Aguila Blanca
Staff
What is it -- exactly -- and how is it done?
I'm playing with the notion of adapting a semi-auto handgun to a different cartridge of the same caliber. The barrel bore and groove diameters are the same for both, so what I would need to do is to bore out the chamber area slightly and machine an insert that's machined to the proper dimensions for the new cartridge.
Machining I understand -- although I don't currently own a lathe, so I would have to farm out the production of the insert, and the boring of the chamber in the original barrel. If I can get that taken care of, then the issue is how to secure the insert into the barrel.
Would a interference for be sufficient? This would mean freezing the insert and heating the barrel (to what temperature?) so that, when both parts normalize to the same temperature, the insert might be tight enough to function.
Or not. So then I think silver solder is the next option. I believe that's how two-piece barrels for pistols like the 1911 are made, and it mostly works. (I have seen photos of Springfield Armory two-piece barrels that self-disassembled.)
Is silver soldering really "soldering" (like, could I just use the non-toxic solder from Lowe's or Home Despot?) or is it "brazing"? If non-toxic plumber's solder isn't the right material, what is? And how hot does it have to get? Can a gun barrel be silver soldered without damaging the heat treating of the barrel?
TIA
I'm playing with the notion of adapting a semi-auto handgun to a different cartridge of the same caliber. The barrel bore and groove diameters are the same for both, so what I would need to do is to bore out the chamber area slightly and machine an insert that's machined to the proper dimensions for the new cartridge.
Machining I understand -- although I don't currently own a lathe, so I would have to farm out the production of the insert, and the boring of the chamber in the original barrel. If I can get that taken care of, then the issue is how to secure the insert into the barrel.
Would a interference for be sufficient? This would mean freezing the insert and heating the barrel (to what temperature?) so that, when both parts normalize to the same temperature, the insert might be tight enough to function.
Or not. So then I think silver solder is the next option. I believe that's how two-piece barrels for pistols like the 1911 are made, and it mostly works. (I have seen photos of Springfield Armory two-piece barrels that self-disassembled.)
Is silver soldering really "soldering" (like, could I just use the non-toxic solder from Lowe's or Home Despot?) or is it "brazing"? If non-toxic plumber's solder isn't the right material, what is? And how hot does it have to get? Can a gun barrel be silver soldered without damaging the heat treating of the barrel?
TIA