Oct-to-round barrel

[Flintleather]

Would a 15/16" oct 54cal be to thin to turn oct-to-round or would a 1" be better? Would the weight difference be excessive on a 42" 1" barrel turned oct-to-round? Thanks in advance.

 

[rich pierce]

I think a 15/16" barrel is a little thin to be an octogon barrel, but turning the last 2/3 to round should not make it any less safe. The breech is where thickness matters most.

 

[jimeckersley]

Let's see.... the Lyman Great Plains and the Thompson Center Hawken are both 15/16 barrels. There are thousands of them in use in .54 caliber. If you only turn the barrel to round, it would still measure 15/16 unless you removed more than enough to make the barrel round.

 

[AgesofDays]

is there really someone that would make a 50 cal into a 54 cal by boreing it out?

 

If you were to turn it, it will likely warp. I know a few people that have tried and don't know of any that didn't get warpage. If memory serves, Don getz also says it will warp. Also, if it's a straight barrel and will become a straighht oct to round, it might look peculiar. I can't say I've ever seen an oct-round barrel that wasn't swamped or at least tapered.

Cody

 

The origional 1792 Contract rifles, when revamped at Harpers Ferry were turned round for their last 2/3 from the origional octogon, no taper. Because we are not used to seeing them does not mean it was not or has not been done.

I have turned a lot of precision work on a laythe and never had a problem with anything warping due to being turned properly. Too much stress and heat or no steady rest, yea, but not when done right.

 

[jimeckersley]

is there really someone that would make a 50 cal into a 54 cal by boreing it out?

Sure, there have been a lot of damaged, rusted, or shot out barrels that were rebored from 50 to 54. That's not the question here though. Flint leather wants to know if an existing .54, 15/16, barrel can be turned to round.

 

[jimeckersley]

The question is: is the barrel too thin for a .54? No it isn't.

Some people want a barrel turned to a partial round to lighten it or just for looks. Either way it's done all the time. Some are turned at the point of initial manufacture, others are turned round later.

Most important is the procedures used. Give the barrel plenty of support and take only small cuts with each pass.

 

[Flintleather]

Jperrye, i was just wondering if a 54cal 15/16" barrel was to thin to make a oct-to-round out of.Im going to have Jackie Brown make me one of his Carolina rifles and he suggested a 15/16" and i was looking for a second or third oppinion on the thickness.

 

[jimeckersley]

There are a lot of .58 and .62 caliber barrels built using a 1 inch barrel. A .54 on a 15/16 will be a perfect choice for one of Jackie's rifles.

You will have a rifle that is easy to carry, handles perfectly and is a pleasure to own. Jackie Brown is a professional who knows what he's doing. I'd love to own one of his rifles.