Model 52 barrel

52 barrel starting to take shape..
Finished with this set up..moving on..

Another Shillen blank?

jmdavis wrote:Another Shillen blank?

Hi Mike
No, Douglas 1 X 10

Looking forward to seeing it in action or the test results.

What kind of lathe setup are you using?  I just started machining at my local university, and I have no idea what's going on. 

jmdavis wrote:Looking forward to seeing it in action or the test results.

Laying out the  lower lug:
Saladman;
1911/52 barrels, all dimensions are machined from the C/L of the bore.. So the set up axis is the bore center line..The blank was turned in the lathe, prior to the milling machine operation.. There is much to do yet.. The milling machine set up is utilizing a super spacer  w/tailstock to machine the squares, and the top of the barrel radius off the bore C/L.
In this picture I have scribed my lay out lines for the lower lug, in preparation for the camming grooves. Much of the stock will be machined away..The bench centers allow easy calculation and transfer of dimensions.

How long does it take to set this up and complete a barrel to your satisfaction?  It looks like you've got the precision down!

Getting the compound vise dialed in and ready to cut the all important camming angles...On the down hill side now... Have to wait for the reamer before I can complete it..

Jerry, 
Do you know if another full time smith is looking at producing these?

In order to do this economically, it would take CNC equipment.  But with the price of CNC where it is, it wouldn't be too costly per each.  The real cost is the non-recurring, programming and such.

Steve B wrote:Jerry, 
Do you know if another full time smith is looking at producing these?

Bar Sto at one time made them.. I don't know if they are still  do..There's not much call for them.. Demand must exceed cost to produce plus profit..
Remember Wobbley, anything commercially produced, has cost and profit  involved.   Therefore, compromise is always there.. Always. There's no way around it. I don't care what aftermarket barrel is picked.. There is some feature, large or small that can/could be improved upon.  And that's why a very few of us pursue the alternative by making our own..I'll on 1911 barrels shortly..

Impressive work. Nice Clean and accurate. Ray pulver in Australia also makes barrels to the M52.

The late Jim Clark, Jr for years wanted to make M52 barrels with faster twist.  He and I talked about it several times, the last being Camp Perry 2015.  At that time Jim thought he had found a rifle barrel company that would produce the blanks.  I have not been in contact with the family to see if the project is continuing.

This one is about done for the time being... Waiting on a couple of reamer designs to try..Started to make chips on a 1911 14  twist 45 barrel..

Amazing and super nice Job jerry.

Very interesting!

the original factory barrel twist is 1/10???

SW-52 wrote:the original factory barrel twist is 1/10???

Jerry is doing some experimenting based on earlier barrel test results.

M52 was 18.75, but S&W tried 12, 14, and 16 too in an effort to stabilize the full wad cutter.  Not sure if any of those made it to production guns.

- Dave

Have to as you a question Jerry. Are you using the same load of WST with these faster twist barrels or does it require a different powder to get the function and accuracy you are looking for?

BTW very nice work !


Virgil

Virgil Kane wrote:Have to as you a question Jerry. Are you using the same load of WST with these faster twist barrels or does it require a different powder to get the function and accuracy you are looking for?

BTW very nice work !


Virgil

Hello Virgil,
I haven't done anything in the area of 50 yard load testing with this gun..Yet.. I still have several cases of AMI and a case of red box federal that we have been using at 50.. Once I get the 10 twist up and running, I'll start to play with some long line loads..Waiting on my new reamers... The 25 yard load is right at 2 gr. of BE..with the Penn DEWC and 14 twist..