Served as a kind of tunnel, the gun barrel is essentially a long metal tube that allows a projectile to travel unencumbered towards its eventual destination. Inside the barrel, a smooth surface allows the bullet to pass without obstruction, while the outer layer features threads that securely attach it to the rest of the firearm.
Crafting a properly cut and threaded gun barrel is an art form that requires a precise touch. Accuracy is essential in making sure the barrel fits snugly and correctly onto the rest of the gun. To make sure this task is done perfectly, careful attention must be paid to getting both the length and intricate threads just right.
A gun barrel can be cut in a variety of ways, the most common being lathing. This process uses a lathe to rotate the barrel while an expertly wielded cutting tool is administered to carve it up. The result of this precision-focused work is an incredibly smooth finish.
In lieu of a lathe, a milling machine can be utilized to shape the barrel of a gun. It is not as exact as its analogous device, yet this process still employs a cutting tool moved slowly along the length of the barrel. It offers an alternative solution when a lathe is not readily accessible.
After trimming the barrel to the necessary size, it must be threaded. Threading is when grooves are cut into the circumference of the barrel, similar to a spiral. These ridges let the barrel lock in place when fitted onto the weapon.
It’s not a difficult task to thread a barrel and one of the common strategies is to make use of a tap. A tap, essentially, is an implement that is employed to form threads into a metallic surface. It consists of a handle and a tubular item with swirling rib-like lines along its length. To thread the barrel, the tap must be inserted within the opening and then turned until it carves out threads.
When looking for an alternative approach to threading a barrel, a die can be considered. This device is almost like a tap – the key difference being that it’s outfitted with pointed teeth, instead of grooved, spiral flutes. Threading is conducted by pressing the die into the barrel’s wall and turning it; as the die spins, it carves and forms threads in its surface.
Following the cutting and threading of the barrel, it is time to secure it onto the other components of the gun. This is done by gently twisting the barrel into the grooves that were crafted into the gun.
The barrel must slice out and thread together firmly to the gun if a shot is to fire off with precision. Conversely, if the barrel is incorrect in size or threaded incorrectly, its connection with the gun could wobble and result in a botched projectile launch.