Threading chokes in chrome barrel

[yorgi]

Recently acquired a decent Beretta A303 with a fixed choked (Full) barrel. Would like to get the barrel threaded for chokes but the gunsmith I had in mind to perform the work, advertises that he does not work on chrome-lined barrels.

Question for the experts, are chrome-lined barrels impossible to thread or is it the case that specialized (and therefore more expensive) tooling is required? If the answer is the latter, can anyone suggest a gunsmith that can work on chrome barrels? What's the approximate cost to do the work? Thanks.

 

[WereWeasel]

I work for a company that does industial hard chroming (like what's in your barrel) and I can see gunsmiths avoiding it. Chrome is hard and hard on tooling; you need to get under the chrome and "peel" it off. Furthermore it's chips are granular so they coat everything in a sandy mess. Hard to work with, hard on equipment/tooling and hard on the operator.
As for you second question don't anyone that works on chrome barrels.

 

[guntech]

The chrome can be removed by a carbide reamer and then the threads tapped. That's what I did when I used to do it.

 

[yorgi]

I work for a company that does industial hard chroming (like what's in your barrel) and I can see gunsmiths avoiding it. Chrome is hard and hard on tooling; you need to get under the chrome and "peel" it off. Furthermore it's chips are granular so they coat everything in a sandy mess. Hard to work with, hard on equipment/tooling and hard on the operator.
As for you second question don't anyone that works on chrome barrels.

Thanks very much for the info, it now makes sense to me.

The chrome can be removed by a carbide reamer and then the threads tapped. That's what I did when I used to do it.

Excellent, now I know why they avoid it, extra step, extra tooling. I will make a couple of calls in the next two days to see who (if anyone...) can work on it. Gunco and Precision Arms straight off the top, Epps is the one that definitely does not.

Edited to add: Got my answer, Gunco does not, Precision Arms does. Double the cost of a regular installation plus the added cost of thin-walled chokes. Not sure if I'll pull the trigger on this job, shotgun is in very good shape but the cost probably outweighs the benefits.

 

[gunrunner8]

I am working in machine shop and did machine induction hardened and chromed hydraulic shafts by the hundreds....
Man, those chromed shafts are so hard that only the ceramic inserts would touch it and
I don't think that Precision Arms will risk their carbide reamers to ream directly in the chrome barrel.
Most likely they will hone the bore first with diamond inserts and once the chrome is gone then they will use their
carbide or even HSS reamer and tap to finish the job.
GR8's 2c worth.

 

[guntech]

I am working in machine shop and did machine induction hardened and chromed hydraulic shafts by the hundreds....
Man, those chromed shafts are so hard that only the ceramic inserts would touch it and
I don't think that Precision Arms will risk their carbide reamers to ream directly in the chrome barrel.
Most likely they will hone the bore first with diamond inserts and once the chrome is gone then they will use their
carbide or even HSS reamer and tap to finish the job.
GR8's 2c worth.

I had a custom ground carbide reamer made slightly under size of the choke tooling and went in at the muzzle removing the chrome plating for the length that the choke tooling would be within... the carbide reamer worked fine on removing the chrome through the choke area. Perhaps there is a difference in quality and thickness with hydraulic shafts and shotgun barrels... or the hardness of the steel underneath.