Avis Barrels

[SkyKid]

Hey Guys
I got an Avis barrel marked 2-19
Are they good barrels
Just wondering
Thanks SkyKid

Information

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[Cosine26]

Avis Barrel Usage
I would agree that a M1903 rifle in the 250K S/N range with an Avis barrel had received a replacement barrel. I would say that any rifle with an Avis barrel and a receiver numbered below 700K had received a barrel replacement. However after carefully reading Hatcher’s notebook and his description of the Avis barrel situation and subsequent use of these barrels, I believe that Avis barrels were used in the assembly of new rifles. Probably not much before the 1M S/N range. As a matter of fact I believe that at one time I read where Avis barrels were used in the building of some NM M1903’s.
Looking at the list of failures of M1903’s reported by Hatcher I find a couple of examples that may give some credence to my point.
5/18/1923 – S/N 1254701 had a failure characteristic of Avis failure at the USMA. According to Hatchers’ NB, the rifle was of early 1923 manufacture and would not really be expected to require a barrel replacement by May of 1923. Barrel is not identified as Avis manufacture but experienced the characteristic Avis failure.
9/3/1929 – S/N 1271923 (1926/27 build) in use by the ROTC at the 1929 National Matches had a characteristic Avis failure using 1929 NM Ammo. This rifle could have had a barrel replacement. There were no National Matches in 1926 so the rifle was probably not built up as a NM. It may have been built in 1927 but could have been rebuilt after the 1927 Nationals. I believe that the ROTC were issued NM’s at Perry.
The discussion on page 201 (Hatchers Notebook )in the chapter “The Strength of Military Rifles” indicates that after WWI, some of the commercial blanks were used in manufacture and the proof pressure was raised to 75K from 70K to eliminate the weak barrels. The Avis barrel situation is also discussed in the chapter describing M1903 failures-page 445. Nowhere in the discussions does it give the date that the higher pressure Proof round was introduced. If is not installed on a rifle, it probably was not tested at 75K.
Just some random thoughts.

FWIW

[Smokeeaterpilot]

Hey Guys
I got an Avis barrel marked 2-19
Are they good barrels
Just wondering
Thanks SkyKid

If I get time later I'll post a copy of the contract with Office of Chief of Ordnance. Good information from there and you can draw your own conclusions.

Very respectfully
Andrew

[SkyKid]

Thanks Guys for the info
I put this barrel in a MK1 receiver I have
The barrel came off of a RIA receiver
It head spaced on my 03 fine using my go and no go gauges
I reload so I won't be using commercial rounds in the rifle
I'll keep the rounds at the middle of the charts
But most likely I'll just be shooting cast thru the rifle
I use a 200gr lead and Alliant 2400 for shooting a steel gong at 200yds
It's a very mild load and a lot of fun