shilen barrel "drop in?"

[Viperdoc]

Just purchased a shilen barrel to replace the stock barrel in my Ruger 77/17, claimed to be a drop in replacement. However, it is .0025 larger in diameter than the stock barrel. Is there a trick to getting it in, or will it need to get turned by a gunsmith.

 

[ND shooter]

No trick to getting it in. You can enlarge barrel channel which is much easier and cheaper than turning barrel.This does happen. Drop ins are not always a sure thing.

 

[tome]

Take a deep well socket a little larger than the barrel diameter & open the barrel channel up...make sure the barrel free floats when the action / barrel it torqued back in the stock..and you're go to go

 

[drybean]

he may be talking about barrel to reciver fit

 

[Viperdoc]

The extension end of the Shilen barrel is 0.002 to 0.003 oversized in diameter compared to the old Ruger barrel. The barrel fits into the receiver, and is held in by a threaded block and two cap screws. The only way to fix the problem is to turn the end of the barrel in a lathe. I hope the extractors line up with the barrel when done.

It will not fit into the receiver, and is clearly not a "drop in". I've heard pretty good things about Shilen barrels, but this is disappointing. I suppose I could send it back to Shilen and have them turn it, but how long would that take? Besides, I'm not crazy about sending them my whole rifle, let alone the cost of shipping, need to have them ship it back to someone with an FFL, etc.

Sorry if I did not explain it well.

 

[tiny68]

Call Wade at Shilen tomorrow. They will issue a call tag and have it picked up. Just tell them what is going on. I didn't know they made 77/22 pre-fits, but they will make it right if they are in the wrong. Great folks that take pride in their work.

Tim

 

[drybean]

this may sound off base but put the barrel in a frezzer
&the reciver in a oven
works for me

 

[Viperdoc]

Well, the barrel and rifle are already now at the gunsmith. He said it would take around a week to get to the job. I suppose I could call Shilen and at least let them know, but again, it clearly was not a "drop in", so now the $300 dollar barrel has become a $400 dollar one, and all of this for a rimfire.

 

[rayjay]

Shilen's customer service is second to none IF they are given the chance. You didn't give them the chance. I bet that bbl will fit 99% of the 77's out there but your receiver most likely just happens to be a bit undersized or has a burr on the front edge or ???

Secondly, If you had shipped them your receiver and bbl once Shilen were done fitting them together they can ship it right back to your front door.

 

[Viperdoc]

They did contact me today and suggested: to call Midway and ask for a replacement (out of stock). The next option was as anticipated- send them the receiver and barrel. This means I have to take the time to disassemble the gun, package it all up, take it to UPS, insure it, etc, wait, and then the rifle has to be shipped to a FFL (as far as I know), since it crosses state lines. This takes time away from work, and money.

It is not a burr on the receiver- the barrel extension is oversized by 0.0025 in diameter. They did respond right away, and did offer to make it good. However, it should have fit in the first place. Overall, the cost of having it installed locally (and take only a week) probably outweighs the time and energy required to ship it back to them, which is a decision that I made. They did try to make it right.

 

[tiny68]

Certainly don't want to get in a pecking contest with anyone. But for your information, Shilen can issue a call tag, have the barrel and action picked up at your door, and then returned to your door once repaired. They have done this exact thing for me twice. Since you own the action and there is no change in ownship, shipping via FFL is not required. However, UPS requires that an FFL issue the call tags (at least my local store). Good luck with your gun. Hope it turns out to be a great barrel for you, tim

 

[Viperdoc]

Thanks for the info. To me it still would have be more of a hassle to disassemble rifle, pack it all up, get the ffl sign off, etc. than take it to the local gunsmith and say please fix this. I'm hoping the Shilen bbl ends up being better than the stock Ruger. Regardless, it's still a hobby to me, so I try not to get too worked up. If i'm seeking stress I can always go back to work! Thanks for the advice.

 

[DanCarey]

Why walk when you can ride.

 

[aimhigh]

I had a "drop in" barrel for a 10/22 that was a couple thousandths too big. It just wasn't going to go. I didn't want to go with the heat/freeze method in case I wanted to remove it later so, I just used some emery cloth on the tenon. Problem solved and I was actually happy to have a precisely fitted barrel.

The 10/22 barrel is very much like the 77. I have replaced several barrels on 10/22's and most all after market barrels fit tighter than the factory ones, which is a good thing.

BTW, if your smith is charging you $100 for fitting that barrel, he ain't you're friend.

 

[Pyscodog]

Sounds to like you have plenty of money. You would rather spend a 100 bucks as opposed to a little of your time. I sent a Cooper to Montana for repair and it went straight to them and back to me on their dime. Send me all that extra money please!

 

[Viperdoc]

It ended up costing $80.00. To return the barrel and action it would have required time to disassemble the rifle again, pack it up, pack the barrel, leave it outside or drop it off at UPS, wait, reassemble the rifle, etc. Did I also mention that the Timney trigger spring fell out the first time and it took nearly an hour to find? This was supposed to be a drop in, and I did not want to ruin it by working on it on my own. All things considered, I made the right decision for me, my skill levels, and the cost benefit ratio. You may have more time or skill than I.

 

[jonbearman]

All you had to do is find a friend with a lathe and take a flat stone (used for trigger work) and use 180 wet or dry silicone carbide paper and polish about .0005 at a time,check the fit,polish a little more .It wont hurt a darn thing.The trick is to use very even pressure using the sand paper to avoid tapering it.Then at the end I use loctite 271 around the barrel,apply a thin film on the reciever register and the barrel itself.Put it together using an aftermarket clamp as the factory one suck's. Torque clamp and wipe off the excess loctite.Now you are wondering if you should have to remove for some reason,you heat it very little with a berzomatic torch,heat it very little as loctite has a low meltin point of around 175 degree's. You dont have to melt it completely,just warm it and it will pull right out leaving a great resilient bedding job for reinstallation. I have done this many time's and built some one hole beautys. This method cost less than 1.00.

 

[Viperdoc]

Appreciate the input. Tried a friend a complete workshop, but no metal lathe. I know it's an easy job, but no lathe (or a place to put one), and no torch. So, I'm still ahead spending $80. However, my friend is thinking about buying a computerized lathe, so at some point I would like to try making and chambering a stainless barrel with his help. Now that would be a fun project.