Barrel re-threading

[safariaddiction]

Can a barrel originally threaded for an enfield action be easily re-threaded for a ruger action?  Found an un-chambered barrel but the threads have already been cut for enfield.

[trotterlg]

It would depend on the shank diameter of both guns.  You could also probably cut off the old threads and make a barrel about 1 inch shorter.  Larry

[Frank46]

Which enfield?. There are the british smle and #4 also the pattern 14 in 303 british and the model of 1917 in 30-06. I think the ruger uses a 1" barrel shank with 16 threads per inch. Which cartridge are you looking at for your ruger?.Frank

[safariaddiction]

Which enfield?. There are the british smle and #4 also the pattern 14 in 303 british and the model of 1917 in 30-06. I think the ruger uses a 1" barrel shank with 16 threads per inch. Which cartridge are you looking at for your ruger?.Frank

A valid question.  The enfield would be the 1917.  The barrel is .416 and is un-chambered.  I plan on having it chambered in .416 Ruger.  It was offered to me by a gunsmith the other night and I was just not sure about the re-threading part.  Didn't know if it was going to be easier or cheaper to start from scratch with a brand new blank or buy this one from him.  Thanks.

[John Traveler]

An un-chambered barrel blank can be threaded and fit to the Ruger action, chambered, headspaced, and test fired for the same price as starting with an M1917 Enfield barrel blank.

Whether it is a good deal or not depends on how much he wants for the barrel.

[trotterlg]

Well John, that would depend on the contour of the blank he is looking at. It is threaded now, so they would have to come off.  If that doesn't leave enough barrel of a large enough diameter for threads and a sholder to seat on then it won't work out very well.  Larry

[wtroger]

You should be able to do it enfield where 1.125 10 tpi sq thread. The Ruger is 1.00  16 tpi 60 Deg V threads.

[Frank46]

Ok, that clears up which enfield your bbl is threaded for. Since its for a 1917 enfield and has the square threads you will need to know the minor diameter of the threads currently on that bbl. By minor diameter I mean the space between the square threads. I don't have a 1917 bbl at hand or would measure it for you and give you the numbers. You would need at least one inch to make sure the old threads cleaned up and that there is enough left to safely thread for the ruger 1"x16 tpi you will need. did your gunsmith by any chance let you know what barrel maker made the bbl?. I ask this as most bbl makers usually stamp twist, bore diameter, material the bbl is made of and bbl maker's name on the breech end of the bbl. Usually when threaded and chambered this info is usually machined off then its anybodies guess as to whom the bbl was made by. I sincerely would hate to see you get this bbl and after all the machine work find out that it isn't suitable for your ruger. Douglas
bbls does offer fully threaded and chambered bbls and I'm sure that most other bbl makers do likewise. The .416 Ruger's I have seen usually have a substantial shoulder and carries that out from the receiver some distance before it starts tapering. I'd check with some bbl makers and get prices first to see what's available. The bbl is the heart of any good rifle and it would be pennywise and poundfoolish to stick an unknown barrel and later find out that it won't shoot to your expations. Then you would be back to square one plus the cost of removeing the old bbl and getting a better one. Please accept the above in the spirit of which it is given. Been there before and would hate to see you get stuck with a crummy bbl. Frank

[LASSIE]

the best thing would be just buy a good barrel blank and have your smith to fit it for you?
you can get a good barrel from E.R. Shaw for about $170.00 blued I have bought 3 of their barrels
all of them shoots very accurate.

[safariaddiction]

Sorry been a while since I have been back to this topic.  With the help and instruction of a gunsmith I have been able to remove the old threads and have plenty of room to re cut new threads on the barrel shank.  There is alot of meat in the enfield that is not needed for the ruger.  I just have to cut the threads and chamber. 

[nanuk-O-dah-Nort]

good to hear.

I"m in Canada...  there is a real problem getting barrels up here....   'specially reasonable prices ones for us garage mechanics

[yosemite]

I have done it, it will work!, have also used surplus 1917 barrels on Lg ring Mausers, by centering v thread tool in the shank , and cutting 12 tpI to proper mauser thread depth, they are not perfect, but you can cut adequate threads,  the od of the Ruger thread is less than the root of the enfield 17, or 14