Drill Rifle

[LiamH]

Some time ago there was a lot of discussion about the safety of using a drill rifle receiver. I would like an expert opinion on the use of a barrel of a drill rifle that has been spot welded.

Information

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[Kirk]

I could not recommend their use. Not even cosidering the weld between the barrel & receiver, the Army cut a hole with a welding torch, under the barrel, about .4" deep by .5" wide, almost into the chamber. A definite weak spot. Also, they drove a steel rod into the chamber. Even if you could get it out, the chamber or throat will be buggered.

[Chuckindenver]

barrels from Drill rifles are nothing more then scrap...dont shoot them, or use them for anything other then scrap.

[Da CSP 1903shooter]

I believe your question was about using drill rifle receivers. But some how you got answers about the barrels??? As to the receivers, I have used two, one a high number N.S. receiver & one remington A3 receiver. I used the N.S. receiver to build a 220 Swift, I have shot over 2 thousand rounds Very High pressure loads through that rifle with no problems. The other A3 receiver was used to build a 6 mm Remington, I have shot several hundred rounds through that rifle. I check headspace often and there has been no problems with headspace. BUT your results could vary!!! I know one guy that has used several to make a couple of 45 ACP carbines. He also used a couple other barreled receivers to make a 44 cal on a shortened 30-06 cartridge case and another in 375 on a shortened 30-06 cartridge case. Both the 44 and the 375 are kept below 2000 fps, so pressures must be fairly low. He also used the drill rifle barrels by boring them out and installing liners in them. But boring out the 'plug' and the weld is not real easy. There are a lot of 'hard' spots because of the weld and it is a lot easier just to buy a new barrel. If you do decide to use a drill rifle receiver, buy a "No-Go" headspace gauge as a safety measure and use it often to make sure the receiver is not stretching.

[joem]

I just read a article where a gunsmith made a .22 LR from a drill rifle. Finished results look good.

[Da CSP 1903shooter]

I read that article also. But he REALLY 'goes the long way around the barn' to make it. I have made several and have a way of doing it that is a lot easier. Read my posts under (22 by Niedner) on this forum.

[LiamH]

The question was about the barrel. The rifle in question had a brass plug in chamber which was easily driven out with a few taps from a cleaning rod and the barrel spot welded to the chamber. The weld was ground off and the barell was removed and inspected, there is no visible damage to the chamber and the bore is clean with good rifling. I am not an expert but I can not see why the barell can not be used.

[threepdr]

I got a few drill rifle barreled recievers which did not have the chambers welded. They just had a rod hammered into the chambers. Some came out with taps of a rod, others had to be drilled out. Most were shootable. A couple were slightly damage in the chamber neck when they were drilled out. I did'nt know it till I barreled and fired them. They had hard ejection and the cases were swollen around the neck. Other wise the bullet when down the bore and hit pretty much where it was pointed.

Unless you make a casting of the chamber, you may not know how usable it is untill you fire a round in it.

[Chuckindenver]

install it, shoot it and see what happens.

[LiamH]

Thanks for the coments, I just wanted an opinion from anyone who may have tried using a drill rifle barrel. I had recently obtained the rifle, the previous owner had fired it several times with no ill effects.