Air Gun Home :: View topic - Making an epic barrel for a special "client"

SMP · Silver Status Member

The latest barrel to come out of the shop is for a very special client
Non other than our very own host Mr AirGunEric

Hahaha ...No pressure at all Yikes!

I kept aside a Lowthar Walther blank that gauged on the tight side. Next the barrel was profiled to QB D size.

This was done on the last lathe which is 2" short of being able to turn a 24" blank between centers. So the barrel needs to be flipped 4 times and indicated to 0 each time. This is to keep the axis of the bore in the center and true to the OD and ultimately the crown.

Because the barrel was so tight my normal reamers were .0015 too tight so I had to make a special set of throating and leade reamers just for this poject. Besides I wanted fresh edges and the angles right on.

Next the barrel is set up in the mill for the loading tray, set screw pocket, transfer port and barrel band slot machining

Next comes the bluing. In this case Eric requested classic slow rust blue. Hands down this is the nicest and oldest bluing available. It's a long slow process but it's not difficult as long as you don't try and cheat.

Rust the barrel

Boil the barrel in distilled water and a black iron pan.

Card the velvet off with a 0.002" carding wheel.

Polish...Repeat 3 times

Repeat 3 more times

Looks pretty Smexy!

SMP · Silver Status Member

Next up the barrel needed to be compounded and polished. This is a gooey messy operation that involves 100 full length stokes with a soft mop loaded with compound.
This black gooey mess is all cleaned off and then the process is redone again and again until the compound and mop stays relatively clean looking.

Then a clean mop is attached to the rod and loaded with bore polish. 100 full length strokes followed by 100 strokes just in the breach leade area.

This is all finished off with as many felts, Qtips and rags as it takes to get everything clean clean. Finally a lightly oiled felt to finish off.

Next comes testing. Every barrel I do gets a quick test but this one is going to go through a full smackdown with several intermediate polishings.

Cross your fingers
Tense Smoker

rsterne · Moderator

I am in awe.... literally.... Shocked

Sometimes I wonder WTF I'm doing.... Embarassed

Bob

SMP · Silver Status Member

Bob

More amazing things things than I am in many many ways.

SMP · Silver Status Member

The final thing I do to this and any barrel is break the burr on the crown. Everybody knows this process.

And what I want to see is a fine line that runs through all lands and grooves. More is not better.

Then it's finally time to test this thing....key dramatic music.
First shot....pffffffffffffffffffffff. Crap!
Tight barrel + hammer set for .177 target = pellet no leaving barrel. After a quick teardown to push the pellet through and turn up the hammer strike and I'm back at the testing.

Here's the results

Two pellets passed the Anschutz test

Awesome! Having a barrel do this well on it's first test drive only happens once in a blue moon. Normally it takes several shoots and several polishings to get them to really perform. This barrel will only get better.

There was a few pellets I thought may have done well but I just couldn't test because my platform is running a tiny restrictor and there just wasn't enough power to push things like JSB Exact Heavy or Barracuda Power.

Well Eric. I'm going to polish the bore one more time and send it off.
Happy Birthday Thumb Up!

Sholo · Veteran Member

...Absolutely, frickin' beautiful! (looks and performance) YouAreAGod

I only wish I had 1/4 the talent that you guys have...

Bravo!... Thumb Up!

Todd

rsterne · Moderator

OK, so I need a complete lesson in reamers.... chambering and leade, angles and dimensions.... and all the details of how to make and harden them....

Got a month?....

Bob

SMP · Silver Status Member

AirGunEric · Site Admin

Yeah- no pressure now. My QB is currently sitting - I let someone use it at a shoot a few weeks back, they put two pellets in without paying attention, ripped the bolt o-ring.

So- I decide I might as well install one of those QB extended probe bolts- and what do I find? They were machined too thin and not hardened so the probe bends inserting a pellet- absolute crap (and no longer for sale as a result). Anyways- now I have to get everything sorted out to install that barrel and then not embarrass myself shooting 3" groups at 30 yards!

But- nice work on the barrel! Just hope it doesn't more clearly define my dubious shooting skills!

radar · Silver Status Member

Beautiful, Sean.
Is there a chemical involved in the barrel rusting step?

SMP · Silver Status Member

SMP · Silver Status Member

yourdaddyjoe · Supporting Member

... but then I realized, this isn't Facebook...
Awesome job!

Stevesteve · New Member

Mmmm I mostly just lurk here as I can only post on one or two forums at a time or my brain hurts Wink

However I just had to comment on this. I thought I was moving ahead with learning a bit of gunsmithing building my custom 78 but Sean... "we are not worthy". What a skilled piece of work and what a lucky recipient the owner will be.

Just wish I could come and hang out in your workshop and watch you work!

Cheers,
Steve

Alstone · Moderator & Site Supporter

Cracking piece of work Sean, I wouldn’t bother giving it to Eric put it in a glass case and hang it on the wall, it’s a classic piece of craftsmanship it doesn’t need the rest of the bits.

Pure engineering of the old school. Thumb Up!

Al