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boring out and rerifling a barrel

5mmgunguy5mmgunguy Member Posts: 3,092 ✭✭
edited January 2008 in Ask the Experts
Do you know if you can bore out a barrel and then rerifle it? Do you know anyone who does it?

Comments

  • HandgunHTR52HandgunHTR52 Member Posts: 2,735
    edited November -1
    It would probably be cheaper just to rebarrel it.
  • HappyNanoqHappyNanoq Member Posts: 12,023
    edited November -1
    Well, I know it can be done in at least smaller calibers - like .22's

    Search for "barrel liner" at www.Brownells.com or some place like that - and see if something fit the bill.


    It's hard to say for sure, if you'll find something, as you haven't stated the caliber you want to restore.


    But yes, it certainly can - and you drill the old barrel with a special drill that centeres in the old bore, and has the diameter of the barrel liner.
  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Happy
    Re-lining, which is what you talking about, can only be done for low pressure cartridges IE rimfires

    There are IIRC 3 people in the US that rebore/re-rifle IE drill out and recut the rifling to a larger caliber.
    They have a number of considerations, 1 being that they need to go up approx 2 sizes (you can't go from a 6mm to a 6.5, but you can go from 6mm to 7mm). Another is remaining barrel/muzzle thickness.
    Cost wise it's slightly less expensive than a rebarrel.
  • 5mmgunguy5mmgunguy Member Posts: 3,092 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Tailgunner...do you mind sharing who they are? Also it would be going from a 38 to a 45...which would work. Right?
  • HappyNanoqHappyNanoq Member Posts: 12,023
    edited November -1
    Just checked with Brownells.

    Seems they have them in rimfires, yes.
    You can restore an old gun with a new barrel liner, with fresh rifling - and you can put a barrel liner in for .22LR/.22Mag - or you can convert it to a .17HMR

    BUT they also have liners for :
    .25-20 centerfire
    .32-20 centerfire
    .38-40 centerfire and
    .44-40 centerfire.


    From Brownells :
    quote:High-grade, button-rifled, chrome moly liners, with a super- smooth inside finish, restore accuracy to older guns with worn or shot-out barrels. To install: drill out existing rifling, soft (Hi- Force 44T) solder or ACRAGLASr new liner in place, then cut new chamber. NOTE: .308 should be used for .30 caliber pistol barrels only. Use 7/16 " drill for .25-20 liners, 13mm drill with .308 and .32-20 liners, and 19/32" drill with .38-40 and .44-40 liners.

    SPECS: CM steel. .25-20; .257" groove diameter. .435" (11mm) O.D., 1-14 twist, 25" (63.5cm) long. .32-20; .311" groove diameter, .505" (12cm) O.D., 1-18 twist, 25" (63.5cm) long. .38-40; .40" groove diameter, .590" (15cm) O.D., 1-25 twist, 25" (63cm) long. .44-40; .428" groove diameter, .590" (15cm) O.D., 1-25 twist, 25" (63cm) long.
  • Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,381 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It is not done as much as it used to be, largely because it is skilled labor and gunsmiths don't work as cheap as they used to.
    Read about one of the few remaining operations at:
    http://www.deltagunshop.com/Clearwater/CW_main.html

    This describes and prices typical work. I have NOT done business with them. Maybe somebody will identify others in the field.
  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    5mmgunguy,

    Yes, many barrels can be reamed and re-rifled but there are criteria for many of the manufacturers products that have to be taken into account. Not all barrels can be re-rifled due to materials or processes used to produce the original barrels. Reaming and re-rifling is in most cases less expensive than have a new, quality barrel put on your rifle unless you chose to use a low quality, bargain basement barrel.

    Your best bet is to contact one of the barrel makers that provides this service. Clearwater is one and the other that I am most familiar with is:

    Classic Barrel and Gunworks
    Dan Pedersen
    http://www.cutrifle.com/

    Dan, like all the other barrel making professionals, is very busy so expect his schedule to a little lengthy.

    E-mail me if you want more information about the process.

    As an aside, the answers to this question are in the Archives and can be accessed by using the 'Search' button at the top right hand area of the page.

    Best.
  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,124 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The businesses I checked would not work on military barrels and the cost was about what I could rebarrel for. We had a big discussion last week about the quality of some of the lower priced replacement barrels. A little more info might get you more specific advice.
  • Tailgunner1954Tailgunner1954 Member Posts: 7,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Nononsense
    Another guy is Al Siegrest @ Siegrest Machine in Prescott,MI (he might be listed as Whittemore,MI also). Al is the guy that purchased Bob Snapps equipment, after Bob retired.


    HN, those are all considered "low pressure" cartridges. IMHO soft solder or epoxy bedding compound, are not exactly something that I would want with a 65ksi (high pressure) cartridge


    5mm, How thick is that barrel? .45 + .125 + .125 (IIRC minimum muzzle thickness) is .70 at the muzzle, and more at the chamber end (where the pressures are even higher).

    edit for spilling error
  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Tailgunner1954,

    I know, Al's on my master list but I am in such a hurry these days that I didn't even write my usual lengthy dissertation on reboring. I suppose I should write an answer in Word and then just C&P it when the question comes up. Bob Snapp was always one of my favorite gunmakers. He was the consummate craftsman.

    Best.
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