Hmmm well let's de-bug the CNC myth. CNC is more repeatable providing :-
1) The basic machine is capable of such accuracy, not all CNC'S are!
1) special tooling and tool holders are required for better than normal accuracy. Normal carbide inserts are now only guaranteed to index and remain on size to 0.1 (0.004") where as when I first started using Sandvik inserts they guaranteed sizes to 0.001" now that tolerance requires "Qualified" Tooling which costs a lot more than normal tooling and needs to be special ordered.
3) Not all control systems have the same accuracy and repeatability, the more accurate the more expensive and with today's cost cutting ? Firms buy what they can get away with.
4) It requires programmers who know what they are doing ........................... not all do and a lot I have come across are pretty darned useless.
5) It still requires skilled operators or minders and skilled setters to keep accuracy. A lot of places skimp on the minders and operators believing that the CNC will compensate for the lack of skill.
6) Just because a CNC was not used does it mean that it's not accurately made, The Pattern 39 Enfield Musket had interchangable parts made to fit by using difference guages developed by Joseph Whitworth. Interchangabilty of course required accuracy and this was achieved over 150 years ago.
7) Hammer forging was developed as I understand in in Europe, Parker-Hale of Birmingham was one firm which designed and built their own Hammer Forging machine, BSA also used this method of manufacture of barrels but still had cut rifling facilities. The Germans in WW2 used the hammer forging method in production especially for the MG42 barrels. Mauser at Obendorf used the cut rifling method at least before WW2 and Walter Gehman used a prototype rifle and sight to shoot a world record 300 meters score just prior WW2 using a cut rifled barrel. The Lee Enfield barrels were cut rifled as far as I am aware.
Oh were you aware that Tikka still use the human eye to set barrels despite all the laser stuff it seems a trained humane still does a better job!
With modern cost cutting in production something has to give and it's quality so the production rifles of today are not equal to those of 20 years ago despite modern alloys cost rules and quality takes a back seat to costs.
Stainless or Rust-Less steel as it was first called was developed for Naval guns to resist salt corrosion and the effects of the corrosive actions of the primers and propellents used at the time.
Yes I HAVE worked with CNC machinery as well as the older Peg Board controlled stuff. Was even learning programming before I left to help look after my parents.
