Is there a demand for custom barrels?

wrench: I am saying that the 30 cal if you are going to make barrels has alot of possibilities but to ream out those barrels to the 308 cartridge might be a mistake. I know there are alot of 308's around but the trend for 30 cal seems to be wssm and win mags and the like. I think wyldr is saying he is going to make just barrel blanks and let the buyer decide on the caliber? There seems to be alot or at least some gun builders around that have the tooling to make guns but no barrels. It would be nice to buy a barrel blank in what ever bore size you want.
 
I'd be making barrel blanks at first. I'm not even considdering tooling to ream chambers or anything like that at the current time. Perhaps if I get off the ground and things are going well I'd invest my profit into that venture.
 
I would really like to get a lightweight 22 cal that I could make another middlestead out of. I really like the caliber but my gun is a 26 inch bbl for bench gopher patches. That caliber in a lightweight gun for yotes would be cool. 55gr v-max 4200fps. It would be cool to go to that gun in a heavier lead and faster twist barrel. I think you can get 22 al bullets around 70 grain?
 
wyldr said:
I was thinking about trying to make my own barrels then I thought why not tool up and sell them to others. Thus my question is, what is the demand for a heavy walled, reamed, honed, cut rifleing barrel not stamped or button etched.
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The best of my match barrels were button rifled and most of the barrel makers I knew, with the exception of Ed Scherer, button rifled their products.

I'm not sure if it is still the case, but at one time they all bought their blanks from Bethleham Steel. I believe the blanks came predrilled.

I'll bet if you were to e-mail Dan Lilja (lilja@riflebarrels.com) and ask he'd answer your questions on raw materials.
 
I'll bet if you were to e-mail Dan Lilja (lilja@riflebarrels.com) and ask he'd answer your questions on raw materials.
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That's a great idea, I'll e-mail him shortly to see what he has to say. Thanks.
 
with all of the comments on what caliber to make, I trust that you are aware of the Greenhill formula; 150 diameter square over length = twist rate. Usually barrels are made 1" faster than the formula.
Point is that all you have to do is ream the blank to the correct bore and set your twist rate for the proposed length of bullet intended. Relative to rifled barrel blanks, there is not a different barrel for ever cartridge --- just bores and twist rates that are optimum for specific bullets.

cheers mooncoon
 
Give rembo a pm. I believe he makes some of his own barrels! Maybe he could offer up some suggestions or some good free advice! Good luck with it Ron. It takes guts to start something like that. It would be a great way to make some $$$ even better when It's something you enjoy doing. Take care.

Dave.
 
Barrel Straightener, the old way

My vote would be 22, 6mm, 30 cal and 7mm if only four sizes

BarrelStraightener01.jpg


Pics from Remington factory I think... and the marks on the tool are from his hands!

BarrelStraightener02.jpg


Plus, since you down east, sorry, in central canada, look up Rob McLennan of Wyebridge Ontario or call and visit him, he makes barrels in your area 1-705-526-2159 and s/b good for info too.
 
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