Can you tap and die your own gun?

[gibby]

Just a theoretical question here. Are you legally allowed to tap and die your barrel for a moderator?

 

I know about the re-proofing laws but I have not read anything on this.

 

Gibby

[smig4373]

:good:

[CZ550Kevlar]

You need a lathe and experience, plus alot of barrels are hardened steel which doesn`t come off in nice long strings it chips something chronic and needs skill to get it right. As for legally allowed yes i know lots who have screwcut their own barrels, i have never seen anything saying screwcutting is illegal unless you are a gunsmith.

[Dekers]

Just a theoretical question here. Are you legally allowed to tap and die your barrel for a moderator?

 

I know about the re-proofing laws but I have not read anything on this.

 

Gibby

 

 

Yes!

[njc110381]

I'm with Dekers, but for what it costs to get it done right, please don't do it with a tap and die!

[webber]

Gibby

 

A tap cuts an internal thread, a die cuts an external thread.

You can do the job yourself, but you are guaranteed to make a mess of it.

The thread needs to run perfectly concentric to the axis of the bore. This is achieved by turning the required diameter and single point screw cutting the required thread between centres on a centre lathe operated by someone with skill, and preferably experience of screw cutting barells.

 

If you ask around you will find the right man in your area, expect to pay around £30.

 

webber

[Billy.]

Just a theoretical question here. Are you legally allowed to tap and die your barrel for a moderator?

 

I know about the re-proofing laws but I have not read anything on this.

 

Gibby

 

I took a hacksaw to my rifle yesterday and chopped it to a 12.5" barrel. Quick grind on the stone and it was beautiful! Shoots fine too

[Bazooka Joe]

Yes you can, but as stated you need the gear,

 

As for barrels being hardened, haven't come across one yet, if that was the case, the dies wouldn't even touch it,

[Vince Green]

Tecnically, the answer is probably no because it is a modification and that has to be done by a gunsmith. On the other hand who's to know?

[Rem223]

There is no reason why you can't do it yourself, but as noted above you would need access to a lathe. Cutting threads is a basic skill for a machinist but trying to do the job with a die is likely to result in a pi$$ed thread. The only legal issue is if you wish to sell it. I believe at that point you must have it re-proofed. Let a gunsmith do it for you if you want a decent job.

[Bazooka Joe]

Tecnically, the answer is probably no because it is a modification and that has to be done by a gunsmith.

 

 

Vince...what brings you to this conclusion ?

 

Why does it have to be done by a gunsmith ?

[Dekers]

Tecnically, the answer is probably no because it is a modification and that has to be done by a gunsmith. On the other hand who's to know?

 

 

Vince...what brings you to this conclusion ?

 

Why does it have to be done by a gunsmith ?

 

...and what is the definition of a Gunsmith

[james_falconry1]

Had norman clark thread my rifle the other day, you can legally thread your own but cannot sell as it would need to be re proofed, any firearm sold needs to be in proof, which these wouldnt threading and proofing is about 150 qid, the expense is the proofing.

 

 

cheers james

[Vince Green]

Vince...what brings you to this conclusion ?

 

Why does it have to be done by a gunsmith ?

I meant it should be done by a gunsmith in the sense that it should be reproofed afterwards.

 

the Proof Acts lay down certain stipulations for anything that alters the proof of a firearm. Removing any metal from a barrel after its been proofed renders it out of proof. even drilling it for a scope.

 

Since one day, however distant, you will probably intend to sell your gun the question of proof will arise. a gunsmith is (theoretically) obliged by the proof acts not to return to you any gun which he believes is out of proof. He is supposed to retain it and make a declaration to the proof house that he believes the gun is out of proof and make arrangements to have it reproofed. Even the act of returning your gun to your posssession constitutes a "transfer"in the eyes of the law. I know a lot of gunsmiths disregard this quite blatently (and who really cares) but I am stating it as it should be and not what actually happens. personally I don't have a problem with it.

Edited May 16, 2010 by Vince Green

[DaveK]

the Proof Acts lay down certain stipulations for anything that alters the proof of a firearm. Removing any metal from a barrel after its been proofed renders it out of proof. even drilling it for a scope.

 

You haven't answered the gentlemans question. What brings you to the conclusion that it HAS to be done by a gunsmith?

[Dekers]

I meant it should be done by a gunsmith in the sense that it should be reproofed afterwards.

 

the Proof Acts lay down certain stipulations for anything that alters the proof of a firearm. Removing any metal from a barrel after its been proofed renders it out of proof. even drilling it for a scope.

 

Since one day, however distant, you will probably intend to sell your gun the question of proof will arise. a gunsmith is (theoretically) obliged by the proof acts not to return to you any gun which he believes is out of proof. He is supposed to retain it and make a declaration to the proof house that he believes the gun is out of proof and make arrangements to have it reproofed. Even the act of returning your gun to your posssession constitutes a "transfer"in the eyes of the law. I know a lot of gunsmiths disregard this quite blatently (and who really cares) but I am stating it as it should be and not what actually happens. personally I don't have a problem with it.

 

 

This is moving a bit off subject......

 

....and wanders into a contentious area but http://jacksonrifles.com/zz-silencers/file...am_evidence.pdf is interesting if you want to plough through it!

 

Fact is ANYBODY can cut and thread a barrel, and ANYBODY can send a gun to the Proof House.

[Lez325]

I took a hacksaw to my rifle yesterday and chopped it to a 12.5" barrel. Quick grind on the stone and it was beautiful! Shoots fine too

 

 

Im thought minimum barrel length for any rifled barrel was 14" or did I read the article incorrectly?

 

Les

[Bazooka Joe]

I meant it should be done by a gunsmith in the sense that it should be reproofed afterwards.

 

the Proof Acts lay down certain stipulations for anything that alters the proof of a firearm. Removing any metal from a barrel after its been proofed renders it out of proof. even drilling it for a scope.

 

Since one day, however distant, you will probably intend to sell your gun the question of proof will arise.

 

I've threaded a few barrels & haven't had them proofed, basically I'm not selling these guns on. To me the re-proofing of the barrel because it has being threaded is up for debate

 

The two proof houses are clapping there hands though

 

Gunsmith's would have you believe that it has to be threaded by them, Let's face it, they have a business to run, & most will go down that route to keep things right, in there mindset. I haven't a problem with that, everyone to there own.

 

Anyone time served engineering wise could do it, it's not rocket science, in fact it's 5th year metalwork when you were at school.

 

I begin to wonder now...what will happen to my guns after I've kicked it, the heinous crime of not having them re-proofed will come into force, & some pyramid building FEO will have them scrapped because they haven't the proofing tattoo.

[Billy.]

Im thought minimum barrel length for any rifled barrel was 14" or did I read the article incorrectly?

 

Les

 

The law is actually written in CM, which states that the minimum barrel length is 30cm, which is 11.8110236 inches with an overall length of 60cm, which is 23.6220472 inches

 

I did read it before cutting my gun, so fear not.

 

3.2 Section 5 of the 1968 Act, as modified by the Transfer of Functions (Prohibited Weapons) Order 1968 and amended by the 1988 Act, the 1992 Regulations and the 1997 Acts makes it unlawful to manufacture, sell, transfer, purchase, acquire or possess, without the authority of the Secretary of State, any prohibited weapon or ammunition. Those weapons and ammunition which are prohibited consist of:

 

i)any firearm which is so designed or adapted that two or more missiles can be successively discharged without repeated pressure on the trigger (section 5(1)(a));

ii) any self-loading or pump-action rifled gun other than one which is chambered for .22 rimfire cartridges (section 5(1)(ab));

iii) any firearm which either has a barrel less than 30 centimetres in length or is less than 60 centimetres in length overall, other than an air weapon, a muzzle- loading gun or a firearm designed as signalling apparatus (section 5(1)(aba));