Gunsmithing Lathe that can machine a 16" barrel in the headstock?

[BenY 2013]

I can't get one now but would like to be on the look out from now on. I am looking at a lathe that can hole a 16" barrel in the headstock held by a faceplate or chuck and then the outboard spider? I want to be able to thread barrels, chamber and crown barrels. I have heard that the Grizzly G0709 will do this but I don't know for certain, also not sure how the quality is on these machines. Heard both good and bad reviews from this company? Have also heard about the South Bend 10L? I appreciate the feedback!

Ben

 

[me124704]

I will measure my Southbend heavy 10 (10L) later tonight when I get home and post...

 

[Idaho CTD]

PM1340GT Gunsmith's High Precision Metal Lathe

That's the shortest one I know of.

 

[MDM]

Once you account for the 1.25" to 1.5" of barrel you are going to need sticking out past your inboard chuck/spider to work on a tenon, I don't think you are going to find one with a big enough thru hole to work on a 16" piece. The Heavy 10L spindle is about 15". Once you attach the shortest spider you can make on both ends, you still wouldn't have enough room. Just get a Viper fixture or make your own and weld it to a face plate and you can work on really short stuff.

 

[338RUM runner]

I enjoy my G0709 it's been a good Lathe for my stuff that I do. The length from the face of the jaw on my 3 jaw chuck to the spider on the back is 22", not going to work. From the spindle face to the back spider is 17" and with my Grizzly spider on front and to the back spider is 20". Hope this helps you.

 

[me124704]

The exact depth of the headstock on my South Bend Heavy 10 is 13.75 inches. Keep in mind you still need a spider on each end and enough barrel to work with.

 

[jonaddis84]

Dont make your decision based on that, I dont think you will find one anyway, but just make an extension that you can torque onto the chamber end. I do that regularly for threading short barrels, works just fine.

 

[Killswitch Engage]

Can do much shorter then 16" in this.

 

[me124704]

The SB Heavy 10 is a great lathe for barrel work (and the headstock is probably about as narrow as you will find). If you look around, you should be able to find one at a reasonable price.

 

[missed]

I just have a fixture for my old Monarch it's almost 24" from the face of the chuck through the head stock.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

 

[Bill Larson]

with a steady rest..... you can do pistol barrels in a big lathe.....

 

[sjett]

The problem you will have with a lathe you can use short barrels in the head stock will be very little and lite, just look for and good heavy 14x 30 or 36 and thread between centers and chamber in the steady rest, if the equipment is good and you do your part you will have just as good of a chamber as in the head stock


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BenY 2013]

Alright guys I really appreciate the input! Kinda disappointed that it may not be out there! I know however that I can always work around it! I have thought for a long long time about getting one of the action truing fixtures to do this kind of work. I have heard that there may be rigidity problems, although you guys wouldn't be using them if there were I figure! That is probably what I will end up doing! Are there any Grizzly lathes to stay away from? What about these Precision Machine(I think) that I have been hearing of? Thanks

Ben

 

[Killswitch Engage]

get the biggest one you can afford. rigidity is an important feature.

 

[CS223]

Dont make your decision based on that, I dont think you will find one anyway, but just make an extension that you can torque onto the chamber end. I do that regularly for threading short barrels, works just fine.

Yep, that's what I do as well.