Lathe turning-need directions....

[polemass]

Hi-I need to turn down 2 blank barrels,OD is 30.5mm(665mm long)-to smaller size so it can fit our old lathe,1".Is any good machine shop in Surrey or surroundings that any of you can recommend?Or maybe one member from this forum can help?I can travel and Friday to Sunday is the best.Thnx-JB

[1066]

Could you trim it down a bit between centres and a travelling steady?

[ovenpaa]

Are they chambered and is it only the end diameter that needs reducing to 1" to enable it to go in your machine or is it the complete length?

[polemass]

Both blank barrels.Maybe we can trim it but again total length is a factor-one end has to go in the chuck few inches deep.Preferably whole length of the barrel to 1" OD.All big shops not interested or long waiting time.JB

[ovenpaa]

What is the finished diameter you need and do you have the length between centres on your own machine?

[polemass]

One will be close to 23-24mm other bit more tiny-from 22 to 18mm on the end half.Do not know distance between centres-it is local RFD lathe,will check tomorow.JB

[Alpha1]

A local RFD (Registered firearms dealer) with a small lathe is not the guy you want turning down barrel blanks. Especially if he is then going to try and chamber them and fit them to a action. You need a gunsmith. I could fit them on my lathe and turn them down to the dimensions you quote but would I. No I would not. I would get a proper gun smith to do it not a RFD.
You need to be contacting a gun smith not a machine shop a machine shop would have no idea how to set up profile a rifle barrel chamber and fit it to a action.
If you give the blanks to a local machine shop or RFD they will just chuck them up and machine them down to the dimensions you give them.
If you are going to chamber them they need to be correctly supported and dialed in/clocked. If you just want a couple of tubes of the right out side diameter with a hole through the middle I could probably botch that up for you. But it would not be pretty.

How far away are you from Ovenpaa if you want a proper job it might be worth giving him or his good lady a bell.

[polemass]

Alpha1-thnx for your input,I am coming to the same conclusion. My RFD is ok,he wants to make own rifles too and we both started small project.We have to begin somewhere but maybe not with big bang but small steps,yes.Ovenpa is top bloke and contacted me already