[alemonkey]

Dumb question - when making a relief cut to facilitate barrel removal from a rifle receiver, is the cut made lengthwise with the barrel? I would assume so, to allow the barrel to compress and loosen the threads, but figured I should ask.

[dfariswheel]

The usual method is to use a lathe to actually cut the front of the barrel shoulder off, where it enters the receiver.

With that "ring" of metal removed, the stress is off the barrel.

[Big Az Al]

A relief cut is kinda useless,

when they are barreld right the step of the shoulder has an air gap, as they have an interanl shoulder that the breach tightens against.

Almost anything else a relief cut may help.

I have only run into a P17 Enfield that my B vice needed a relief cut to handle.

[rcmodel]

+1 on a 98 Mauser barrel. It usually wouldn't help any if the barrel is fitted properly.

What are you trying to get the barrel off of anyway?

rcmodel

[alemonkey]

I'm planning on trying to take the barrel off a Mosin. And before anyone tells me, yes I know it's a waste of time because they're only $70.

So, what direction does it go, assuming it needs it? I haven't actually tried yet and probably won't for a little while. Just thought I'd ask in case I can't get it off.

[ieszu]

You should cut along the diameter of the barrel (as dfariswheel said)... cut it right where the receiver and the barrel meet, and I believe it is a small cut, about 1/8".

I will admit to never had done any myself, most modern re-barreling work doesn't require it... So my guess is based on what I learned in school.

[Jim K]

You should not need a relief cut on an M-N. The only reason for needing them on the Model 1917 Enfield is that some of those barrels were put on by machinery and are so hard to remove that the excessive force will crack the receiver.

Jim