What Are The Correct Barrel Pins?

[N.Y. Yankee]

I need to replace the 3 barrel pins that hold the barrel in the stock on an old full-stock .45cal rifle. What is the correct way to do this, buy round stock and cut and fit the pins? Is it hardened steel stock or standard steel? Does anyone ever use brass for this? It was a hand-made rifle and I doubt the cutouts for the tenons are an exact fit. Does it matter? Im assuming it requires hard steel. Does TOW or someone sell pins I can fit for diameter and length?

 

[2 shots]

most supply houses have pin stock. you will have to measure yours as they come in different sizes [ 2 normal sizes] but who knows what someone used., you may find the builder used finishing nails as was common.

 

[Eric Krewson]

The best material I have use is called music wire, it comes in different sizes, most use 1/16", I prefer 5/64th. Music wire is hardened and fairly cheap, most Ace Hardwares have it as do any hobby shop that sells RC airplane kits or parts.

I cut my pins a little long, put the pins in the stock, mark the correct length with a sharpie and cut them to size with a Dremel cut off wheel. It is very important to round the edge of the cut-offs so they will be blunted, I chuck mine up in a drill and use sand paper to dull them. If you don't you might get some tear-out of your stock wood when the pin comes out on the opposite side.

In my town Ace Hardware doesn't stock it but can order it.

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/hardware/chain-and-rope/wire/5039478

Looks like Hobby Lobby might have it in different sizes.

https://www.hobbylobby.com/crafts-hobbies/hobbies-collecting/tools-blades/music-wire---0-039/p/25259

 

[N.Y. Yankee]

The best material I have use is called music wire, it comes in different sizes, most use 1/16", I prefer 5/64th. Music wire is hardened and fairly cheap, most Ace Hardwares have it as do any hobby shop that sells RC airplane kits or parts.

I cut my pins a little long, put the pins in the stock, mark the correct length with a sharpie and cut them to size with a Dremel cut off wheel. It is very important to round the edge of the cut-offs so they will be blunted, I chuck mine up in a drill and use sand paper to dull them. If you don't you might get some tear-out of your stock wood when the pin comes out on the opposite side.

In my town Ace Hardware doesn't stock it but can order it.

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/hardware/chain-and-rope/wire/5039478

Looks like Hobby Lobby might have it in different sizes.

https://www.hobbylobby.com/crafts-hobbies/hobbies-collecting/tools-blades/music-wire---0-039/p/25259

Im going to hobby lobby after work!

 

[Cruzatte]

The best material I have use is called music wire, it comes in different sizes, most use 1/16", I prefer 5/64th. Music wire is hardened and fairly cheap, most Ace Hardwares have it as do any hobby shop that sells RC airplane kits or parts.

I cut my pins a little long, put the pins in the stock, mark the correct length with a sharpie and cut them to size with a Dremel cut off wheel. It is very important to round the edge of the cut-offs so they will be blunted, I chuck mine up in a drill and use sand paper to dull them. If you don't you might get some tear-out of your stock wood when the pin comes out on the opposite side.

In my town Ace Hardware doesn't stock it but can order it.

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/hardware/chain-and-rope/wire/5039478

Looks like Hobby Lobby might have it in different sizes.

https://www.hobbylobby.com/crafts-hobbies/hobbies-collecting/tools-blades/music-wire---0-039/p/25259

Good idea. I've bookmarked this post.

 

[R Ellis]

brass works fine

 

[stubshaft]

Nost hobby shops have 1/16" wire for control surfaces. A couple -f feet should be enough fo all of you pins.

 

[andy52]

I keep a box of 4p and 6p finish nails in my shop for that purpose.

 

[FlinterNick]

The best material I have use is called music wire, it comes in different sizes, most use 1/16", I prefer 5/64th. Music wire is hardened and fairly cheap, most Ace Hardwares have it as do any hobby shop that sells RC airplane kits or parts.

I cut my pins a little long, put the pins in the stock, mark the correct length with a sharpie and cut them to size with a Dremel cut off wheel. It is very important to round the edge of the cut-offs so they will be blunted, I chuck mine up in a drill and use sand paper to dull them. If you don't you might get some tear-out of your stock wood when the pin comes out on the opposite side.

In my town Ace Hardware doesn't stock it but can order it.

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/hardware/chain-and-rope/wire/5039478

Looks like Hobby Lobby might have it in different sizes.

https://www.hobbylobby.com/crafts-hobbies/hobbies-collecting/tools-blades/music-wire---0-039/p/25259

I also use music wire, it’s made of 1080 steel and is tempered, they don’t seize up and have stay straight, don’t bend out of shape.

 

[wiscoaster]

The best material I have use is called music wire, it comes in different sizes, most use 1/16", I prefer 5/64th. Music wire is hardened and fairly cheap, most Ace Hardwares have it as do any hobby shop that sells RC airplane kits or parts.

This is also what I've used to make pins and also reccomend it. It's also sometimes called "piano wire".

 

[LRB]

brass works fine

It may work but is not historically correct.

 

[Ohio Rusty]

I know of a couple of gun builders that use the thin coat hanger wire for pins. For thin pins for knife handles, I use 3/32nd cast iron welding rod. It is made from nickel and won't rust. The welding rods for tig welding would also be dandy for pins. One length would do many rifles. You could go to any welding shop and I'm sure they would give you the scrap short piece rods they won't use.
Ohio Rusty ><>

 

[Hatchet-Jack]

Any round steel stock will work. Builder suppliers sell it. Finishing nails work well too. Examples of originals always have steel pins. Brass was not used.

Round one end off with a file. Install it. Mark it just short. Remove it with pliers. Cut it with wire cutters. File round it off and install it.

 

[FlinterNick]

It may work but is not historically correct.

I would only use brass if the part being pinned is permanent, like a rivet used for a nose cap or inlay tack.

 

[FlinterNick]

Any round steel stock will work. Builder suppliers sell it. Finishing nails work well too. Examples of originals always have steel pins. Brass was not used.

Round one end off with a file. Install it. Mark it just short. Remove it with pliers. Cut it with wire cutters. File round it off and install it.

I polish my pins too, to remove tiny burrs that can get caught on the wood

 

[Robin101]

1/16" diameter weld rod.
Robin

 

[ZUG]

I've used finishing nails, welding rod and music wire - they all work well. The cheapest is the finishing nail - music wire is good as it does not deform easily. As others have said round off the ends slightly so as not to chip out wood when removing. After the pins are in and you don't want the shiny ends to show use a colored crayon that matches the wood and rub some on/in the hole. Welding rod has a copper wash on it to reduce the chance of rust forming. A welding supply shop will sell it in one-pound containers which will last you 10 + lifetimes if you are not a welder.

 

[R Ellis]

I co

It may work but is not historically correct.

I could care less about historically correct but if that is what you want go for it . Different strokes I guess

 

[FlinterNick]

I co

I could care less about historically correct but if that is what you want go for it . Different strokes I guess

I honestly have never seen a brass pin unused to lug a barrel, I’ve seen brass wedges but not pins.

Now I can tell why I wouldn’t or shouldn’t use brass pins to lug a barrel, brass peens over when hammered, if you continuously drift pins you could end up with a bur at the end of the pin that could damage the stock or get stuck in the lug.

I only use brass to secure parts i never intend to remove, rivets mostly..