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Joined: Apr 2019
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OP
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Joined: Apr 2019
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I just ordered a pre-fit barrel from Lothar Walther for a Sako S491. As a general proposition, are pre-fits barrels generally machined accurately as far as threads and headspace and such? Or is a guy better off having the barrel chambered by his 'smith.
TIA
Tarquin
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Joined: Jul 2005
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Are you planning on installing the barrel yourself? If so, and you have the proper gauges, you'll have the answer.
Old Corps
Semper Fi
Get off my lawn.
FJB
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OP
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Are you planning on installing the barrel yourself? If so, and you have the proper gauges, you'll have the answer. I was going to have a local gunsmith screw on the barrel. He has a vise that works on the small Sakos. I have a reamer and gages. Just not sure I want Lothar Walther to cut the chamber and thread the breech without having my action in hand to fit the barrel. They tell me they do not fit actions to barrels; they just chamber and thread. Just concerned where this might be heading. Maybe I should just have a gunsmith chamber it.
Tarquin
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Joined: Jan 2021
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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How about having them chamber short about .020" and let LGS do the rest?
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 508
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 508 |
With Keleby actions the threads are all the same and start in same place. You can fully chamber and mark your caliber and it will headspace correctly and the caliber will be in the correct spot.
I would have your gunsmith do the whole job.
Hal
Last edited by HalH; 12/10/22.
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Joined: Apr 2019
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OP
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Thanks for the advise guys. I think I'll just ship it to Shaen.
Tarquin
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Joined: Dec 2014
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2014
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No experience with Sako or Lothar bbls, but just yesterday I fitted a Brownells El Cheapo Mauser short chambered bbl. It has been my preference for 40 yrs to breech a large ring 98 just as Mauser intended....the abutment very firmly seated on the inner "C" ring, and the shoulder just kissing the action sufficiently to prevent osmosis from drawing water into the threads. I am also of the opinion that a double seat may enhance accuracy. Others will differ. The otherwise perfect barrel, came about .625" shank length...95% of large rings will have a .630 depth shoulder to C ring. So I had to shave around .007" off the shoulder to get a good double seat. No big deal, if I had assembled it as it came, it likely would have worked just fine. The finishing of the chamber to final headspace was quick and easy. This is no criticism of Brownells in any way, by having a short shank, they have just made life simpler for the buyer. Just reporting what I have found. There is a persistent rumor that Lothar Barrels are made of a steel that is hard on reamers, if you take it to a gunsmith, he may balk a little. I personally doubt LW would sell a short chambered bbl that would be difficult to machine.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Thanks for the advise guys. I think I'll just ship it to Shaen. How much advice did you get? Certainly not enough to draw any reasonable conclusions. My limited experience with prefits has been great and i have my own machine shop and frequently chamber barrels. I have no idea how the sako prefits work but if they make them they're typically good fits. I did a 338 Norma prefit as i didn't have that reamer and it was 6 months to get it. My barrel headspaced as well as i could have done it myself
Last edited by dennisinaz; 12/10/22.
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