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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Gunsmithing
How tight do barrels need to be threaded?
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<blockquote data-quote="specweldtom" data-source="post: 209977" data-attributes="member: 2580"><p>I've never built a switch-barrel rig, but I've seen a lot of discussion and opinions on barrel tightness. I cut close fitting threads and torque up 1", 1.0625", and 1.1" barrel tenons to around 100 ft/lbs with a light oil lubricant. I believe it makes for a very stable barrel/receiver joint that eliminates any possible shifting under the stresses of firing. Should contribute to accuracy, and minimize the risk of fretting and metal fatigue. I think that large, high intensity cartridges shooting heavy bullets absolutely need this joint tightness.</p><p></p><p>It's not something that we see very often, but the Brits used a lot of left twist rifling and right hand receiver threads in their barrels, and those barrels had to be made up hard, so bullet torque wouldn't unscrew them. The hand tight barrels you used had to be right twist rifling which would tend to tighten a right hand thread when fired, so were not a safety issue if they were headspaced in that condition. I don't know if it would degrade accuracy, but I get a bad feeling about a barrel I could unscrew by hand.</p><p></p><p>P.O. Ackley did a ton of experimentation on all kinds of barrel / receiver / bolt configurations, but I don't remember If he dealt with hand tight barrels. I'm going to have to look again.</p><p></p><p>Remember, this is just my opinion, not backed by any data. </p><p></p><p>Good shooting, Tom</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="specweldtom, post: 209977, member: 2580"] I've never built a switch-barrel rig, but I've seen a lot of discussion and opinions on barrel tightness. I cut close fitting threads and torque up 1", 1.0625", and 1.1" barrel tenons to around 100 ft/lbs with a light oil lubricant. I believe it makes for a very stable barrel/receiver joint that eliminates any possible shifting under the stresses of firing. Should contribute to accuracy, and minimize the risk of fretting and metal fatigue. I think that large, high intensity cartridges shooting heavy bullets absolutely need this joint tightness. It's not something that we see very often, but the Brits used a lot of left twist rifling and right hand receiver threads in their barrels, and those barrels had to be made up hard, so bullet torque wouldn't unscrew them. The hand tight barrels you used had to be right twist rifling which would tend to tighten a right hand thread when fired, so were not a safety issue if they were headspaced in that condition. I don't know if it would degrade accuracy, but I get a bad feeling about a barrel I could unscrew by hand. P.O. Ackley did a ton of experimentation on all kinds of barrel / receiver / bolt configurations, but I don't remember If he dealt with hand tight barrels. I'm going to have to look again. Remember, this is just my opinion, not backed by any data. Good shooting, Tom [/QUOTE]
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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Gunsmithing
How tight do barrels need to be threaded?
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