ML Barrels

tiriaq

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Sorting through my odds and ends, and found a maple halfstock blank that I had bandsawed out and roughed in a 15/16" barrel channel, years ago.
Thought, hmmm, should make up a .32 or .36 small game rifle. Offhand plinker.
Years ago, you could get straight octagon barrel blanks in all sizes, many calibers. Searched, couldn't find anything like this. I guess times change.
 
Does Track of the Wolf not have any listed? Green Mountain used to be one of the more available brands. They have been quite busy fulfilling military contracts but I believe they are back to cranking out ml bbls. I have been told .32 is a pretty frustating cal to load - especially if you have aged fingers. I would go with .36 or .40.
 
Took another look at your post. I think it will be a challenge to find a .32 to.40 bbl in 15/16". Wouldn't that make for a pretty heavy rifle? If the channel is just roughed in, could you use a 7/8" bbl? Track has Colerain in .36 and .40 x 7/8.
 
No, it has to be 15/16", the sides of the channel are cut. I was thinking of a fairly heavy small bore rifle. I've checked all the usual suppliers, any barrels that size are for deer rifles.
Maybe I'll just set the blank aside for a shotgun project.
 
Finding a 15/16 barrel in a caliber 40 or smaller and off the shelf will be a challenge, however, Colerain and I think Rice will make whatever you want if you have a bit of time to wait. That would normally be the weight of a target rifle barrel, even at 36" long. Getz and a few others will make anything you want too but will be slow and pricey by comparison. I suggest that you first check Oregon Rifle Barrels: apparently they bought out the old Sharon Rifle Barrel operation and make good barrels although I have not built a gun on their product yet. They claim to be able to make up almost anything up to about 35" length. Good hunting...
 
The Gun Works (Oregon barrel) will build you one to your exact specifications.

I have dealt with them. Good barrels, and while custom they are usually only about 90 days from order to in your hands.

Now with the buck in the tank it will cost a bit.

One of their straight barrels is now $200 (US of course) and last time I ordered from them it was 40 bucks to ship it up. Being right on the 200 bucks mark Canada Customs didn't ding it for taxes (that seems to be their cut-off) - at worst you would have GST plus your Provincial taxes on that.

Here's the link right to their straight barrel page http://www.thegunworks.com/custprod...Octagon&SubCat2ID=67&do=list&Cat1Name=Barrels

There is a couple more options (Rice barrels) - Jason would also cut you one to your specs but would be looking at $245-$265 (and customs does nail me on barrels from Rice http://www.ricebarrels.com/ - last one I got from Rice was 45 bucks to ship - he only makes them once or twice a year (runs a ton of profiles) or Charlie Burton/FCI Barrels - cost the same as Oregon but lead time is way more (one man operation - older school process) - last one from him took 14 months from order to ship http://fcibarrels.tripod.com/home.html

Charlie also runs some "less common" calibers - I got him to make me a 38 cal - uses Hornady 36 cal cap/ball balls - .375" (also does 42, 52 etc)

All are good to deal with, ship to Canada with no issues - like I said, the only present drawback is our crappy buck. Barrels from any of those three shoot better than I ever will (or most guys with a front stuffer for that matter).
 
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