"Smoothing" a barrel

[flint62]

Has anyone ever tried removing the rifling from a barrel to make a smoothbore out of it?
I have an old 50 cal barrel sitting there and I got to thinking....(always a dangerous thing)
What if?
Any thoughts?? other than seek professional help....
Kevin :youcrazy:

 

[Black Hand]

Apparently this has been done with greater or lesser success depending on whos' post you read. My take would be to build a 50 cal rifle with the barrel you have and buy a smoothbore barrel. Any excuse to have/build more guns is a good one!!!!!
Black Hand

 

[guncobbler]

If you wanted to do this by hand could you get a twist reamer, braze it to a steel rod, weld a T handle to the rod and start to twist? Who does this levle of primitive gunsmithing? The folks at Dixons would know. I agree with Black Hand that the easiest way would be to buy a replacement barrel but that would be an interesting project. GC

 

[BLAHMAN]

Olie has built a reaming machine from an old lathe we found at the Log Cabin. I believe we paid $75.00 for it.

We have yet to put it through it's paces, but there is a piece of equipment we have in addition to rifling machines.

 

[ssettle]

I drilled out an old 50 cal CVA flint barrel a year ago and put a 32 caliber sleeve in it. I wanted a small game rifle. Gave the old girl new life. I don't see any problem with what you want to do. :thumbsup:

 

[davy]

I drilled out an old 50 cal CVA flint barrel a year ago and put a 32 caliber sleeve in it. I wanted a small game rifle. Gave the old girl new life. I don't see any problem with what you want to do. :thumbsup:

I think it would be an interesting project for someone to do and show us .. to step thru with photos .. in the howto section! :grin:

Davy