to target.

Or I can finish torquing the barrel onto the receiver and use a pull-through reamer and cut it until the bolt closes on the reamer.

I’ve three different chamber types to choose from.

Tony.

 

[Zero333]

Thank you for the explanation.

I have a Norinco M305 that might eventually get a different barrel.
The factory Norinco barrel shoots pretty good (in my opinion), so definitely will not be changing it anytime soon.

I don't want to mount a scope because I want it to remain rugged and take a beating if need be.

Best groups it shot are around 1.25" at 100 meters, with my handloads and the iron battle sight.
I never actually worked up loads for it. I just went with the 40.5 and 41.5 gr H-4895 with 168 gr bullet.
This one is with 41.5 and hornady 168 bthp. S&B primer and F.C. brass.

 

[GoWyo!]

First 18" Chinese gun I've seen. Did it come with the bayo-lugged flash suppressor? Nice grouping. I've got a SA bush rifle and Polytech M14S. I was thinking about Tony's LW buy, but my Polytech shoots well as is. I had an Armalite AR-10T with the Special run L-W bbl w/polygonal bore. It was one of the most accurate rifles I've ever owned.