shipwreck2 1 Posted December 25, 2014 Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 My gun Smith charges $80 to thread a ak barrel for a flash hider and $220 for a can. he says he has to take the barrel off to make sure it is lined up perfectly to avoid baffle strikes. Atlantic firearms sells a nitride treated threaded barrel for $99. Would you: 1. Just use the can on the $80 threads...he is a gun Smith after all I would assume they are fairly accurate and I could get a loser tolerance can. 2. Pay the $220 3. Buy the nitride treated threaded barrel for 99.. looks to be a good barrel and can help slightly on inaccuracy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
james lambert 3,059 Posted December 25, 2014 Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 The smith is correct Whats destroying your can worth 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poolingmyignorance 2,191 Posted December 25, 2014 Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 Roll the dice, on the cheap barrel, then lean a new appreciation for your gun Smith. He'll appreciate your money for the new barrel and can you'll have to buy from him. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spacehog 2,218 Posted December 25, 2014 Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 $220 and an assurance from the gunsmith that the threads are concentric, or $80-$100 with the possibility of spending another $1000 + $200 Stamp and 10-12 month wait time. There are times when frugality and taking chances pays off. This is very likely not one of them. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thebuns1 4,323 Posted December 25, 2014 Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 Too bad not many people make the PBS series suppressors for AK's. Youre better off paying the extra coin, or risk damaging an expensive and time sensitive NFA item. Do what you want, but Id pay them to make sure the shit is ready to roll. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RED333 1,025 Posted December 25, 2014 Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 It is your money, why you asking us? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shipwreck2 1 Posted December 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2014 Thanks for the input Quote Link to post Share on other sites
6500rpm 670 Posted December 26, 2014 Report Share Posted December 26, 2014 Concentric and properly cut to size are the two main terms. Just because it's a new barrel doesn't mean these two items have happened unless you have it in writing from the maker. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Inspector 12 37 Posted December 27, 2014 Report Share Posted December 27, 2014 (edited) Of course it isn't rocket science to the check if the bore is concentric relative to the barrel threads either. Get a snug fitting rod and slide it down the bore from the muzzle end. Either brass or aluminum would work as both are soft enough to not harm the rifling. The rod will indicate if the bore is concentric enough to pass through the suppressor or is close enough to pass. Edited December 27, 2014 by Inspector 12 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
XdamagedX 248 Posted December 28, 2014 Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 Of course it isn't rocket science to the check if the bore is concentric relative to the barrel threads either. Get a snug fitting rod and slide it down the bore from the muzzle end. Either brass or aluminum would work as both are soft enough to not harm the rifling. The rod will indicate if the bore is concentric enough to pass through the suppressor or is close enough to pass. I'm not disagreeing, and I have no experience in metals, machining, or gun-smithing, but this almost seems TOO easy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
james lambert 3,059 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Set the barrel on centers and measure the runout with a dial indicator . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poolingmyignorance 2,191 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Of course it isn't rocket science to the check if the bore is concentric relative to the barrel threads either. Get a snug fitting rod and slide it down the bore from the muzzle end. Either brass or aluminum would work as both are soft enough to not harm the rifling. The rod will indicate if the bore is concentric enough to pass through the suppressor or is close enough to pass. I'm not disagreeing, and I have no experience in metals, machining, or gun-smithing, but this almost seems TOO easy. This only works if you KNOW (as in having checked it wiith v-blocks and dials) the rod your using is prefectly straight. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
evlblkwpnz 3,418 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 That is a great price for that much work if he guarantees the threading to be concentric to the bore. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
garnaz 215 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Cnc warrior sells a dowel rod to check this. I need to do same thing. Took rifle to have threaded and when he told me he'd be about a half an hour I was surprised. As I was expecting to be dropping off and picking up later. Paid sixty five and was surprised. Told me should be no issue. I'm not risking 600.00 for should work. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HB of CJ 1,263 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 (edited) Another story. I wanted to thread my then new Savage .22rf barrel for an Elite Iron 6" Echo can. The nice guys at Elite Iron told me that since that barrel is tapered, THEY would have to remove and thread that barrel before they would feel OK about warranting the can. I asked them why this was their policy at that time and if memory serves, (been 5-6 years) they told me they had too many baffle strikes with their extremely tight fitting cans caused by the threading not being near perfect. Makes sense to me. HB of CJ (old coot) Elite Iron Echo 6" .22rf can. Probably the best out there. I do not personally know about their other stuff. Edited by HB of CJ (old coot) I meant to say Left Hand Savage .22rf bolt action rifle with the "accua trigger". Getting old! Edited December 30, 2014 by HB of CJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ShadowFire 220 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 (edited) My gun Smith charges $80 to thread a ak barrel for a flash hider and $220 for a can. he says he has to take the barrel off to make sure it is lined up perfectly to avoid baffle strikes. Atlantic firearms sells a nitride treated threaded barrel for $99. Would you: 1. Just use the can on the $80 threads...he is a gun Smith after all I would assume they are fairly accurate and I could get a loser tolerance can. 2. Pay the $220 3. Buy the nitride treated threaded barrel for 99.. looks to be a good barrel and can help slightly on inaccuracy. It's called concentricity and yes it has to be right. It takes a minute longer to dial it in on a lathe too. However in my mind, to avoid bullet strikes on some good compensator/hiders, he should be dialing it in for proper concentricity anyway. You want (At least in my mind) your customer to be able to do anything he or she wants to do with that barrel after you're done. Because if they can, well, you're viewed as awesome and that's just good business. Edited December 29, 2014 by ShadowFire Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Inspector 12 37 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Of course it isn't rocket science to the check if the bore is concentric relative to the barrel threads either. Get a snug fitting rod and slide it down the bore from the muzzle end. Either brass or aluminum would work as both are soft enough to not harm the rifling. The rod will indicate if the bore is concentric enough to pass through the suppressor or is close enough to pass. I'm not disagreeing, and I have no experience in metals, machining, or gun-smithing, but this almost seems TOO easy. Not discounting the skills they possess, most gunsmiths don't want folks to realize that most of what they do is common sense and mechanical logic. The skill part is displayed in their use of tools to achieve the finished result. As a mechanically savvy guy I can do all but the most technical work myself. Of course it isn't rocket science to the check if the bore is concentric relative to the barrel threads either. Get a snug fitting rod and slide it down the bore from the muzzle end. Either brass or aluminum would work as both are soft enough to not harm the rifling. The rod will indicate if the bore is concentric enough to pass through the suppressor or is close enough to pass. I'm not disagreeing, and I have no experience in metals, machining, or gun-smithing, but this almost seems TOO easy. This only works if you KNOW (as in having checked it wiith v-blocks and dials) the rod your using is prefectly straight. Well one little known fact but if you take said rod and roll it across a vernier ground surface or a sheet of glass (usually 1/4 inch or thicker) you can see any run out in the rod. The trick I use is to check and then turn the rod in the bore to make sure that there is clearance from all potential angles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HB of CJ 1,263 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 (edited) We were fraught to rotate that barrel straightway gage at least 6 times. Yep ... also gots to check that guage. We used a crucified flat surface fake plate thing. A very thin shim gauge was placed under the rod. Quiet easy. Remember when we had to keep crunkshafts standing on their ends? Otherwise flying down they could warp or spend. I did ask Elite Iron if Green Mountain scredded barrels are OK and Elite Iron said that Green Mountain threaded barrels are very very good. No problems so far with raffle fights. HB of CJ (old coot) Edited; For more w/w and s/p stuff which is suppossed to be funnie. HB Right now I have one of our Elite Iron Echo 6" .22rf spans apart to look at the interior waffle digameters and also the end zap inferiour diameter. Only problem is I can't find my millie micro hand gage measuring gage thing. Oh well. Been a good day. HB again. I would not take much runout on the barrel threads to create strike potentials on the end baffles, (there are seven of them) or that precise end cap. Edited December 29, 2014 by HB of CJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
storm6490 2,768 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 (edited) If you have yourself a real gunsmith who will not only thread it but will include all the other stuff nobody ever thinks about, go for it. It's a square deal. You an always have a technician who pretends to be a gunsmith thread the barrel and check it with a rod but, you are better off with someone who has the tools, experience and specialised touch when it comes to modifying barrels. Can you give your gunsmith a piece of stock and ask them to make you a certain lenght barrel with a certain twist? Can he build the parts for your rifle that are no longer available? Gunsmith is a term used very loosely these days. I have great respect for real gunsmits and tear the technicians who pretend to be a new asshole. If your gunsmith is the real deal, do it. Edited December 29, 2014 by Stryker0946 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poolingmyignorance 2,191 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 If you have yourself a real gunsmith who will not only thread it but will include all the other stuff nobody ever thinks about, go for it. It's a square deal. You an always have a technician who pretends to be a gunsmith thread the barrel and check it with a rod but, you are better off with someone who has the tools, experience and specialised touch when it comes to modifying barrels. Can you give your gunsmith a piece of stock and ask them to make you a certain lenght barrel with a certain twist? Can he build the parts for your rifle that are no longer available? Gunsmith is a term used very loosely these days. I have great respect for real gunsmits and tear the technicians who pretend to be a new asshole. If your gunsmith is the real deal, do it. There aren't many of those left because the skill and machinery required to fabricate firearms from billet or stock, are put to building more lucrative items,most notably for oil and gas industry. I can buy a 3 1/2 bar stock of monel k500 for $165, bore it out machine threads in it takes about 5 hours and sell it for $7,000. Why would anybody put twice the much work into something that only fetches $200-1,000 in barrel work? When mass production can pump dozens of barrels and parts for pennies in the dollar. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
storm6490 2,768 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 If you have yourself a real gunsmith who will not only thread it but will include all the other stuff nobody ever thinks about, go for it. It's a square deal. You an always have a technician who pretends to be a gunsmith thread the barrel and check it with a rod but, you are better off with someone who has the tools, experience and specialised touch when it comes to modifying barrels. Can you give your gunsmith a piece of stock and ask them to make you a certain lenght barrel with a certain twist? Can he build the parts for your rifle that are no longer available? Gunsmith is a term used very loosely these days. I have great respect for real gunsmits and tear the technicians who pretend to be a new asshole. If your gunsmith is the real deal, do it. There aren't many of those left because the skill and machinery required to fabricate firearms from billet or stock, are put to building more lucrative items,most notably for oil and gas industry.I can buy a 3 1/2 bar stock of monel k500 for $165, bore it out machine threads in it takes about 5 hours and sell it for $7,000. Why would anybody put twice the much work into something that only fetches $200-1,000 in barrel work? When mass production can pump dozens of barrels and parts for pennies in the dollar. Because, the oil field is a terrible shit hole to work in. Gunsmiths are out there, you just have to find them. The Colorado School of Trade trains new gunsmiths every year and they are not bolt on bandits. If you can build rifle barrels with the same precision as a master gunsmith, you are in the wrong business. You should be working for proof, surgeon, h&s or someone else who won't stick you in north dakota or out at sea for months. There's a reason gunsmiths are still alive and doing fine. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poolingmyignorance 2,191 Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 If you have yourself a real gunsmith who will not only thread it but will include all the other stuff nobody ever thinks about, go for it. It's a square deal. You an always have a technician who pretends to be a gunsmith thread the barrel and check it with a rod but, you are better off with someone who has the tools, experience and specialised touch when it comes to modifying barrels. Can you give your gunsmith a piece of stock and ask them to make you a certain lenght barrel with a certain twist? Can he build the parts for your rifle that are no longer available? Gunsmith is a term used very loosely these days. I have great respect for real gunsmits and tear the technicians who pretend to be a new asshole. If your gunsmith is the real deal, do it. There aren't many of those left because the skill and machinery required to fabricate firearms from billet or stock, are put to building more lucrative items,most notably for oil and gas industry.I can buy a 3 1/2 bar stock of monel k500 for $165, bore it out machine threads in it takes about 5 hours and sell it for $7,000. Why would anybody put twice the much work into something that only fetches $200-1,000 in barrel work? When mass production can pump dozens of barrels and parts for pennies in the dollar. Because, the oil field is a terrible shit hole to work in. Gunsmiths are out there, you just have to find them. The Colorado School of Trade trains new gunsmiths every year and they are not bolt on bandits. If you can build rifle barrels with the same precision as a master gunsmith, you are in the wrong business. You should be working for proof, surgeon, h&s or someone else who won't stick you in north dakota or out at sea for months. There's a reason gunsmiths are still alive and doing fine. There are some that are terrible shit holes. But your not working in a shit hole, when your manufacturing parts iin your own shop for them to use in the field. Unless you live in a terrrible shit hole already thats nothign to do with who your doing the work for. You think I could build barrels for more than 200K/year? I'll up date my resume. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
storm6490 2,768 Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 If you have yourself a real gunsmith who will not only thread it but will include all the other stuff nobody ever thinks about, go for it. It's a square deal. You an always have a technician who pretends to be a gunsmith thread the barrel and check it with a rod but, you are better off with someone who has the tools, experience and specialised touch when it comes to modifying barrels. Can you give your gunsmith a piece of stock and ask them to make you a certain lenght barrel with a certain twist? Can he build the parts for your rifle that are no longer available? Gunsmith is a term used very loosely these days. I have great respect for real gunsmits and tear the technicians who pretend to be a new asshole. If your gunsmith is the real deal, do it. There aren't many of those left because the skill and machinery required to fabricate firearms from billet or stock, are put to building more lucrative items,most notably for oil and gas industry.I can buy a 3 1/2 bar stock of monel k500 for $165, bore it out machine threads in it takes about 5 hours and sell it for $7,000. Why would anybody put twice the much work into something that only fetches $200-1,000 in barrel work? When mass production can pump dozens of barrels and parts for pennies in the dollar. Because, the oil field is a terrible shit hole to work in. Gunsmiths are out there, you just have to find them. The Colorado School of Trade trains new gunsmiths every year and they are not bolt on bandits. If you can build rifle barrels with the same precision as a master gunsmith, you are in the wrong business. You should be working for proof, surgeon, h&s or someone else who won't stick you in north dakota or out at sea for months. There's a reason gunsmiths are still alive and doing fine. There are some that are terrible shit holes. But your not working in a shit hole, when your manufacturing parts iin your own shop for them to use in the field. Unless you live in a terrrible shit hole already thats nothign to do with who your doing the work for. You think I could build barrels for more than 200K/year? I'll up date my resume. No, but you could work in the mountains of montana and build precision rifles for hunters, police and the military for over a 100 if you were a master gunsmith. http://proofresearch.com/ http://nemoarms.com/ 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poolingmyignorance 2,191 Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 If you have yourself a real gunsmith who will not only thread it but will include all the other stuff nobody ever thinks about, go for it. It's a square deal. You an always have a technician who pretends to be a gunsmith thread the barrel and check it with a rod but, you are better off with someone who has the tools, experience and specialised touch when it comes to modifying barrels. Can you give your gunsmith a piece of stock and ask them to make you a certain lenght barrel with a certain twist? Can he build the parts for your rifle that are no longer available? Gunsmith is a term used very loosely these days. I have great respect for real gunsmits and tear the technicians who pretend to be a new asshole. If your gunsmith is the real deal, do it. There aren't many of those left because the skill and machinery required to fabricate firearms from billet or stock, are put to building more lucrative items,most notably for oil and gas industry.I can buy a 3 1/2 bar stock of monel k500 for $165, bore it out machine threads in it takes about 5 hours and sell it for $7,000. Why would anybody put twice the much work into something that only fetches $200-1,000 in barrel work? When mass production can pump dozens of barrels and parts for pennies in the dollar. Because, the oil field is a terrible shit hole to work in. Gunsmiths are out there, you just have to find them. The Colorado School of Trade trains new gunsmiths every year and they are not bolt on bandits. If you can build rifle barrels with the same precision as a master gunsmith, you are in the wrong business. You should be working for proof, surgeon, h&s or someone else who won't stick you in north dakota or out at sea for months. There's a reason gunsmiths are still alive and doing fine. There are some that are terrible shit holes. But your not working in a shit hole, when your manufacturing parts iin your own shop for them to use in the field. Unless you live in a terrrible shit hole already thats nothign to do with who your doing the work for. You think I could build barrels for more than 200K/year? I'll up date my resume. No, but you could work in the mountains of montana and build precision rifles for hunters, police and the military for over a 100 if you were a master gunsmith. http://proofresearch.com/ http://nemoarms.com/ Well I certainly don't qualify as a master gunsmith, and make pretty good money with the basic machinst skill I have.. which is kinda my point at large why there aren't that many "masters" or real gunsmiths anymore. It's really a niche kinda work. I'm great at working on AK's, and bolt action rifles. I'm great at machinign parts to precision specs from prints, and pretty good at devising my own mechanical assemblies, this generalizing and not specializing for many is the most sucessful route. Though wanting to live in Montana, maybe I should look into some of that specializing.... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
storm6490 2,768 Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 If you have yourself a real gunsmith who will not only thread it but will include all the other stuff nobody ever thinks about, go for it. It's a square deal. You an always have a technician who pretends to be a gunsmith thread the barrel and check it with a rod but, you are better off with someone who has the tools, experience and specialised touch when it comes to modifying barrels. Can you give your gunsmith a piece of stock and ask them to make you a certain lenght barrel with a certain twist? Can he build the parts for your rifle that are no longer available? Gunsmith is a term used very loosely these days. I have great respect for real gunsmits and tear the technicians who pretend to be a new asshole. If your gunsmith is the real deal, do it. There aren't many of those left because the skill and machinery required to fabricate firearms from billet or stock, are put to building more lucrative items,most notably for oil and gas industry.I can buy a 3 1/2 bar stock of monel k500 for $165, bore it out machine threads in it takes about 5 hours and sell it for $7,000. Why would anybody put twice the much work into something that only fetches $200-1,000 in barrel work? When mass production can pump dozens of barrels and parts for pennies in the dollar. Because, the oil field is a terrible shit hole to work in. Gunsmiths are out there, you just have to find them. The Colorado School of Trade trains new gunsmiths every year and they are not bolt on bandits. If you can build rifle barrels with the same precision as a master gunsmith, you are in the wrong business. You should be working for proof, surgeon, h&s or someone else who won't stick you in north dakota or out at sea for months. There's a reason gunsmiths are still alive and doing fine. There are some that are terrible shit holes. But your not working in a shit hole, when your manufacturing parts iin your own shop for them to use in the field. Unless you live in a terrrible shit hole already thats nothign to do with who your doing the work for. You think I could build barrels for more than 200K/year? I'll up date my resume. No, but you could work in the mountains of montana and build precision rifles for hunters, police and the military for over a 100 if you were a master gunsmith. http://proofresearch.com/ http://nemoarms.com/ Well I certainly don't qualify as a master gunsmith, and make pretty good money with the basic machinst skill I have.. which is kinda my point at large why there aren't that many "masters" or real gunsmiths anymore. It's really a niche kinda work. I'm great at working on AK's, and bolt action rifles. I'm great at machinign parts to precision specs from prints, and pretty good at devising my own mechanical assemblies, this generalizing and not specializing for many is the most sucessful route. Though wanting to live in Montana, maybe I should look into some of that specializing.... You and your family would love it here. Check out Nomad technologies, Applied Materials, ViZn energy, Sonju Aerospace, SI Defense, Proof Research, Nemo Arms and a slew of companies that need your skilled labor. The valley has high demand for machinist and will turn out master gunsmitsh under the direction of life long gunsmiths at Proof and Nemo. Nemo and Proof have a very interesting team of professionals you would be happy to work with, especially if you are a veteran. But, It's cold as hell right now and the skiing, shooting and snowmobiling is good! 3-7-77 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.