I'm contemplating an octagon barrel for a build. The question is whether I can use an existing blank I have laying around. The blank is a standard sporter contour Bartlein, same as a standard Kreiger, and similar to a #3 Shilen. Is this blank already too skinny to turn into an octagon? I want an ultra light barrel anyway and am hoping this will be the ticket.

You may wish to contact John Taylor. He has a web site www.johntaylormachine.com. He should be able to tell you if it is viable. In my opinion, a fine man to deal with. He has worked on several rifles for me.

Check with www.cncbarrelworks.com. I haven't had work done by them, but a couple of other posters here have, and IIRC they reported favorably.

I had one done from a blank by Wind River. quite good and they'll work with you.

As to the orginal question. I doubt it. a #3 is around .625" at the muzzle. If you assume a .125" minimum wall thickness there is not much room to work.

Why would you assume a .125" thickness at the muzzle? I could point to half a dozen factory rifles with less.

The real concern is not the muzzle end, but the end near where the chamber is. Most sporting barrels have a radius in front of the straight chamber area. This radius is usually too sharp and is smaller in diameter than what is needed to get a true flat.

Consult with your octagon barrel maker to be sure.

Richj: Nice looking barrel, i see that it is in .284. Can you tell me what the final diameter is at end of barrel and length... heavy, Med. or light weight? Thanks!

quote:

Why would you assume a .125" thickness at the muzzle

Only reason I assumed it was the last two barrels I tried to have made they limited me to .125". Claiming liability issues. I agree I also have a couple factory that are thinner than that. So like I said "assuming" a .125" there is not enough metal at the muzzle.

The barrel is 19" long, medium weight. I'll get back to you on the other dim.

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by srtrax:
Richj: Nice looking barrel, i see that it is in .284. Can you tell me what the final diameter is at end of barrel and length... heavy, Med. or light weight? Thanks!

Mark Stratton did a great job on my custom and a great fellow to work with.

The #3 should be fine. I have a 7x57 with an octagon that started as a Douglas #2 and, while very thin, is just fine. I have it out at another fellow's place right now or I would measure the wall thickness for you. I am also working on the stock.

Pointblank,
You might contact James Anderson[gunmaker] on this forum. He did a real nice half octagon for me.
Butch

I had a chance to see one of Jim Anderson's (Gunmaker) octagonal barrels. The machine work and polishing were exceptional.

quote:

Originally posted by Scrollcutter:
I had a chance to see one of Jim Anderson's (Gunmaker) octagonal barrels. The machine work and polishing were exceptional.

Ditto.

In a perfect world, a .625" @ muzzle barrel can be milled octagon with the distance across the flats ending up .577" . My guess is it would probably clean up closer to .550". You never posted what the bore size is. I can cut the barrel for a reasonable price, but the exceptional polishing has an exceptional price that goes with it. I climb mill mine with sharp carbide, this creates a pretty good finish and YOU can start polishing with 180 grit and save the $$ for my polishing time. I can cut them swamped as well.