No, I think he forgot the lube. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
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Gunsmithing Barrel thread and shoulder machining?
- Thread starter SB545
- Start date
No, I think he forgot the lube. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Get your action back then out the smith. That’s terrible work. I haven’t cut threads for 10 years and I’m sure I could do better.
I spoke with customer service and the action is now in the mail and arrives tomorrow by 7pm. After that I'll get in touch with the owner/head guy and confront the issue of the threads. While there are likely serviceable, they sure don't look professional.
That’s a disaster!
I see a few things wrong with that.
I’m a rank newbie and my work is better than that!
I see a few things wrong with that.
I’m a rank newbie and my work is better than that!
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That's good looking work.
How do you think this last set of threads were messed up? I really have no machining experience but I'm thinking I need to learn.
Could be a laundry list of things. Probably just poor setup though. Tool height, tool rigidity, work holding, etc.
This is the second thread?
1-The beginning looks smeared and wasn’t cleaned up or a botched start.
2- excessive chatter an burr’s never cleaned up on the peaks
3-see that partial thread at the end? That need to b cut back with a chamfer as that’s asking for problems in whatever it getting threaded on it it cutting you.
Looks like the half nut may not have been fully engaged on one of the passes too.
The chatter can be from a few things as previously mentioned.
I just can't comprehend how you let that leave the shop and hold a straight face.
The chatter can be from a few things as previously mentioned.
I just can't comprehend how you let that leave the shop and hold a straight face.
Indeed! You gotta wonder, with such poor attention to detail, are the threads even remotely bore concentric?
Tikka.
And yes, that's the second barrel. We had a conversation about the first set of threads so I was very surprised to see these.
How long does it take to learn to cut a good set of threads on a lath? I have access to one at work but have never used it.
Sadly, these are not the worst set of threads I've seen. The inside of the chamber and barrel look excellent though.
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Wouldn't count on it being concentric at all. I also hate the thread relief, looks like a quick plunge cut with a parting tool. Then left 90 degrees so the last thread tapers to flaky wire edge.
Have the machinist at work show you how to use the lathe, setup, threading etc. Lots of on-line resources too. Barrel work is pretty focused, and you dont need to be a school trained machinist to do it.
So many issues with thread relief
It actually does look like a parting tool cut.
One of those “the more you look at it, the worse it gets” deals.
That might be the case. Right where the action would shoulder to the barrel there is a groove on one side and flush on the opposite side.
After talking with the manager there they are going to refund the barrel after I send it back. Unfortunately he said that's how threads come out and sometimes you can't do any better with that material. I also asked him about the plunge cut where the action shoulders and he said that's a relief cut for the threads. I haven't seen anything like that on my other barrels so who knows. I'm also told they don't have anybody new working there and everything's cut on CNC. It's really unfortunate because all the good things I've read make me really want to use their barrels. So now I'm looking for another barrel maker that does custom barrel profiles, cerakote and fast twists for a tikka. Any thoughts?
Who was this barrel maker? Cause while I'm glad they are refunding you the barrel, that sure sounds like a load of bull they fed you.
Any barrel maker (top tier makers)will make you a custom contour, and there are a number of good smiths that will treat them properly.
Regarding your barrel maker. His excuse doesn't make any sense.
That is some bullshit. No, that is NOT how threads come out sometimes if you are doing it right. That is a set-up and tooling problem, not a material problem.
Agreed, I cannot see one thing they remotely says competent in this work. On a CNC you would have to try hard to get a barrel to come out like this. This is someone that has no clue.
BTW Barrel steel cuts beautifully.
Next time you are looking to have work done ask the “smith” what pitch diameter is and how they measure it.
There are two acceptable answers.
There are two acceptable answers.
Check that. I just opened the package. Seems like they forgot to cerakote the action and sent it back just as had I sent it. I've learned a valuable lesson here. My time is too valuable to trust people know what they're doing just because they've been in business for a long time and others have had good experiences with them. I feel fortunate they're standing behind their warranty. After business is concluded I'll post the mfg name as I feel it's important for others to have more info to make an informed decision. I do think the barrel would likely shoot well but the exterior details really were not what I was expecting from well regarded mfg. As pointed out here, it might even damage my suppressor to trust the muzzle threads.
Thanks again to all that helped out here. It's been a long road but hopefully I'll find a good barrel maker soon. I'll likely start a new thread to isolate the two different topics here.
What is special about the barrel you ordered? Looks like a light contour with a flared muzzle for 5/8” threads? Anything else unique about it.
Being a tikka, prefits can be done. Seek out the contours you want and order them, then send them off to someone reputable.
Consider it a gift they didn't cerakote your action.
That is correct. It's similar to the factory t3 profile with a flare at the end to get a good shoulder for suppressor with 5/8x24 threads. It's similar to the Barrett fieldcraft profile.
As for the cerakote. I'd agree but it's just one more thing they messed up on.
Based on their attention to detail with the barrel work, they would have fucked up the cerakote anyway.
That's a good point. I had held off on cerakoting it before because it was so smooth as is. The only reason I was considering it is some surface rust staining under the scope mounts and near the action screws
Careful who you pick to coat it as well. Iv got two coated tikkas. One is gummy as hell, coated by a smith I will never use again, and one is smooth as factory, done by LRI.
Next one that gets coated will likely be action only, and leave the bolt raw.
Technically 3. Personal choice of order is pitch mic, optical comparator, thread wires held to class 3 tolerances. Also prefer to hear class 3 go no go gages. If anybody says anything other than those it's a no go for me.
Optical comparator would be a bitch to measure in the machine though. Haha
As an update, the refund came through from McGowen. It was 100% of purchase price. I had thought of sending it off to someone to thread 9/16 and forget about my dream of 5/8x24. I'm glad I didn't keep that barrel. Prior to sending it back I did try to screw the action on but didn't want to force it too far. it became apparent that the threads did not match close enough to my action. I probably could have put a wrench on to torque it but I had no interest in screwing up a good action.
So, that brings me to today. I received a barrel this evening from another maker and it looks PRO. The threads are immaculate and the action spins on like butter. The only issue I've found with it is that it's marked 260WSM instead of 270. I was a bit confused by it at first but I'm going to chalk it up as a win. I'm happy as a lark that everything else looks good.
thanks for all the replies and help with these issues.
So, that brings me to today. I received a barrel this evening from another maker and it looks PRO. The threads are immaculate and the action spins on like butter. The only issue I've found with it is that it's marked 260WSM instead of 270. I was a bit confused by it at first but I'm going to chalk it up as a win. I'm happy as a lark that everything else looks good.
thanks for all the replies and help with these issues.
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I would at least verify chambering before torching one off. Yeah it could be a typo, or it could actually be a .260 WSM
I wish I was trolling you. This is just how things go for me. Caveat emptor. I'm new to custom and semi custom guns but not new to guns in general. I spoke to the Smith tonight and he verified the mistake. I also did my own measurements to confirm. He really did great work and made a typo. There was an offer to fix it but I really don't care about it. I'll likely put cerakote over it anyway. Now I just need to choose a scope and decide if I want to mod the factory stock or wait for a privateer.
So it is the correct caliber. Looks like things worked out for you. If I were you I would never go to Vegas. 
So it is the correct caliber. Looks like things worked out for you. If I were you I would never go to Vegas.
Update:
I rolled the dice again and it came up snake eyes on this carbon barrel. Choppy threads and throat not concentric. I didn't go any further on inspection.
