Gunsmithing Odd response from McGowen

[Beepy]

So, I am shopping for a new 308win barrel for a savage pre-fit. There is a new McGowen outlet that has opened up with free shipping. They offer the right caliber, but I would like the barrel chopped to 21-22". I emailed and asked if they offer the service of chopping (and threading). The response I got was slightly puzzleing...:

Reply:
We will be set up in a few weeks to cut the threads for a suppressor.

We do not recommend cutting any of our barrels to a shorter length. Once the center line has been established, it has to stay. Shortening the barrel could permanently damage it.

Thanks,

Dennis

McGowen Outlet


Since when can shortening a barrel "permanently damage it"? The ONLY time I have her of this was when I was working with FAL's a long time ago and some surplus barrels had bores that were "banana" shaped, as in not straight down the axis of the barrel. (suprizingly some of these barrels shot pretty well....)

Anybody ever hear of this?

 

[lw8]

Some companies advise against removing more than a couple of inches as runout can be a problem leaving you with a bore that's off center.

 

[671RTO9513]

Sounds to me like they know they can't drill a very straight hole.....

 

[bohem]

Sounds to me like they know they can't drill a very straight hole.....

Nothing unusual there, get a piece of uncountoured blank from just about any manufacturer and they will be out. Barrels are contoured between centers so they're "close" at either end with no guarantee of what's in the middle. Hence the lengthy discussion threads on here about gunsmiths that "time" the barrel to TDC at the crown when installing it on a receiver.

It sounds to me that McGowen's outlet is turning the muzzles and indicating only by the work holding on the OD, not indicating on the ID of the muzzle.

 

[WhiteHorze]

He's talking about damaging the can, not the barrel...

 

[RonA]

Nothing unusual there, get a piece of uncountoured blank from just about any manufacturer and they will be out. Barrels are contoured between centers so they're "close" at either end with no guarantee of what's in the middle. Hence the lengthy discussion threads on here about gunsmiths that "time" the barrel to TDC at the crown when installing it on a receiver.

It sounds to me that McGowen's outlet is turning the muzzles and indicating only by the work holding on the OD, not indicating on the ID of the muzzle.

I had a .338 1-6.5 tw Pac-nor like this a while back. I cut 5" off the end and had to re-cut the od before I could hold it for threading. Shoots fine with or without the suppressor.
RonA