Reaming for a rim fire liner

[guntech]

Just posting for information...

One reason a gunsmith needs a long bed lathe...

I set up the piloted reamer on an extension so it will reach in 14 inches... and ream the barrel from each end. Feeding about 1/4 to 3/8 inches before backing out and cleaning the chips away and oiling again. One end is guided by a center in the tail stock and held by hand, the other end is guided by the pilot and the reamer... it matters not if it wobbles around a little as the pilot keeps the reamer where it is supposed to be... I have a block of wood slightly supporting the barrel in line with the reamer when it is engaged... it is a slow process I do at about 300 rpm.

The removable pilot 5/16" reamer on an extension...

 

[gstprecision]

Thanks for sharing very useful info.

GST

 

[Heddok]

Dennis, how tight a fit is the liner? Do you locktite it in or what? If you get a chance could you post a picture of a chunk of the liner.

I've always been really interested in the idea but never knew anyone actually doing it.

 

[OkayShooter]

And because they used to make 22LR with 34" barrels.

 

[guntech]

Dennis, how tight a fit is the liner? Do you locktite it in or what? If you get a chance could you post a picture of a chunk of the liner.

I've always been really interested in the idea but never knew anyone actually doing it.

You can push the liner in by hand easily... I use Loctite but I have also used epoxy... both work well but Loctite is less messy.

On the outside the liner just looks like a piece of 5/16" round rod.

The crown - I am going to polish that a bit more...

The breech

 

[Heddok]

Thanks for the photo's. That is really slick. There's a lot of great old 22's out there that could be salvaged by this.

 

[trevj]

Thanks for the photo's. That is really slick. There's a lot of great old 22's out there that could be salvaged by this.

Yeah, the real PITA is actually getting hands on liners, in this day and age of Homeland Paranoia, and Export licensing fees State-side. It may come out to the good with the recent relaxation of the Export fees and all, or it may not.

 

[S1de8urnz]

What is the point of drilling out the rifling? It seems like thats whats going on. Please, educate me

 

[marshall]

Drill/ ream out to usually 5 /16 inch, get a liner , or make one out of old 22 barrel with good bore, slide it in with glue, epoxy, old days soft solder it in. Your old shot out 22 has new rifling in it. That is the short edition.

 

[trevj]

Back when you could easily get a liner shipped out of the states, Brownells sold a piloted 8mm drill that you could silver solder on to the end of a piece of rod to make an extended drill bit.
The 8mm drill gave just about the right amount of clearance on the liners.

I kind of regret not making a handful of them up back when I had easy access to a tool and cutter grinder equipped with a proper axial relieving set up.

 

[bearhunter]

Thanks for the photo's. That is really slick. There's a lot of great old 22's out there that could be salvaged by this.

Yes, there are, but the question is "Are they worth the time and cost?"

I believe those liners are running around $225, before taxes and shipping.

Not that long ago they could be had for under $100

Where they really shine, is when making up C7 type clones on No4 rifles or if you have an old beater No2 Rolling block, chambered in 25rf or 32rf with a shot out bore.

 

[bearhunter]

What is the point of drilling out the rifling? It seems like thats whats going on. Please, educate me

It's pitted badly or worn out is the main reason.

 

[bearhunter]

Drill/ ream out to usually 5 /16 inch, get a liner , or make one out of old 22 barrel with good bore, slide it in with glue, epoxy, old days soft solder it in. Your old shot out 22 has new rifling in it. That is the short edition.

Using an old 22 barrel with a good bore is OK, as long as you don't have to turn it down full length, to be used as a liner. I've never had the itch to try turning a 24 inch bbl down to 5/16 or even 3/8 diameter.

 

[Evanguy]

Interesting way of doing it. I put the barrel in the chuck and dial it in at the breach end. Maybe sticking out of the chuck 2 inches then go to the back of the head stock and fit a plastic plug into the head stock to keep the barrel centered. Then hold the drill in the tail stock. And do the same thing. Every rotation or ever half a rotation of the tail stock i pull it back out to clear the chips.

Either way thanks for the post. I like reading and seeing people use these machines for more interesting stuff then regular work stuff lol. Well i guess for you it is pretty regular.

 

[Evanguy]

Using an old 22 barrel with a good bore is OK, as long as you don't have to turn it down full length, to be used as a liner. I've never had the itch to try turning a 24 inch bbl down to 5/16 or even 3/8 diameter.

Ive turned old cooey barrels down to 11.2mm and then used them as a liner. A follow rest for the finishing pass. Leading upto that i do it in steps with maybe 6 inches out of the chuck at a time and use a center. If it starts to chatter in the middle its nerve racking as you hope the barrel doesnt ride up over your tool when its that thin and long.

 

[mbogo3]

I believe Ron Smith makes .22 liners.

 

[kamlooky]

I had a horribly rusted on the outside 69A bawrill I gave to a feller CGN'r.
This was his purpose.
Never did understand the concept of all this work for a rimfire.
Then again, bored minds keep pinkies creative.

 

[guntech]

I am not certain but I believe the cost of these liners from Brownell's is back down to reasonable. I heard the previous large export fee has been removed... My customer provided this liner. .. said it cost him about $75... I guess the only way to find out is to contact Brownell's.

 

[guntech]

Interesting way of doing it. I put the barrel in the chuck and dial it in at the breach end. Maybe sticking out of the chuck 2 inches then go to the back of the head stock and fit a plastic plug into the head stock to keep the barrel centered. Then hold the drill in the tail stock. And do the same thing. Every rotation or ever half a rotation of the tail stock i pull it back out to clear the chips.

Either way thanks for the post. I like reading and seeing people use these machines for more interesting stuff then regular work stuff lol. Well i guess for you it is pretty regular.

Some barrels are quite far off concentric and with weird tapers... and too difficult to chuck up square. This particular barrel has the tenon off set in the action, it's so much easier to drill 'on centers' using the pilot so to speak.

 

[tiriaq]

Here is my piloted liner drill, a liner, and a petite Winchester Model 1902 in which I installed a liner. Got the barreled action in a load of salvage, acquired the stock later.
The metal is quite rough, and the bore was horrible. The liner wasn't quite long enough. I was going to cut and crown the barrel to create a presentable muzzle, but realized that shortening the barrel in the least would create a prohibited firearm. So, I just counterbored the muzzle a bit.


Here are a couple of shots of the breech, extractor seated, and popped out. The case head is enclosed in the bolt face counterbore. No need for a rim recess in the barrel. Made this a very easy reline project.
I think it would be a good idea to limit this little guy to the use of shorts or CBs, etc. for plinking. Maybe standard load LRs, pistol match, etc. LR high velocities might not be appropriate in a little carbine intended for old short and long (not LR) ammunition. That bolt shank that holds the breech closed is pretty small.