hey

for the last week of the school hoildays i have addended a metal work class,and we get to make tools eg plum bob,centre punch but now we get to make our own thing and i was thinking a barrel for my panther D,i have measured it all up and just waiting to go to class to start it.(im not making the muzzel)
1.should i drill a hole at the tip of the barrel
2.should i cut the kit plastic muzzel off and glue it to the barrel.

matt

Hi Matt!
Turning your own barrels is a really cool part of the hobby, mate...a few things to remember, though, is first, replacing a kit barrel (or any other part for that matter) is usually done to either increase accuracy or detail. Here's a few questions to ask yourself before you begin, my friend...Are the measurements that you are using correct?, and if you want to use the kit muzzle, is it correct in detail?... and what are the benefits that you may be achieving in replacing this barrel (other than learning how to turn a barrel, in which there is nothing wrong with that! )

I would definitely drill your barrel out, as it will only increase the look and overall accuracy of your build...whatever you decide, good luck and have fun with it! Who know's, you may become a fantastic barrel maker!!
~Gunny

Matt

Can you let us know how you get on, and post pictures so we can see if it's good?

Andy

im using the kit measurments,i tried it today on the lathe and mangaged to bend the bit of metal so il give it a go tomorrow.


matt

Drill the barrel out first and make the barrel longer than you want, then put the "turning centre" in the tailstock. This is a moving cone shaped attachment that fits into the moving block that you'd put drills in. Move this up to the hole in the barrel and then turn the outside. This should prevent the workpiece bending. By making the barrel longer than you need you should get clearance between the turning centre and the cutting tool, so you can turn the outside a bit away from where these bits meet up. You just need to cut the end off if this piece ends up wider than you want. Diagrams would explain this a lot better than writing but I cant insert one.

Alternatively varying the depth of cut and playing with speeds, or using a different material may help.

I think if you have a muzzle brake from the kit, that would be the best way to go for this part.

cheers for the help " ROSS",i tried making it yesterday and it keeped on bending,i knew i should of used the tail stock.so i didnt end up completing it which is a bumma.

matt

I have used the method that Ross describes and it does work very well with all but the thinnest barrels. Hardest part is getting the chamfer correct especially with long barrels such as the Panther. As for modern AFV barrels don’t bother, buy one instead