Contender barrel with stripped scope base threads

[whitfang]

Also found a 10inch stainless steel Contender 30-30 barrel with 2 stripped screw holes on the rear scope base. The middle 2 holes out of the 4 holes are stripped.

How would a gunsmith repair this?
How much is it going to cost?
Is it going to be 'ugly'?
Is stainless steel a problem?

[Curtis]

Is stainless steel a problem?

I wouldn't think so.  Some grades of stainless are gummy, hard to machine and they gall easily,  however the high carbon stainless used in gun barrels should be just about as workable as carbon steel.  I'm not a gunsmith or metallurgist, but that is my take from working with lots of different kinds of stainless in food industry maintenance.

As for the fix?  I would imagine that drilling and tapping the hole to the next size screw would be the "right" fix but might also require drilling out any mount used with that barrel to accept the bigger screw.  There are also alternative methods like heli-coils and such that would keep the same size screw, but might not be reliable enough under recoil.  The cost for either of these fixes should be reasonable.  As for ugly, you wouldn't be able to tell it was repaired without removing the scope mount.

Curtis

P.S.  Forgot to add:  If you are considering buying this barrel, be aware that you will need to get a great deal on it.  Even then, fixing it probably won't increase the value much if any.  Also 10" 30-30 barrels traditionally sell for pretty low prices ($110 to $120 range and sometimes lower) compared to other calibers and even compared to longer 30-30 barrels.  Some find the muzzle blast and recoil from the short tube unpleasant in 30-30, and the round is really not efficient in that short a barrel.  If it were me I'd give $80 to $90 for it, tops.

[gs50401]

Another "fix" might be to drill four new holes for the mount slightly offset from the old holes if the mount will allow it.

[whitfang]

Thanks for the information.

The seller wants 125 for it, unrepaired.  I'll see if he'll deal on the price.

Thanks again.

[qwikrick]

If the caliber is something like a .357 there sould be plenty of material left so you could just drill and tap deeper into the barrel then get some longer screws.

I would think the 30-30 will have room for deeper holes.

[Merle]

Another "fix" might be to drill four new holes for the mount slightly offset from the old holes if the mount will allow it.

I wouldn't like to have a second set of holes, especially if they were near the originals - I'd be concerned they wouldn't hold up well under recoil.

I'd vote for enlarging the existing holes for the next larger screws - the mount would then be much more firmly attached. That's pretty much the method that J D Jones used on his mounts and they stayed put pretty well.

I would also consider how much all of this would cost & make sure the selling price reflects the additional work required.  

Just my nickels worth.

 

[Dirtmover]

Using the 2 good holes to secure it, just JB Weld (epoxy) the base to the barrel. De-grease both barrel and base with something like brake cleaner. Wipe any excess off before it dries. 

[Win 1917]

Retapping to larger a hole is a simple solution. JB welding the base renders the barrel practically worthless if you want to resell it.

Is the entire hole stripped out? Often times with the cheap Weaver bases the screws are so short that they only engage a couple threads and are easily stripped yet there are plenty of good threads left down in the hole for a full strength attachment if longer screws are used. If that's the case long screws you cut to length are available from Brownells.

[DEACONLLB]

I had one like that that a member sold me but did make it almost right but the gun smith went to the next size and drilled out the base for larger screw and mounted the base and charged me 40.00 took about an hour. Dont pay much and then get charged enough to almost buy a new barrel. I had one smith that wanted 100.00 to do the same job so check with smith before buying, good barrels with no problems are easy to come by.

Deaconllb

[Curtis]

good barrels with no problems are easy to come by

Well said, cuts right to the point.

Curtis

[whitfang]

Thanks for the help guys.  I did decide to skip this barrel and find one in undamaged condition.   No sense if looking for problems.

Thanks again.

[Eric N.]

Call T-C. I had a barrel with striped threads,they gave me a new barrel for free.

[SD Handgunner]

Brownells actually markets OVERSIZED 6x48 TPI Screws for just such problems. I too had an old T/C Barrel that had two of the holes stripped. I ordered the OVERSIZED 6x48 TPI screws from Brownells, put them in coated with Red Loktite and they never did work loose.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/sid=3104/pid=795/sku/1_Dz__Weaver__146__48_Screws

Larry

[whitfang]

Found another barrel and avoided the problem altogether.  Thanks for the advice, I may have to use some of those solutions in the future.

[Curtis]

I may have to use some of those solutions in the future

Yup.  There's lots of threaded stuff out there.  It's always a pain when they strip though.

Curtis