Lothar Walther Barrel Question

Barrels can be purchased either short-chambered or long-chambered.

Short-chambered barrels are screwed on, but then have too little headspace (too short ) so the gunsmith uses a reamer to give the barrel the proper headspace.

Long-chambered barrels will have too much headspace, so they essentially are measured then the shoulder cut back to achieve the proper headspace.

If you buy a barrel and it screws on and the headspace comes out perfectly, my advice is to immediately sell the gun and buy lottery tickets with the money.

Posts: 7794 | Location: Between 2 rivers, Middle USA | Registered: 19 August 2000

Ignored post by Mark posted 06 May 2003 18:18

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posted 06 May 2003 19:18

Lothar walther barrels are long-chambered (at least mine was), which means you need a lathe to set the shoulder back and face off the breech, until headspace is correct. A short chambered barrel can be headspaced with a hand powered reamer / T-handle.

Todd

Posts: 1248 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: 14 April 2001

Ignored post by TGetzen posted 06 May 2003 19:18

vip

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posted 07 May 2003 03:20

It has also been my experience with Lothar Walther that they will only long chamber their barrels for the simple fact that if you use a slightly dimensionally smaller reamer(still in saami specs) to set headspace on a short chambered barrel the reamer may not clean up the chamber. You might want to have a gunsmith or someone knowledgable help you out the first time. VIP

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Ignored post by vip posted 07 May 2003 03:20

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posted 07 May 2003 04:28

Thanks guys I don't know why they don't just say long chambered or short chambered...

I may go visit them someday they aren't too far away.

Mike

Posts: 324 | Location: GA, USA | Registered: 20 April 2002

Ignored post by ready_on_the_right posted 07 May 2003 04:28

P-17

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posted 07 May 2003 07:31

I've heard a few references made about these apparently extraordinary barrels. Who in North America sells them?

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Ignored post by P-17 posted 07 May 2003 07:31

TC1

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posted 07 May 2003 09:38

quote:
Originally posted by P-17:
I've heard a few references made about these apparently extraordinary barrels. Who in North America sells them?

L-W Barrels click here click on the USA flag and go to the bottom of the page. They are located in GA. I just ordred a 9.3X62 yheaded and chambered for a M98, $159 + shipping

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Ignored post by TC1 posted 07 May 2003 09:38

D Humbarger

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posted 07 May 2003 13:34

You will not regret buying a Lothar Walther barrel. I've been using them exclusively for the past year or so with great success.

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Ignored post by D Humbarger posted 07 May 2003 13:34

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posted 07 May 2003 13:50

They are in Cumming, GA which is a little North of Atlanta.

I have heard nothing but good things about them and was hoping to get one in .458WM for my next Mauser project later this year.

Mike

Posts: 324 | Location: GA, USA | Registered: 20 April 2002

Ignored post by ready_on_the_right posted 07 May 2003 13:50

z1r

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posted 08 May 2003 10:08

One concern I have about the long chambered barrels is that it seems conceivable that you could end up in a situation where once youï¿½ve adjusted headspace the secondary torque shoulder might not be touching. It seems that they probably have accounted for this and that I am just unfamiliar with the way the threading and chambering is provided. But it is at least theoretically possible.

When you factor in the cost of a reamer these seem like incredible bargains.

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Ignored post by z1r posted 08 May 2003 10:08

<JBelk>

posted 08 May 2003 13:40

I was just thinking about how DUMB a company would have to be to sell a barrel with excess headspace already in the chamber. That would be truly stupid, from a legal liability point of view.

I use and dearly love Lothar Walthar barrels. I REALLY enjoy working with them.

<Celt>

posted 08 May 2003 14:50

I too use Walther barrels. I love em. Woody at Walther USA is great to work with.
They have been very accurate and very long lasting for me.

Celt

one of us

posted 08 May 2003 15:40

Celt

You are part of that "hearing nothing but good things about them" I mentioned above!! [Big Grin]

Mike

Posts: 324 | Location: GA, USA | Registered: 20 April 2002

Ignored post by ready_on_the_right posted 08 May 2003 15:40

Atkinson

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posted 08 May 2003 17:15

I use nothing but Walther barrels, I probably will never use any other barrel...

Woody will chamber a barrel close enough that it will only take about a thousands to complete it, it is a legal, technical, issue as they don't do gunsmithing...you can finish it with your wife fingernail file or a brillo pad. [Wink]

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Ignored post by Atkinson posted 08 May 2003 17:15

Fred Bouwman

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posted 09 May 2003 03:15

Jack, I'm confused by this thread. My assumption is that after I get my receiver and bolt back, I will have to rent a 9.3x62 reamer to ream out the chamber of my LW barrel, correct? Thanks. -Fred

quote:
Originally posted by JBelk:
I was just thinking about how DUMB a company would have to be to sell a barrel with excess headspace already in the chamber. That would be truly stupid, from a legal liability point of view.

I use and dearly love Lothar Walthar barrels. I REALLY enjoy working with them.

Posts: 207 | Location: Nicolet National Forest, WI, USA | Registered: 21 January 2002

Ignored post by Fred Bouwman posted 09 May 2003 03:15

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posted 09 May 2003 10:37

Fred,

You will probably have to use a lathe to adjust the shoulder and breech face, and a go gauge to measure headspace. From everything I have heard, LW barrels are chambered slightly long (deep).

I agree it is a little surprising that they do that; someone who didn't know better or didn't care could screw that barrel on and be able to chamber a round, with perhaps .020 or .030 excess headspace. With a short chambered barrel, unless your receiver has some serious problems of it's own, you wouldn't be able to chamber a round.

Todd

Posts: 1248 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: 14 April 2001

Ignored post by TGetzen posted 09 May 2003 10:37

D Humbarger

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posted 09 May 2003 13:51

You can get them chambered & threaded or as a contoured blank.

Ignored post by D Humbarger posted 09 May 2003 13:51

Fred Bouwman

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posted 10 May 2003 07:51

Todd, do other barrel makers do this, or are they short chambered? A pain for me, intended to do all that part of the work myself, if it needs a lathe I have to send it out. Thanks. -Fred

quote:
Originally posted by Todd Getzen:
Fred,

You will probably have to use a lathe to adjust the shoulder and breech face, and a go gauge to measure headspace. From everything I have heard, LW barrels are chambered slightly long (deep).

I agree it is a little surprising that they do that; someone who didn't know better or didn't care could screw that barrel on and be able to chamber a round, with perhaps .020 or .030 excess headspace. With a short chambered barrel, unless your receiver has some serious problems of it's own, you wouldn't be able to chamber a round.

Todd

Posts: 207 | Location: Nicolet National Forest, WI, USA | Registered: 21 January 2002

Ignored post by Fred Bouwman posted 10 May 2003 07:51

Dan@Montana Rifle Co

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posted 10 May 2003 09:20

The Montana Rifleman will deep chamber barrels, but only for gunsmiths, not individuals as inevitably someone will think they can screw the barrel on and their ready. And if they know exactly what firearm it is going on they can get it very close for you.

Posts: 404 | Registered: 01 May 2003

Ignored post by Dan@Montana Rifle Co posted 10 May 2003 09:20

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posted 11 May 2003 04:05

Fred,

Midway and Brownells are two places that I know carry short-chambered barrels, for Mauser 98 actions -- neither sells a 9.3x62. I think the Brownells barrels were Douglas, could be wrong and they were Shilen.

You'd be better off to get a 9.3x62 barrel from Woody at Lothar Walther, and have a smith headspace it for you.

Check your PM's.

Todd

Posts: 1248 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: 14 April 2001

Ignored post by TGetzen posted 11 May 2003 04:05

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posted 12 May 2003 15:26

TTT for Spike.

Mike

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Ignored post by ready_on_the_right posted 12 May 2003 15:26

claybuster

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posted 12 May 2003 15:37

I have 3 rifles and one pistol wearing L-W barrels,,,,,Top notch,the 4 are the most accurate pices in my vault

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Ignored post by claybuster posted 12 May 2003 15:37

Fred Bouwman

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posted 18 May 2003 02:15

Todd - PM's???

Check your PM's.

Todd[/QB][/QUOTE]

Posts: 207 | Location: Nicolet National Forest, WI, USA | Registered: 21 January 2002

Ignored post by Fred Bouwman posted 18 May 2003 02:15

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posted 19 May 2003 08:08

Fred,

Personal messages. Go to "my profile" at the top of the page to read them.

Todd

Posts: 1248 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: 14 April 2001

Ignored post by TGetzen posted 19 May 2003 08:08