Have made a few barrels. Could make muzzle loader barrels that were better than I could buy.
Single shot barrels are a different story. All mediocre, about 1 1/2 inches.
Tools are slightly more crude than Mr. Pope used. Reaming is the tough issue. Easy to get too much taper in the bore.
Bottom line is it took about three weeks to make a barrel that I could buy for $300 and not any better.
Could probably work out the bugs, but mighty poor wages.
Chuck

All most informative, and I appreciate the time and trouble to answer my question. As a post script , I bought a 40 cal. Krieger bbl in stainless 31" long and 1,1/4" in diameter. As it is to go onto an Husqvana roller, whose action I will get colour cased, I will get the bbl. ceracoted in a rich blue  and hope it looks appropriate, timber hopefully to come from Treebone.

But if you ever felt the pulsing of a Ferrari-Colombo V-12 in your chest you would never opt for the Subaru (cost and availability be darned). Precision only goes so far and then it's a matter of what makes your heart sing!

If we all were merely pursuing accuracy we would be shooting the latest most advanced bolt action benchrest rifles, but they don't have the "soul" of a 120 year old single shot do they? Since we are straddling two different cultures - pure accuracy and vintage single shots - we find ourselves employing the best barrels we may, be they vintage ones from the likes of Shalck, Pope, Shoyen, Peterson, et al, or the likes of modern artists. The result is guns that are way more interesting/fun (to us, anyway).

That Subaru WRX will provide an exhilarating ride (a local buddy drives one and I can personally attest to that) but it pales in the way a vintage Ferrari/AC Cobra/etc. will suffocate all your senses.

Here ya go.

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serial #26538 (Rifle No.22), 22 LR, 30" tapered full-octagon Pope-rifled barrel by Ron Smith with a bright excellent bore. This is an absolutely wonderful offering from Classic Arms Corporation of California once again, utilizing some of the top craftsmen in their fields. A faithful duplication of the Marlin Ballard Model 3F "Gallery" offhand Schuetzen target rifle with accessories and beautifully cased. The barrel retains 99% original blue showing only a few odd light scratches on the right barrel flat just at the front sight. The frame, breechblock, fancy Schalk finger rest lever and hammer exhibit all of their wonderful vibrant color case-hardening, one small flaked spot on the left side of the frame which is unobtrusive. The deeply hooked-style Schuetzen butt has all of its original blue and has small sprays of excellent quality floral scroll at heel and toe. The frame features near full coverage exceptional intertwining scroll engraving with the finest background stippling offsetting the swirls, done by E. L. Peters. The rifle is stocked by James Tucker in highly figured Circassian walnut with a high comb Schuetzen butt with left-side cheekpiece and s-curved pistolgrip, a wonderful schnabel forend with widow’s peak-style horn tip, and detachable knob-style palm rest, all rating excellent to as-new, the buttstock with a tiny rack or handling mark here or there. They feature flawlessly executed checkered panels at the grip, bottom of the pistolgrip and of course forend. The action functions perfectly mechanically and the arm is equipped with double set triggers. Sighted with a globe style front sight with interchangeable inserts (not included), no rear seat, with a beautiful fire-blued Pope tang sight adjustable for windage and elevation with multi-position aperture. The barrel is milled for Pope scope mounts dovetailed directly in the left and right diagonal flats, and the arm comes with a Montana Vintage Arms 6x period-style target scope with fine duplex-style reticle with tiny center circle and bright excellent optics, the scope rating as-new itself. The rifle is beautifully cased in full-length Jatoba wood and leather trunk case by Ray Sterck, with square crystal oil bottle, horn-handled turnscrew, and cleaning rod, set in a very attractive navy blue baize lining with Classic Arms label on the interior lid. The case itself rates about excellent with a few very minor handling marks on the lid, and a very nic