Recontour Rifle Barrel?

[LeadSlinger585]

Can an K98k barrel be recontoured to have a smooth taper by a metal lathe operator/gunsmith?

[LynnJr]

It can be done but very few gunsmiths are willing to do it.They can't charge you enough for the amount of time it takes even though the lathe does all the work.
Bartlein will re-contour one of there own barrels and Stan at Douglas will re-contour one but they need a thread protector for the barrel tenon threads and muzzle brake if equipped with one.
They have both done barrels for myself really cheaply $40-$60 but I had to use up all my favors in order to get it done kind of thing.
Best bet would be to have a friend with a lathe do it or take it to a school and let one of the students do it.Make sure they use a steady rest so it doesn't bend in the middle..

[Fjold]

If you are going to go to all the trouble to remove the barrel and machine it down, just spend $175 on a custom blank barrel from one of the better barrel makers like Shilen

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/412238/shilen-match-grade-barrel-blank-264-caliber-65mm-centerfire-5-contour-1-in-8-twist-28-chrome-moly-in-the-white

You'll need a gunsmith to pull and remount the barrel anyway so half the labor will already be done.

[toby]

OMG! you will ruin a masterpiece and destroy History.................NOT