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Criterion Barrel

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britrifles View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 13 2020 at 6:02pm
Many thanks Englishman, very useful info.  

My only real concern is getting that barrel off without damage to the receiver or spinning the barrel within the barrel vice.  I’ve got a decent receiver wrench which I will need a steel pipe extension, but the barrel vice arrangement is not the best.  It is a very substantial steel clamp with an aluminum slotted insert that is tapered for the chamber,  however, the insert taper does not match the taper on the chamber.  I worked at sanding it to create more than a line contact around the barrel, perhaps about 0.5 inch wide contact around the circumference.  Tightening the 1/2 inch bolts on the steel barrel vice should put a lot of pressure on the aluminum insert gripping the chamber well, but I don’t know if this will be enough to hold the barrel while torque is applied to the receiver.  


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englishman_ca View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote englishman_ca Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 14 2020 at 12:07pm
You really do need a bushing that has the same taper as that of the reinforce. The more contact the better the grip. You dont want that barrel to move at all, otherwise the finish will suffer.

Unless you have a press, it is very difficult to apply enough force to crush a barrel by clamping over the chamber area, but not difficult to leave clamp mark impressions in the surface. 
You don't want to clamp with point contact or line contact. You need full area contact gripped on the taper. 

If you have access to a lathe, use a parting off tool to cut the barrel as close as you dare to the receiver ring about 3/16 deep.
This will relieve the crush on the barrel shoulder and allow the thing to break free when you crank on it.

I have my barrel vise mounted solid on the end of a very heavy metal work bench. No give. Lots of room to swing a big hammer.

If you don't have a lathe, a hacksaw cut around the barrel will work also.

The cut barrel can still be recovered and refitted to another rifle, but it will need turning and a sized breeching washer made to allow it to index.

Same principal salvaging a tight barrel from a trashed receiver. Cut the receiver ring just behind the shoulder, that will also relieve crush but you don't destroy the barrel.

And then there are No.4 barrels that go pop on the first whack and just spin off.
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Look to your front, mark your target when it comes!
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britrifles View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 15 2020 at 5:10am
I’ll need to find a machine shop that can turn the inside of the bushing to the correct taper.  I was able to get about 1/2 inch wide contact around the circumference using sandpaper on the chamber and turning the bushing in it.  
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