Author Topic: Rifle Barrels (Read 3169 times)

Varg the wanderer · « **on:** July 22, 2005, 11:11:36 pm »

Because of the rifling on the inside of the barrel, I was wondering how it's made? Is it extruded (metal rammed through a die, the die twisted to form the rifling), broached, bored, or drilled and tapped?

CarLOS · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2005, 02:27:04 am »

Tapped in.

The barrel goes on a lathe and a cutter about 1cm long with rifling cuts into the barrel. Further along is another, slightly larger in diameter. This progresses with about 5 tool heads, depending on depth. A .22 might only need one pass, while a .44 could have as many as eight passes.

Rate of twist is determined by the lathe. The smaller the diameter and hence lighter the bullet, the higher the rate of twist. Typical rated are one turn in 9" for a .22 to 1 turn in 14" for a .44

Kris Fox · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2005, 02:39:50 am »

I coulden't have explained it any better Carlos.

« **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2005, 03:10:49 am »

Carlos nailed that explanation!

CarLOS · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2005, 07:16:49 am »

Thanks!

'>

I was an amateur gunsmith as a young adult.

Varg the wanderer · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2005, 03:41:36 pm »

so they just mount the tool in the tailstock, or do they just have a lath with a very, very long bed?

CarLOS · « **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2005, 04:19:46 pm »

The bed of the one I seen used was 40" and could handle a barrel of 36" (10 Ga. "goose" shotguns can be that long).