head spacing a new barrel

[red-demon652]

Hello!!
I was wandering if its even visable that head spacing a prethreaded and chamberd. Shilin barrel could be done simply shaving the recoil lug.

Ive heard of this.

Could it be done by lapping it on a big file to correct the head spacing?

Whats your thoughts?

 

[chris allen]

It is possible if headspace is too much . The best way would to surface grind the recoil lug . I think one would have a diffucult time keeping the recoil lug square while using a file .
good luck
Chris

 

[Elkins45]

What kind of rifle are you asking about? Is it a Remington 700? If it's a Savage then the thickness of the recoil lug doesn't control headspace, does it? Isn't the recoil lug just slipped over the barrel between the receiver and the barrel nut?

Remingtons (IIRC) have a shoulder that butts up against the recoil lug, so thinning it would reduce headspace, but only so much. You can only take off so much metal before the recoil lug would start to flex too much for any kind of repeatable accuracy. If you have excessive headspace in a Remington I suspect the preferred course of action would be to shave off some of the recoil shoulder of the barrel and to take the same amount off the breech face.

Was this prefit sold as a direct screw-on replacement? I've not seen those offered on anything except Savages because of they way you can adjust headspace without reamers or a lathe. All the Mauser prefits I seen being sold are intentionally short chambered.

 

[red-demon652]

Well technicaly i havnt bought one yet but shilin is offering a prethreaded and chamberd barrel for the rem. 700. The correct way to fit it is to reduce the barrel shoulder in a lathe.

However lol i dont have a lathe at my disposel, and want the satisfaction of the project doin it myself.

Bergara barrels is offering a nutted barrel for reminnton. But ive heard bad things about there barrels.

I feel shilin got the product im needing for my purpose, or ive given the thought of a short chamberd barell and use a hand reamer to finish the chamber and head spacing. For witch i know i need more knowledge before i go iether rought.

And ofcourse the satisfaction of doin the project myself.

Is it realy easy to go to deap using a finishing chamber reamer?

 

[BBBBill]

...Is it realy easy to go to deap using a finishing chamber reamer?

Yes, it is. Also easy to get an egg shaped chamber if you apply any side load to the reamer which is common. That's why pros use a lathe and a floating reamer holder.
The tone of your question suggests that you are totally green to this, so I strongly suggest that you either farm it out or be prepared to study this a lot more before proceding on your own.

 

[red-demon652]

Oh yes verry green! LOL

Learning as i go along. Im wanting to build my first target rifle.
Not nessesarily f class or benchrest. Just a good acurate varmiter.

 

[Old Dog Man]

Headspacing barrel

Generally the deep chambers are about .018" too deep, if you try doing that without surface grinding the lug you will have a bad job. It would be eisier for you to get the short chambered barrel and rent a finish reamer ( 4D reamer rentals ) and you could do it ok. If this scares you get it done by a smith. Al

 

[red-demon652]

Yes its looking like a smith is gonna be the wise decision.

Or get me a lathe and start smithing.

Thanks for the input all!! I love THR!!!!!!!!!

 

[NCsmitty]

Don't mess with the lugs to adjust headspace.
The most you should do is to lap in the lugs to the seats with lapping compound to give more engagement contact.

Shilen barrels are quality, and are a good choice. If a barrel is long chambered, you'll need a lathe to cut the breech end to headspace, and if it's short chambered you'll need a reamer to final cut to the headspace gauge.
As mentioned, Savage barrels are a different deal, and they utilize the barrel nut to adjust.

Good decision letting a gunsmith complete the installation.


NCsmitty

 

[red-demon652]

Thats a verry good point with the recoil lug thanks.

I can see the light.