The straightening of a barrel is a proceedure that a competent, experienced "barrel maker" will do, but not a job for the generic gun smith who lacks the special equipment needed in order to perform the job.

    Even the experienced barrel maker may tell you it is beyond "being straightened" if perhaps the bend resulted from being backed over by your pick-up truck.   However, a simple "warp" of say a few thousands should present no problem.

    If you live in Pennsylvania, let me know with a P.M. and I will pass along a referral.  My source will first inspect it and tell you in advance what can be accomplish before you incurr any cost.

Creedmoor

It may depend on what type of barrel you are trying to straiten. I had an old 1886 Winchester come in years back that was bent in several spots. Story handed down through the family was that it was used to pry the wagon out of the mud. Old BP barrel are sometimes very soft steel. A little time in the press and it looked a lot better. I don't know if it was ever fired again.  Had a Peabody come in a few weeks back with a big ding in the barrel and a slight bend. Was able to put it in the lathe and bend it by hand. I slugged the barrel after and found no tight spot. Did not try to hide the ding. Harder barrels are done in the press and will "spring" back some so you need to go past center.
It does take a trained eye to see if the bore is true. I don't know if I'm there yet but I have taken more than a few bends out.

This is why the smart gunsmith doesn't do his craft in public!  There are times when the controlled application of brute force is the correct method!

David
Montezuma, IA

Quote:

Put a block of wood at each end and put your foot in the middle and step down easy, being careful not to go to far. If your a light weight you might have to hold the dog while doing this.