Gunsmithing Short barrels and the lathe???

[D Miller]

Last night I got a wild hair up my ass about making a short(18-20") light weight 6.5creedmoor rifle out of my spare parts bin. I had all these grand plans in my mind but when it came time to fit the barrel in the lathe it was too short to cover the span from the 4jaw chuck to the rear spider. Crap!

In my searches I have come across methods using steady rests, cats heads and a home made jig welded to a chuck backing plate to accommodate the shorter tubes.

What is the preferred method used by the pros and garage hacks alike to work with the shorter tubes?

Thanks in advance.


Im using a Grizzly g4003 lathe on a side note.

 

[Anchor Zero Six]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

Face plate, Dog Leg and steady rest.

 

[bohem]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

The Grizzly 4 jaw chuck has enough balls to hold the barrel while chambering and threading without rear support. It's not ideal but it will work.

From my experience doing both, it's better than the steady rest method but I've built a couple of rifles that are exceptional off the steady rest method.

 

[colchester]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

Put the barrel between centers and turn the cylinder portion on the chamber end. Use the 4 jaw on the cylinder portion and indicate using your preferred method

 

[Ritten]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

If the blank is too short to fit, thread the muzzle end whatever thread your heart desires. Take a piece of round stock (4"-6") and thread the end female to match the barrel. Screw them together and indicate in the chamber end like you normally would. When ready to crown it, unscrew, cut off the threads and dress it up. All you lose off your blank is the .65" or so you threaded.

 

[D Miller]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bohem</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Grizzly 4 jaw chuck has enough balls to hold the barrel while chambering and threading without rear support. It's not ideal but it will work.

From my experience doing both, it's better than the steady rest method but I've built a couple of rifles that are exceptional off the steady rest method. </div></div>





The chuck has more than enough grip but im not able to get it dialed in to more than a few thou run out with just the chuck alone. I know "close enough" will work for a spare parts test rifle but id really like to get the thing set up with in a few ten thou.

The steady rest is driving me completely crazy trying to get the barrel dialed in. The closest I got it last night was .005 run out. Im still very new to this and banging my head against the wall trying to learn.

Ill spend some time messing with it after TPRC and get things sorted out.

 

[bohem]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

What are you using to indicate? Range rods or sticking an indicator straight into the bore?

I've abandoned range rods long ago as they're not repeatable past 0.0005-0.0007" TIR

 

[Field]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ritten</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If the blank is too short to fit, thread the muzzle end whatever thread your heart desires. Take a piece of round stock (4"-6") and thread the end female to match the barrel. Screw them together and indicate in the chamber end like you normally would. When ready to crown it, unscrew, cut off the threads and dress it up. All you lose off your blank is the .65" or so you threaded. </div></div>

This is how I do it and I also have an old barrel threaded to screw onto the chamber end so I can indicate the muzzle for crowning/threading short barrels

 

[GasLight]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

I built my rifle with an extension as stated above as well, I use a piece of tube with a 7/8" interior thread, and just thread the muzzle to match, thread on the tube and indicate like normal...

 

[kjcpoint]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

Get yourself some delrin and make a collar slightly under the diameter of your spindle. Make an aluminium collar to fit on the muzzle end of the barrel. Bore a hole in the delrin collar to fit around the aluminium collar on the barrel. Indicate bore and chamber away.

Kyle

 

[D Miller]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

Thanks for the replies.

Now that im back from TPRC in AZ its time to get rolling on this again.

I like the idea of the threaded extension as a quick and easy solution.
Ultimately I plan to use an inboard spider after some more research. If built right that will allow great flexibility for rifles barrels, pistol barrels and even truing actions. Just need to get the materials together now.

 

[bigngreen]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

I us my action truing jig, works just like through the headstock.

 

[eddief]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bigngreen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I us my action truing jig, works just like through the headstock. </div></div>

+1

 

[Bill Larson]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

use steady rest...better method all the way around.
bill larson

 

[JFComfort]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: D. Miller</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the replies.

Now that im back from TPRC in AZ its time to get rolling on this again.

I like the idea of the threaded extension as a quick and easy solution.
Ultimately I plan to use an inboard spider after some more research. If built right that will allow great flexibility for rifles barrels, pistol barrels and even truing actions. Just need to get the materials together now. </div></div>

Looking forward to this! Short barreled bolt gun projects, AR barrels and action truing! I'll head over after I break outta work this evening.

 

[Clark]

Re: Short barrels and the lathe???

Randy Ketchum is a gunsmith I really admire. He as a lathe that is twice as long and big as it needs to be. No barrels will stick out the headstock, except maybe some 20mm projects. He does barrel work in the steady rest. I have done a couple barrels in the steady rest, but it involves that extra step of getting the outside of the barrel concentric with the bore.

He did some TIG welding for me today. I blew out another forcing cone with hot handloads. I have all the TIG gear, but lack his skill.