Lug removal?

[troy5775]

I asked this in a different topic but has anyone ever tried removing the lug from a donor barrel and welding it onto another? I was wondering about using a cut off wheel on a die-grinder or drimmel tool to cut off the lug and cutting a groove in the new barrel for the ejector. Some of the barrel blanks on numrich look promising and cheap and I have a older 12 ga barrel for a donor. To me it looks easier to do and more legal than a barrel stub. Especially with the tools and limited skills I already have.

[trotterlg]

There is no reason they cannot be cut off and welded to a new barrel of the proper diameter using proper welding equipment and skills.  That said, I am really concerned about the safety of the re-barrel schemes being presented here.  They are far beyond the dangers of shooting a rifle barrel on a shotgun frame, for which discussion here is prohibited.  Grinding a barrel down with a belt sander, pounding it into a stub and then holding it in place with glue is incrediably stupid in my opinion, as would be welding a lug on with a buzz box in the basement.  Even pistol cartridges operate at very high pressures, if one of these lets go it will be "Film at 11" on the nation news.  Good luck guys, I am not a gunsmith, but I do know this is not the way to do things.  Larry

[southernutah]

It will cost about $150 for a factory barrel. value of your face if home gunsmith jobs goes bad-----------local hunter had a barrel lug come off on a custom Encore barrel, lost an eye from the hammer. There is different ejector for every caliber.
Fred at Bullbery doen't reuse lugs. because the barrel is worth more than the lug, the lug is ruined saving the barrel.

[NFG]

What your asking is the same thing as doing a chamber job with an electric drill motor an a drill bit...it is really dumb to even think about it, THEN say you have limited skills, which tells the whole story right off. 

DON'T DO IT.

There is a ton of difference between doing a stub barrel on a donor receiver and snatching a lug off a donor barrel and welding it on another barrel...not to mention the metallurgy or the shadetree welder that would attempt to do it.

I'm an ex-weldor by profession and I wouldn't attempt to do what you're thinking even though I know HOW to do it and  I CAN do it by TIG or Plasma welding, there are a lot more things to consider than just clamping the lug on and zapping it.  The lugs are welded on by setting the barrel and lug into a fixture and robotically welding the lug on under controlled conditions.

This internet gives dangerous information to anyone without the basic understanding of when NOT to do something...ANYTHING.  Some of the questions and/or actions I read on the net really puzzle and scare me.

[quickdtoo]

Wayne originally intended to try plasma cutting the underlug off the donor barrel and to weld it on the Shilen barrel blank for my 6.5x55, but after getting parts in hand he chose to do a stub instead, and he builds guns for a living. 

Tim

[troy5775]

when I say limited skills I am saying cutting and welding is one thing I can do, Turning a barrel on a lathe and recutting a chamber isn't. I would trust my weld alot more than some epoxy.

[mechanic]

My only concern would be the change in the metallurgy of the barrel at the chamber, where you are welding.  Without heat treating, it could change dramatically.  Not knowing the composition of the steel in the barrel would not stop a good weld job, but it might weaken the structure of the barrel.  There are now thousands of different steel mixtures made for specific purposes.  Thats why I would'nt chance it.

If it were something forward of the chamber, and requiring low heat like the forearm stud, I would'nt be concerned personally.

You be the judge, but the cost of a barrel might not be worth the risk.....

[lee1954]

I favor the stub  idea as welding can warp the barrel - even if just a little... then there is the headspace.. threads would let you adjust a little,,
      I have not done it ,,, but had thought about it....