Barrel straightening

[griswold]

I'm just dreaming right now as I have still much work to do on my eyes so I can see and shoot again. But I have a original Model 92 barrel, that I had relined years ago that the gunsmith gouged the chamber. So after many ruined cases, I had it relined again and that gunsmith bent the barrel pushing in the liner..........he tried straightening it but it is not true.

Yeah, I know. Fortunately for others these two are outta business now.

I purchased a new old 32-20 barrel rebored to .44 from a fellow selling parts in Tennessee and had that installed. Subsequently, when my vision started going south twenty years later, I sold it.

Still have the old barrel and was reading about 73 frames for sale for rebulid and was wondering if there is anyone out there that straightens barrels? If there is, I might decide to try my hand at building up a new gun.

Comments; suggestions; leads?

Griswold

[Coffinmaker]

Well ..... To begin with, your '92 barrel will have most of the dovetails in the wrong place.  I would think by the time you found someone to tackle straightening a barrel, you'd have more than the cost of a new barrel or even a take-off barrel from an antique parts dealer. 
Also, by the time you round up and purchase enough original Winchester parts to put a working gun together, you'll have spent enough money to have bought a "shooter" grade '73.  Or a new reproduction.
There is no way to know if a "frame only" can even be built up into a working rifle.  May times, the frame being sold is clapped out.

Coffinmaker

[wildman1]

Well ......  Many times, the frame being sold is clapped out.

Coffinmaker

What does that mean? WM

[St. George]

It means that it's worn out - beyond original tolerances - and on its last legs.

It's an old term.

Scouts Out!

[Thumper]

I cannot verify that either of these methods work, however, I've been told that barrels have been straightend by whacking the bowed out side of the barrel against a tree and by putting the bowed side up over a small dip in a dirt road and driving over it. I've actually done the 1st method with bars of solid steel for some blacksmithing projects and it works reasonablly well for my needs, but then I wasn't looking for "perfect".

[Billy Bristol]

to properly straighten the barrel should be put between centers and indicated for high spot. Then put in an arbor press with blocks fitted to the barrel. Pressing a little at a time and re indicating til it's straight again. This can either be done quickly or take a very long time depending on how lucky a person is. My guess is, unless it is a barrel that can not be replaced, buy a new barrel or rifle.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Or you can do what old time S&W and Colt armourers did on their DA revolvers for decades:  whack the barrel with a lead Babbitt. Hey, it works if you know what you're doing.