Barrel relining: How actually is it done?

[kaschi]

I've often wondered about this but have never been able to find out what the process involves. I'd be interested in knowing the following. What IS the actual liner itself? If you had a Win 94 rifle in say 32-40, can it be relined to 32-40 or does it have to be in 38-55? Lastly, how is the liner attached to the existing barrel and how is the chamber cut or is the chamber part of it?
These might sound like dumb questions but I have no clue how it's done!
Thanks, gents!

[jnyork]

Very simply, the liner is actually a barrel with very thin walls. You drill out the original barrel with a drill that is a few thousands over the diameter of the liner. The liner is then usually coated with epoxy and inserted into the original barrel and chambered the same way you would chamber any other barrel.

From previous experience, I'm sure others will chime in here.

[Grizzly Adams]

Very simply, the liner is actually a barrel with very thin walls. You drill out the original barrel with a drill that is a few thousands over the diameter of the liner. The liner is then usually coated with epoxy and inserted into the original barrel and chambered the same way you would chamber any other barrel.

From previous experience, I'm sure others will chime in here.

That's pretty much it. You can buy a liner in whatever caliber you want. My gunsmith solders the liner in, instead of expoxy. I guess he is old school!

[ursavus.elemensis]

What's an approximate charge for doing a re-barrel? I know a lot of factors will influence the final cost, but what's a ballpark estimate.

Also, does anyone know if you can rebarrel a lever rifle, say a .357 Mag to be able to fire the semi-auto 9 mm pistol ammo? I;m guessing that you can't, because the 9 mm is not a rimmed cartridge, but if you could actually do it, I might be interested.

[Sixgun]

What's an approximate charge for doing a re-barrel? I know a lot of factors will influence the final cost, but what's a ballpark estimate.

Also, does anyone know if you can rebarrel a lever rifle, say a .357 Mag to be able to fire the semi-auto 9 mm pistol ammo? I;m guessing that you can't, because the 9 mm is not a rimmed cartridge, but if you could actually do it, I might be interested.

I have had several barrels relined. My good friend Craig Rittenhouse of Tamaqua, Pa. is a top notch gunsmith and charges about $300 for his work. This includes installing the liner, rechambering, and cutting out the extractor groove.

The 9mm will not work. Well, by that I mean, sure, it could be chambered for that caliber but no gun is going to feed it or extract it without major modifications. In fact, I have never heard of it being done.------Sixgun

[Sixgun]

I've often wondered about this but have never been able to find out what the process involves. I'd be interested in knowing the following. What IS the actual liner itself? If you had a Win 94 rifle in say 32-40, can it be relined to 32-40 or does it have to be in 38-55? Lastly, how is the liner attached to the existing barrel and how is the chamber cut or is the chamber part of it?
These might sound like dumb questions but I have no clue how it's done!
Thanks, gents!

Yes, calibers can be changed but only in the same family of calibers such as the 32-40 to 38-55 or vise-versa. 30-30's can be made into 32 Spls. 38-40's can be 44-40's. Same with 25-20 to 32-20 but not 32-20 to 38-40 or 44-40 (small cartridge to small cartridge or big cartridge to big cartridge only)

Carbines or thin barreled guns cannot be relined as there is not enough meat left over after the drilling.------------Sixgun

[Leverdude]

Carbines or thin barreled guns cannot be relined as there is not enough meat left over after the drilling.------------Sixgun

Depends who you use. I just sent a 25/20 out to get lined & the fellow already did a 44/40 oct that Redmans among others turned down.
place is Taylor machine in WA & the guy does excellent work.

The 44/40 he had to turn the liner so it wouldn't interfere with the forward dovetails.
I think the 25 cal liner should have lots of room in the original 25/20 carbine barrel.

He Loc tites them in. The high heat stuff withstands a higher temp than epoxy.

The cost with shipping was around $300. Nice thing about relineing is you can fix any headspace issues.

[Rod WMG]

I have to comment on a couple of things said here. jnyork wrote: "Very simply, the liner is actually a barrel with very thin walls." And sixgun said, "Carbines or thin barreled guns cannot be relined as there is not enough meat left over after the drilling."

I respect the opinions of these fine gentlemen, but this isn't always so. I just bought a .44-40 Stevens A&T carbine which probably originally started out as a rimfire something and was converted to a 12 ga. shotgun. It now is a very heavy barrel (sleeved) .44-40. An old time Arizona gunsmith did the work, apparently silver soldering in the liner. I'd buy a dozen more like it; it's a fine carbine.

I realize the others were speaking of rifles, not shotguns, but this example in noteworthy.

[Sixgun]

Leverdude & Rod,
Well, 'ya learn something new everyday. I have passed up nice src's with bad bores because I was told they could not be relined. Taylors is a name I will put in the "Sixgun archives". Thanks guys --------Sixgun

[kaschi]

Thanks for the info. I have a 32-40(Model 1894 Win rifle) that I'm thinking about doing it to. When you look at the rifle from the bore end, is it noticeable at first glance that it's been relined? I mean, is there a "ring" visible where the old meet the new?

[Sixgun]

Thanks for the info. I have a 32-40(Model 1894 Win rifle) that I'm thinking about doing it to. When you look at the rifle from the bore end, is it noticeable at first glance that it's been relined? I mean, is there a "ring" visible where the old meet the new?

The ones I have had done cannot be seen from the muzzle end with the naked eye. If you take a magnifying glass and look real hard, it is detectable. The breech end is a different story. Unless you pay the gunsmith mega bucks extra, it can be seen, but then, only by a guy who knows what he is looking for.

Go ahead and have it done. if the bore is that beat or if the rifle is shooter grade, it won't hurt much, if any at all. You will really like the way it shoots. You gotta play hard because when they throw the dirt in your face, the shootin's over----------------------Sixgun

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Carbines or thin barreled guns cannot be relined as there is not enough meat left over after the drilling.------------Sixgun

Depends who you use. I just sent a 25/20 out to get lined & the fellow already did a 44/40 oct that Redmans among others turned down.
place is Taylor machine in WA & the guy does excellent work.

The 44/40 he had to turn the liner so it wouldn't interfere with the forward dovetails.
I think the 25 cal liner should have lots of room in the original 25/20 carbine barrel.

He Loc tites them in. The high heat stuff withstands a higher temp than epoxy.

The cost with shipping was around $300. Nice thing about relineing is you can fix any headspace issues.

Correct,
The liner will need to be turned down for the thinner forward part of the barrel and the barrel has to be drill accordingly. This extra work does add to the cost of a re-line.

The Tu-tone Rossi you see in my avatar is a 357mag relined to 32-20.

As for the seams showing I have seen both muzzle and breach ends welded after the reline to hide the seam. Imposible to detect with the naked eye.

That's John Taylor Machine. Nice guy too.

[Leverdude]

Thanks for the info. I have a 32-40(Model 1894 Win rifle) that I'm thinking about doing it to. When you look at the rifle from the bore end, is it noticeable at first glance that it's been relined? I mean, is there a "ring" visible where the old meet the new?

If you know its there & really look you can make it out. Nobody has noticed while handleing the gun tho. As Steve said you can have the muzzle welded & refaced if you want. I just wanted it to shoot straight.

Steve, thanks for putting that link in there. I lost it somewhere. He is a nice guy, reasonable & easy to get ahold of. Wish he was a couple thousand miles closer, but, lifes like that.

[Old Time Hunter]

Try Bobby Hoyt in Fairfield, Pa. Does an exceptional job, especially if you want it to look original.

[Noah Zark]

Bill Gostomski of Mt Savage, MD relined my 310 Martini Cadet to 32-20 after Navy Arms had chambered it to 32-20 from 310 Cadet, leaving the .316-.317 bore. It was in 1992, and he charged me $185 for relining. He soldered the liner in place.

Craig Rittenhouse is excellent, as recommended by Sixgun.

Noah

[kaschi]

Thanks for the additional info and contacts. I live in PA. Fairfield is not far away(45 min) and neither is Tamaqua(maybe 1 hour or thereabouts).

[Sixgun]

Thanks for the additional info and contacts. I live in PA. Fairfield is not far away(45 min) and neither is Tamaqua(maybe 1 hour or thereabouts).

I don't have Craig Rittenhouse's contact info handy but you can "google" Craig Rittenhouse Tamaqua, Pa. and his phone number comes up. His e-mail is crittenhouse@evenlink.com You can ship the gun directly to him. Tell him Sixgun sent 'ya.---------------Sixgun

[Rod WMG]

The relining of the 12 ga. barrel on my old Stevens was done quite a long time ago. No effort was made to hide the fact that it was relined and though a non-gun person probably wouldn't notice, the person reasonably familiar with firearms could see it right off--but he'd know anyway since he'd recognize the shotgun barrel configuration.

I just call it a "bull barrel" and go on.

[kaschi]

Thanks Sixgun, I'll be sure to mention your name!

[longarm4146]

John Taylor just did my '86 40-65 and it ran about 300 time I paid for shipping and insurance both way from NC to Wash State erxc job, and u cannot look at end of barrel and tell its been lined.....he can also restore shortened barrels to original lenghts if u need that done.....I would highly recommend him