357 max barrel straightening

[jbunny]

well i straitened the barrel on my H&R 357 MAX today. this is how u check
for barrel straightness. to check the front muzzle half of your barrel, insert
a empty unprimed brass in the chamber and point the chamber at a bright
light, sky, or snowbank. the barrel has to be clean. u will see black and white
rings. if your barrel is straight the rings are all centered. the biggest ring is closest
to your eye and the smallest ring is the halfway point of the barrel. to check
the breach end of the barrel u have to make a light button that just fits in the bore.
the button has a .100 thou hole
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/MOUICH/litebuttonforbarrelcheck.jpg

in this pic u can see the small ring is not centered but down low. a photog i'm not.
the pic is not as pronounced as in real life. anyhow u get the drift
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/MOUICH/357bentbarrel.jpg

[MtGun44]

OK - so if you find that the barrel is not straight. . . . . . . now what???

Send it back or bend it somehow?

Bill

[jbunny]

yes, u straight it. the barrel manufactures use a screw press. here is a pic of mine
after straighting.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/MOUICH/357straightbarrel.jpg

[lathesmith]

So, what do you do, tweak it in a vise or press?
lathesmith

[jbunny]

i use my small hydralic press. set up a dial indicator under the barrel and note
the rading release and check for straight. repeate if not enough. there will be
some spring back , work slowly and don't screw up. anybody with a lyman 50
or 54 cal muzzle loader. check your barrel with a straight edge over the wedge
saddle that is spot welded on. u say it shoot fine however thats for the range it's sighted in for. with the barrel bent down it screws up the longer range shoots.
my 2cents worth
jb