Range Rod

[MGP]

I have a question when useing a range rod do you setup a live center in the tailstock to support the Range Rod? Thanks Mike

 

[gamma]

No,the range rods are hardened so they dont flex,it wouldnt be possible to dial in the barrel and have the rod at the same time in a live centre.

 

[JDJones]

The range rod fits snug into the bore when the barrel is setup in the chuck. Its used to dial the barrel in true inthe headstock by indicating off the bore rather than the OD of the barrel which maynot be 100% true to the ID of the barrel.

I know a great builder and NBRSA hall of fame shooter that doesen'tuse a range rod, his uses a dial indicator with a long needle leg, he reads the bore diameter on the grooves at the front of the barrel then measures up to where the throat will be and dials it in their, much cheaper than buying a bunch of bushings and rods.

 

[butchlambert]

Jd is right. Don't buy a range rod. I used mine for a little while and now it sits in a drawer.
Butch

 

[Rustystud]

Range Rods only work if you have the right bushings and you thoroughly clean your bore with a brush first. The way they work is to contact the tops of the lands on two seperated points about 1-1.5 inches apart. The rod then will be rigid. I would not let the rod touch anything that could affect the contact point in the bore. I have dialed in barrels both ways and using one technique then the other. I have reversed the order and see no signifficant improvement in one way over the other.

With all due respect to Butch and others that are saying range rods are not the best method is just your theory. I am not say they are the best but I will agree that they are an effective way to dial in a barrel. There are some top gunsmiths who believe in and use range rods. There are those who use deltronic pins and there are those who use indicators in the bore. All have proven to be effective in the right smiths hands.

There are smiths who think taking two inications about 4 inches apart on a range rod gives you true allignment with the bore. They disregard the muzzle being in true concentricity and co-axial aligment with the chamber end. There are those who think that the chamber,ID) and the threads,OD) and muzzle need to be true concentrically.

Over the last few years I have begun to think well made rifles shoot so well that the the human factor is the primary variable.
Reading the wind, and calling your shots and load components are the only variables in the game when the rifle is made correctly.

Nat Lambeth

 

[MGP]

Thanks guys i still have to make a spider for my lathe so thats the next step. Thanks again Mike

 

[JDJones]

Hey Nate, I'm not sure if you got in on the discussion on another board about indexing the curve of a barrel, I have always used range rods but after seeing Don Geraci dial in a couple barrels i may try without the next time. I have a step by step process with some pics saved somplace in this wasteland of a computer I have here.

I got to talking with a friend about building a 3000yd rifle and what it would take to get their, discussed spin drift and so on when I mentioned about the barrels having a curve he asked "well coulden't you index the curve to offset the spin drift?" But I'm like you I think that 99% of the time the gun will shoot way better than the guy driving it, so I feel that taking the extra time to index the barrel and all the other tiny little things is basicaly wasted due to the human factor but It makes me feel better to know that the gun is as close to perfect as I can get it, I have O.C.D. bad and to a point its a blessing but a major PITA

I'd like to build guns for a living but glad I don't, seems like it would be stressfull trying to make everybody very happy.
I'll stick to making space ship parts