Proof Research Question

[Dusty Stevens]

my personal hunting rifle has a 338 bartlein blank- before they started using satern and then bought that other company. I also have a new 338 and a 375 blank in the safe made from bartlein blanks. I'm a huge fan of proof barrels for sure.

 

[Jesse Gietzen]

You didnt ask any questions while doing the work? We dont have to know exactly what the steel is- as many barrels as some on here do the difference is obvious when you do get to do one. I for one am a huge fan of proof barrels. I just wish more wanted them so i could do them more often

oh man, i asked TONS of questions while i worked there. i learned a lot, too, some from answers i was given and some by finding them out on my own.

i did respond in post 12 that it is 416r.

 

[Jesse Gietzen]

Do you work for Proof, Jesse? I have been a job shop machinist for over 40yrs. I know a bit about turning. I spend a lot of time standing in front of a 20" x 72" engine lathe these days, when I'm not around the CNCs. Most here would consider that 20" x 72" a "monster". Also, I am the only one in the shop who runs the 36" x 96" Sydney when there's work for it. I can see for myself that Proof uses 416R, but it sure machines easily compared to other custom barrel blanks. And after 25+yrs of gunsmithing and fitting barrels, I've machined quite a few.

i feel compelled to reply to this again. when i initially read this, i immediately felt defensive and i think some of that may have come out in my reply. i did work there all of 2016 and 2017 and left after the first quarter of this year. after i replied, i hopped in the shower and went to bed, thinking about my reaction the whole time, and then most of today at work. my reaction makes me laugh at myself and feel a little bit silly. so i apologize if anything came back sounding like a punk typed it.

shortgrass, my favorite guy and mentor at proof is a machinist named john. super nice guy and taught me way more than he was supposed to while i was running an old okuma cnc lathe for crowns. i even wrote a short program in okuma g code for turning thread protectors before i left from scratch. as i'm not a machinist, i'm proud of my simple program. it includes input variables for different protector stock diameters and muzzle thickness. i would love to see you run your 20 and 36 inch lathes. i enjoy machining and watching/learning it.

you gunsmiths, machinists, and shooters here have openly shared many concepts that the average enthusiast has little or no idea about. i've learned a lot from you and still have a long way to go. but thank you, you've made this one of my favorite websites over the last few years. i occasionally try to share what little i have to offer (i'm in no position to lecture anybody) and appreciate your patience.