Question about barrel blanks & custom rifle builds

[fire-4-effect]

Guys,

I am working on building another rifle and have some questions about the barrel blanks I have seen for sale here on the hide:

1. I assume they can be finished to any length shorter than they are sold in? What is the minimum unfinished length I would need for a finished 26" barrel?

2. The barrels are reamed for the proper cartridge by the rifle builder himself yes? (GAP, LAP, etc...)

3. As I understand it the rifle that the barrel will be used on is irrelevant as the threading at the breach end to fit into the receiver is also done by the rifle builder? In other words it could be a Remington or a Winchester right?

I ask these questions to make sure I am not making a bad assumption here... I am going to try and buy a barrel blank and then send that along with the Manners stock and action to my rifle builder to eliminate wait times. Have others done this? Any issues with this approach?

Thanks

Phil

 

[ogonzalez13]

Re: Question about barrel blanks & custom rifle builds

All of your assumptions are correct.

I think that you need at least a 29" blank to finish at 26" or less but I am not 100% on that.

 

[fire-4-effect]

Re: Question about barrel blanks & custom rifle builds

Thanks! On the lookout for a 284 barrel blank now.

Phil

 

[KLin]

Re: Question about barrel blanks & custom rifle builds

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fire-4-effect</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Guys,

I am working on building another rifle and have some questions about the barrel blanks I have seen for sale here on the hide:

1. I assume they can be finished to any length shorter than they are sold in? What is the minimum unfinished length I would need for a finished 26" barrel?

2. The barrels are reamed for the proper cartridge by the rifle builder himself yes? (GAP, LAP, etc...)

3. As I understand it the rifle that the barrel will be used on is irrelevant as the threading at the breach end to fit into the receiver is also done by the rifle builder? In other words it could be a Remington or a Winchester right?

I ask these questions to make sure I am not making a bad assumption here... I am going to try and buy a barrel blank and then send that along with the Manners stock and action to my rifle builder to eliminate wait times. Have others done this? Any issues with this approach?

Thanks

Phil</div></div>

Hi Phil,

1. a 27" blank is required for a 26" finished length measured from breech end to crown(unless a different cut off length is suggested by the barrel mfg).

2. Yes

3. Yes

If you have any other questions feel free to give us a call!

 

[PCR]

Re: Question about barrel blanks & custom rifle builds

Like Ken said above, you need to cut off at least 1" of the muzzle, or more if recommended by the manufacturer. And if it's a pre contoured blank, you may also need to cut the breech end to match the inlet of your stock in the cylinder area.

So a pre contoured blank may very well need more than an inch removed.

 

[fire-4-effect]

Re: Question about barrel blanks & custom rifle builds

Ken & Bradley,

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the guidance, esperically from pros like you guys! Ken, I believe you were the one I spoke to when I ordered my first rifle from GAP over a year ago... I have the rifle now and it is awesome! Now I have my feelers out for the 284 barrel with an M40 contour or similar...

Phil

 

[Gman021]

Re: Question about barrel blanks & custom rifle builds

Why is it that at least one inch would need to be cut off? That seems like a lot of metal to cut off.

 

[PCR]

Re: Question about barrel blanks & custom rifle builds

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Gman021</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why is it that at least one inch would need to be cut off? That seems like a lot of metal to cut off. </div></div>

It can be damaged or oversize due to the back and forth movement of the lap used by the manufacturer.

 

[fire-4-effect]

Re: Question about barrel blanks & custom rifle builds

PCR - PM Sent to you...