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DallanC Site Admin
Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3571 Location: Utah
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Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:07 pm Post subject: Floating Barrels, what tools do you use? |
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I need to float my wifes .243 and was curious what everyone uses for their inletting tools? The only rifle I floated before was a Rem700 .270 and it required only a very minor modification to the stock to get a nice floating barrel. I used a dremel with some larger round cutters. My wifes gun looks like it will take some fairly major trimming of the inlet to get it to float.
I know of the inletting tools available from midway and sinclair and agree if you are doing alot of rifles thats the ticket but for the occasional job, what are you guys using?
-DallanC
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15704 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Handloader Super Member
Joined: Aug 22, 2005 Posts: 1032 Location: Phoenix, Arizona
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Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:54 pm Post subject: Re: Floating Barrels, what tools do you use? |
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DallanC: most of us will probably own numerous bolt action rifles during our stay on this little blue planet. The barrel channeling tools are superb investments and will be used many times over, justifying their cost. I bought two for different diameters. I bought mine used for $20. I use a Dremel, too, but more in a finishing capacity.
If working with wood, once the channel is correct I seal it to preclude any warpage and add enough coats to make it impervious to water.
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PaulS Super Member
Joined: Feb 18, 2006 Posts: 4330 Location: South-Eastern Washington - the State
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:57 am Post subject: Re: Floating Barrels, what tools do you use? |
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DallanC,
Your local hardware store has sandpaper of various grits and wooden dowels of varying diameters. Get the shortest dowels that are close to the barrel diameters and work with them. Start with 50 grit sandpaper and go to 100 grit to finish it off. With a tapered barrel you will have to change dowels as you move toward the muzzle but you can make it look seemless.
You can also get some round rasps for working with auto body putty that work for the rough work. These you can get today at less money than the stock inletting tools that you will have to wait for delivery.
_________________ Paul
__________________
Speer, Lyman, Hodgdon, Sierra, and Hornady = reliable loading data
So and So's pages on the internet = NOT reliable loading data
Always check data against manuals
NEVER exceed maximum listed loads |
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Daveyboy Member
Joined: Jan 22, 2006 Posts: 143
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:45 am Post subject: Re: Floating Barrels, what tools do you use? |
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I think your question has been answered by the experts...
D
_________________ Why, in films, don't they just kill it? |
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Gil Martin Super Member
Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 1837 Location: Schnecksville, PA
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 3:32 am Post subject: Re: Floating Barrels, what tools do you use? |
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I agree with PaulS and use dowel stock of various diameters and medium to fine grit sandpaper. I work the barrel channel carefully and keep checking the clearance with a piece of newspaper. When finished, I seal the wood with boiled linseed oil and several coats of Tru-Oil. All the best...
Gil
_________________ Gil |
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skb2706 Member
Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 269
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:46 am Post subject: Re: Floating Barrels, what tools do you use? |
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First thing I do is determine how I want the gun to fit in the stock....not how it came fom the factory but how I want it to fit. Next fine out how it currently fits and what I have to do to get to the desired results. Dremel tool with several different style rotary burrs will remove wood where I need to remove it from the bedding area. I like to do the bedding with Devcon SS at least 1/8 " thick and more around the recoil lug area. The Devcon is thick enough to let you get the fit you want and still do a great job of bedding. For the barrel channel I use a wooden dowel and sand paper unless I need to remove alot of wood. More specifics available if you'd like...........
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Crackshot Super Member
Joined: Oct 23, 2005 Posts: 1693 Location: Mich
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:17 am Post subject: Re: Floating Barrels, what tools do you use? |
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Do it right, and get barrel channel rasps! It will work better, faster, and less risk of damaging the forend of your stock.
_________________ The human mind is the weapon, the gun is just one of its tools. |
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1895ss Super Member
Joined: Jul 21, 2005 Posts: 2612 Location: Not Here...!!
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:16 am Post subject: Re: Floating Barrels, what tools do you use? |
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I also use different sizes of dowell and sandpaper and a dremel tool. Then seal the stock when done.
_________________ A cruel truth is much more desirable than a really nice lie.
'Tis far better to walk alone than to follow a crowd or an a**hole going the wrong way. |
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PaulS Super Member
Joined: Feb 18, 2006 Posts: 4330 Location: South-Eastern Washington - the State
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 2:58 pm Post subject: Re: Floating Barrels, what tools do you use? |
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Hey, If you have the time and money the proper tools always make the job easier. The results you get will be the same so long as you take care and do it slowly.
As far as sealing the wood afterwards linseed oil or tung oil are both fine to use but remember that the oil will add weight to the wood and swell it some too. Always double check your clearances at the range after firing a few rounds to heat the barrel. You may find that the wood warps just enough to cause interference and more wood will need to be removed. I did with my 30-'06 but I didn't need to with my 358 Win. It depends on the wood and grain.
Have fun with it and then let us all know how it turned out!
_________________ Paul
__________________
Speer, Lyman, Hodgdon, Sierra, and Hornady = reliable loading data
So and So's pages on the internet = NOT reliable loading data
Always check data against manuals
NEVER exceed maximum listed loads |
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coyotehunter_1 Member
Joined: Jan 25, 2005 Posts: 319 Location: Tennessee (USA)
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 6:42 pm Post subject: Re: Floating Barrels, what tools do you use? |
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Dallan,
Your talking a factory wooden stock, right?
If the rifle has a sporter weight barrel and the stock uses a pressure point you may only need to remove the pressure point to free float the barrel. Some rifles shoot better with the pressure point removed, then again sometimes it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference either way. I often test factory rifles to see how well they will respond to floating by placing several pieces of business card stock under the front and rear of the action (near the action hold down screws). The object is to raise the action and barrel away from the stock enough to clear the pressure point. Before you do all this, if the barrel is touching one side of the stock (anywhere 2†foward of recoil lug) you may want to go ahead and open up the whole barrel channel.
When removing the factory pressure point or opening a barrel channel, one problem you may run into: If the action is not correctly bedded (setting in the stock unevenly), it may tend to pull to one side of the stock or even bind the action when tightened down. If this is the case then the action will need to be epoxy bedded also. This is not a real major job it does take time to do correctly.
You have gotten several good replies already.
Below is one tool I have used for several years now. A very simple design and easy to work with.
Quote:: |
Gunline Barrel Bedder Junior Kit
The Barrel Bedding Junior has the same chatter free system as the standard Barrel Bedding Tool but with a quick change disk feature. The single handle tool is complete with pin, retainer and screw for changing and securing the cutter disks. Quick-change disk system includes 6 each of 1/2" disks, 5/8" disks and 3/4" disks. Also includes 15 rubber spacers, 5 for each size of disk. |
[img]http://www.midwayusa.com/mediasvr.dll/image?saleitemid=263309[/img]
More info:
www.midwayusa.com/epro...mid=263309
_________________ www.easterncoyotes.com/
I'm just an 'ol country boy who enjoys calling coyotes... nothing more, nothing less. |
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15704 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 9:00 pm Post subject: Re: Floating Barrels, what tools do you use? |
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Daveyboy wrote: |
I think your question has been answered by the experts...
D |
Oi...steady on Daveyboy. You know what an expert is mate....
"X is an unknown factor and a spurt is a drip under pressure":-D
ha ha ha
Cheers mate,
Vince
_________________ Cheers, Vince
Illegitimi non carborundum
(Never let the bastards grind you down)
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
"Nulla Si Fa Senza Volonta."
(Without Commitment, Nothing Gets Done) |
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Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9239 Location: south island New Zealand
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Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 1:37 am Post subject: Re: Floating Barrels, what tools do you use? |
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round rasp then sand paper. I did my .270 with sand paper only but got stuck in to the .223with a rasp 1st and gave it a decent clearance 2-3mm I may just do the .270 again to give it a bit more just because this thread has got me thinking I may need to.
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
Them who eats the most duck eats the most feathers! |
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SingleShotLover Super Member
Joined: Dec 26, 2007 Posts: 1005 Location: Illinois
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Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2011 4:45 am Post subject: Re: Floating Barrels, what tools do you use? |
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I've done it both ways. For minor jobs, the dowel and sandpaper method works well. I do quite a few over time so invested in a Gunline Junior Bedding tool and an assortment of cutter sizes. I chose the Junior set because the cutters are relatively inexpensive and easy to switch.
When sealing the barrel channels (or other non-visible areas) I use polyurethane to not only seal the wood but protect it from oils and etc.
_________________ If you can't hit it with one, you probably can't with two either!
The biggest problem with a closed mind is that it never seems to come with a closed mouth.
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