The Gun Drilling Handbook
Over the past year or so, I've built a 'Bill Webb' rifling machine - with some modifications / improvements of my own.A 'universal machine', it will gun drill, ream and rifle a barrel. So far, I've drilled, reamed and rifled 3 barrels, none of which are as good as I can buy commercially, but each one gets a little better after playing with speeds, feeds, oil pressure etc.Just wondering if there's any others here that have followed a similar path and might be interested in sharing their experiences, comparing notes etc. The best source of drilling feed/speed/pressure can be found in 'THE GUNDRILLING HANDBOOK' by L.C Ketter.This little book is the best information source that I have ever found.A good starting point for reamer speed/feed/pressure can be found here.I don't use 'homebrew' equipment but the basics remain the same. BTW.I have watched 'homebrew.357' over the years and I admire him.Thanks for your reply;Yes, I've ordered the 'Gun drilling Handbook', I had seen it before but had resisted spending the $ on it. Now that I've 'butchered' more than the cost of the book in materials cost.The Gun Drilling is what I'm having the most trouble with. Reaming seems to go OK, though the gun drill is chattering / vibrating enough that the initial hole vibrates oversize to the point that the reamer doesn't clean up everything.Are you single point cutting or pulling a button?I'm single point cutting and finding it quite labour intensive (now, I see the attraction to button rifling!).
One more take-off of the 'Bill Webb' rifling machine plans - with a few improvements (I think).I started this a year or so ago - was more work (and expense) than I ever thought it would be. Retired about 4 years ago - find I need 'something to do', a 'project' to occupy my mind and I like learning something new too.A 'universal' type machine, it will gun drill, ream and rifle a barrel. Barrel making has a fairly steep learning curve to it and I'm still learning.
Gun Drilling On A Lathe
The Gun Drilling Handbook Texas
I started out with enough 1.25' 4140 HTSR round bar to make 8 barrels. So far, I've used up 7 of those pieces of bar stock. One was dedicated to an alignment bar for the chip box, 2 were total disasters with the rifling head jammed in the bore and having to be hammered out. The next 3, I managed to get rifling in but it looked kind of rough. Each one I do though, I learn something, either about gun drilling (speeds and feeds and oil pressure) and the rifling cutter and sharpening it.
Gun Drills Uk
Each barrel gets a bit better, though still not as good as I could buy. Gave one of my first rough ones to a friend who mounted it on a Martini action and shoots it with Black Powder - says it actually shoots pretty well - I think it will probably be prone to leading though.I'm determined to keep going though, until I can produce a 'match quality' barrel.
'I'm determined to keep going though, until I can produce a 'match quality' barrel'In the 90's, I was producing 'match grade'.224' barrels of various twists.I prototyped barrels for two years before I even put one up for sale. Air gauges, heat treating/stress relieving equipment, lapping systems, optics to inspect the interior of barrels.the list is endless and expensive. Also, your tooling will be suitable for a specific lot of steel.and will not product accurate results with the next.Enjoy.