1885 LW barrel reline.....lots of chips!

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rbertalotto
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1885 LW barrel reline.....lots of chips!

Post by rbertalotto »

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Huge snow storm here in SE Massachusetts yesterday. We got 17"
Perfect day to head t9o the shop and bore the barrel of the old 1885 low wall in 32 Colt RF that I bought to convert to 32-20 CF.
First time I used the short PTG Interchangeable pilot drill bit starting at the muzzle and going all the way through. Last three relines I did I used the Brownells long bit and went in from both ends.
Everything went peachy keen! My biggest concern was breaking off the rather small thread that the extension I made required. But there were no issues. The PTG drill cut like a hot knife through butter. I had to turn a new pilot and then sand the inside of the old bore to get the pilot to fit all the way down the barrel without chattering. The pilot I ordered with the bit was way too lose. And the one I made would hang up on a couple places in the "sewer pipe" bore.
Another concern was getting enough cutting oil on the bit when inserting it so far into the hole. I set the bit up in the lathe so a flute was pointing up. Hoping this "reservoir" would carry enough oil. I also used a squirt can to shoot some oil into the bore. Maybe I'm using too much oil and all I needed to do was use a paintbrush and paint some oil in the cutting edges.....Comments please...

Sure wish I had a oil flow system on the lathe. But I'd need to be doing ab heck of a lot of these to make it wort it.

I couldn't get the barrel off this receiver and being a Low Wall I was VERY concerned about damaging the receiver even though I have a proper action wrench. Worked out fine leaving the receiver on the barrel.

Took 5 hours to bore the barrel. 75RPM and taking an 1/8" at a time.

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Now I need to do the Hepburn and order the reamer....

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Roy B
Dartmouth, MA
www.rvbprecision.com
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GunnyMack
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Re: 1885 LW barrel reline.....lots of chips!

Post by GunnyMack »

Boy how I miss the smell of cutting oil!
Looks like you did a fantastic job!
When I was at TSJC going through the 'gumsmiff' program they had some of PO Ackley's had made deep drills but the machine was long gone.
I miss those days!
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Chuck 100 yd
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Re: 1885 LW barrel reline.....lots of chips!

Post by Chuck 100 yd »

Cool.
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Griff
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Re: 1885 LW barrel reline.....lots of chips!

Post by Griff »

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JerryB
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Re: 1885 LW barrel reline.....lots of chips!

Post by JerryB »

I would say that any time you end up with a 32wcf for a shooter you have done real good.
JerryB II Corinthians 3:17, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

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rbertalotto
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Re: 1885 LW barrel reline.....lots of chips!

Post by rbertalotto »

These two will be my first and second 32WCF...Looking forward to playing with that pint sized cartridge!

If you are interested, lots more of my garage nonsense on my web site http://www.rvbprecision.com
Roy B
Dartmouth, MA
www.rvbprecision.com
Mike Armstrong
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Re: 1885 LW barrel reline.....lots of chips!

Post by Mike Armstrong »

Interesting and informative post. I've been thinking that relining, which used to be the standard way to revive a low-pressure or very small cartidge chambered gun that had a bad bore, was a lost art! In the past I've had several 'smiths bring back Low-walls, small Martini's, a '92, and a Savage Model 219 "from graveside" by a reline.

The smiths I used have all retired, tho. Anybody have a current favorite gunsmith who will do a reline for a reasonable price (say under $500)? He'll need to have a .25-20WCF reamer, too--not all that common anymore.
rbertalotto
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Re: 1885 LW barrel reline.....lots of chips!

Post by rbertalotto »

The best in the business is John Taylor,Puyallup, WA

A fantastic gunsmith and the dean of barrel lining.
Roy B
Dartmouth, MA
www.rvbprecision.com
Mike Armstrong
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Re: 1885 LW barrel reline.....lots of chips!

Post by Mike Armstrong »

Thanks, I'll look him up! I even get up to WA now and again to aggravate my older (about a century!) brother who lives on Bainbridge Island and shoots near Poulsbo every week.
jringo8769
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Re: 1885 LW barrel reline.....lots of chips!

Post by jringo8769 »

excellent work.....love to see another one back on the way back....love it
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