ssdave wrote on Aug 23^rd, 2013 at 8:56pm:


I'd certainly like to read his book, though I can't help wondering how directly applicable bench-rest refinements might be to precision small-game hunting (my own humble & prosaic interest) at ranges almost never in excess of 75 yds (a long way in the woods).  But, directly applicable or not, I'm sure it would still be enlightening.

That 500+ rounds through a bench-rest rifle bore can make a significant difference in scores I don't dispute--I accept it as a scientific fact.  My question is, if you'll forgive my belaboring the point, will it turn a 3/4" rifle into a 1/2" rifle?  If the answer is yes, I'll burn up a brick through every  RF I've got (all SSs, so that will take time); that is, if & when I find the bricks to burn up that way.

Accuracy is very relative. 
 Are you shooting squirrels in the head out of trees (say 1 inch @20-30 yard shots), are you trying to shoot a 250/10x on an inch and a half x-ring at 200 yds, are you trying for a 2200 out of 2500 offhand @ 100 yds, or are you trying for sub 1/4 in groups @ 50 yds off the bench.  All are very different games.
Are you shooting 150$/brick  (or more) premium match ammo or 20$/box bulk (if you can find it)?
Then there is the quality of the rifle/sights to start with as well as the individual shooter's personal skill level and always, the "conditions".

As rifling tools wear variations occur and no mass-produced barrel billets can be totally homogenous in micrograin and hardness structure.
I'm convinced that new-from-the-factory 22 rf barrels benefit from "lapping" to polish out the small MFG striations created in the rifling process-whether done with a brick or so of ammo or with more mechanical means.
I imagine hand cut and polished barrels may have this done as part of the process---contributing to their coast and reputation.
Barrel liners are simply very thin walled rifled barrels designed to be inserted in a heavier barrel.   Quality barrels and liners count and cost to start with.  
 So does the skill of the installer.  A good quality gunsmith who understands your accuracy requirements can make a liner/barrel combination that will work for you.  
We have several experienced gunsmiths associated with this site that can do the job, but high quality costs and good gunsmithing takes time.
   
A DIY job could work as well, depending on the skill and knowledge and tools of the worker--and his experience level with his tools (would you want a kidney transplant from a trainee?) and of course the initial accuracy requirements and conditions.

QuestionableMaynard8130 wrote on Aug 26^th, 2013 at 7:26am:


At the Saratoga Springs gunshow this weekend, one crook had 9-10 bricks of CCI SV priced at $125 ea.  No sales for him, maybe because a less greedy crook was offering bricks (Rem.) at only $80 ea. 

The two modern liners I'm familiar with are TJs and Walthers. Both are hammer forged and both are very accurate. 

Am familiar with the Parker-Hale from a shooting stand-point, as my brother's Winder Musket is one that is back from England and was lined by P-H. My understanding is that doing so was SOP for the ones the British purchased.

Redman liners are button rifled and T.J.'s are hammer forged. Both are made from 4130 aircraft tube. The hammer forging proses make the steel a little harder. The 4130 steel does not machine very well. I tried doing a cut rifle liner with some and gave up.

QuestionableMaynard8130 wrote on Aug 26^th, 2013 at 10:17pm:

The hammer forging process uses a larger diameter tube with a thicker wall. The mandrel is about 4" long and I am told the machine is quite large. T.J.'s says they have a 6 cylinder engine that runs the machine. With button rifling a carbide button with rifling on it is pushed or pulled through. The button may be about 1" long and have a very narrow section with the rifling and tapered to both ends. When using it on thin wall tube the tube can spring away and then back, not like doing a full size barrel with a wall thickness of maybe .400". I have seen a few button rifled liners where you could see the rifling on the OD of the liner.