I recently had someone try to change barrels on a sako sporter. The deal was to do it without marking or cutting or not at all. Using ally collets and paper to prevent marring the smith managed not mark it but there was no way that factory barrel was coming off without cutting.
I've got the rifle back - no marks but there is a tight spot in the bore that I hadn't previously noticed. Is it possible to crush the bore of a 308 sporter without marking the bluing. The tight spot is about 12-14" from the chamber. If I look very carefully along the exterior of the barrel I can see 2-3 very very faint rings but the bluing is pristine. It's still accurate.
Unless the gunsmith is a complete idiot, and there are some out there, there would be no reason to hold the barrel that far out to remove it. Your best clamping power to remove it is as close to the reciever as possible. Assuming your gunsmith is not an idiot the barrel issues were probably already there.
Posts: 460 | Location: Auburn CA. | Registered: 25 March 2007
I've seen heavy handed barrel stamps move metal into the bore. As long as the barrel didn't spin in the collet, no bluing would have been damaged. What you are talking about is crushing damage. If there are faint rings on the outside, where the collet was, that correspond to a tight area in the bore then you have to wonder. It is certainly possible to crush any kind of tube given enough pressure. Probably should have used a barrel vise with proper bushings to spread the force over a larger area.
Posts: 3872 | Location: SC,USA | Registered: 07 March 2002
Wow..I find this bizarre...I once "crushed " a Luger barrel..even with darn close fitting aluminum bushings..no real loss in this case, a new barrel was to be installed
But to crush a rifle barrel would take some serious horespower...maybe a very light weight barel? As far as stamping telegraphing into the bore...wow again! Godzilla the Gunsmith!
Posts: 2221 | Location: Tacoma, WA | Registered: 31 October 2003
