Budget Rifle Barrel blank options for Canadians

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tjscharp

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I would appreciate any information or leads on either a Canadian made BUDGET rifle barrel blanks
or an importer of such fare from the U.S who doesn't increase the price to near match grade values.
Little background, just got a new-to-me lathe for free with some wear, and I don't want the $1200 Proof research
barrel in my safe to be the guinea pig.....

So any half decent options for about $275 CND or less would be much appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
 
I learned to thread and fit barrels using bar stock and used a take off barrel to practice chambering. Like you said making your first chips on an expensive tube can be a little too exciting.
 
Either buy some of the old barrels that show on the EE for practice blanks, or buy some bar stock.

Stainless barrels are typically 416R. Chrome Moly barrels buy some 4140 or similar chrome moly steel stock.

For threading practice purposes, as well as for that the stuff is pretty nice to have, buy some free machining mild steel. 12L14, the L is for Lead in the alloy to allow free machining, it cuts almost as nice as free cutting brass, makes it really easy to get good looking threads, it polishes and blues well, does pretty much anything you might want except weld. Soft or silver solder is fine though.

Nothing quite like a little stress to bring you clarity of mind. :)

Think your way through the process, think lots and move your hands when you are sure!

One skill worth practicing, is learning to pick up a thread when the tool tip breaks. Not such a biggie for those flush enough to be dropping $25 each for threading inserts, but I like HSS tools and can make another for about a buck, so I would rather drop the broken one out and pick the thread up again.

Add the use of either a thread mike or three wires to measure your thread size, and you will never again fear a broken tool or losing track of how much farther you have to cut.
 
Thank you all for the replies so far.
I will add some comments just to clarify what I want.
#1 I have stock for practicing threading. (Access to scrap from work)
#2. I do have a variety of take off barrels for chambering practice.
Looking to thread and chamber for .280 Ackley improved Savage action first.
So back to my original post, I really would like to source out some economy barrels not just for practice but to use.
I don’t mind if they are a true barrel blank which I have to contour, I just want to keep the cost down.
Years ago I was able to aquire a barrel blank through a night school chambering course I took. They used a company out of Montana and the blanks were only about $100 then. That was 15 years ago mind you.....
 
tjscharp said:
I don’t mind if they are a true barrel blank which I have to contour, I just want to keep the cost down.
.....
Click to expand...

if buying an economy priced barrel blank to contour, be careful not to buy a rolled blank. Rolling leaves stresses in the surface material and when you remove it, the barrel can / will warp. Some warping you can live with by putting the bend up or down

cheers mooncoon
 
Look up Green Mountain Barrels.

They have raw button rifled blanks for US$110 in 25 inch lengths.

Barry at bitsofpieces.ca in Delta BC brings them in at very reasonable prices.


You really need to know your stuff if you're going to contour a raw blank to a #2 sporting barrel.

Some of the most accurate rifle I have wear Green Mountain Barrels.
 
You will soon find out if the blank is properly stress relieved when you start contouring it...
 
guntech said:
You will soon find out if the blank is properly stress relieved when you start contouring it...
Click to expand...


Way to much truth there.

GM makes barrels for the US military as replacements. They seem to have their processing down pretty well.

Even a properly stress relieved, a barrel can be ruined when the cuts are to fast and deep. I ruined the very first barrel blank I contoured by being to aggressive.

I hope that shoulder works out for you. I had one replaced just over a year ago and it's given me half my life back. Now the other one needs to be replaced. They seem to wait until the last instant and endemic weakness from lack of use before doing the replacement.
 
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