Barrel Torque

[JP65]

I received a phone message today......individual has a "Calfee" rifle with multiple barrels that were done by Bill for this rifle.
He ask about the proper barrel torque when changing barrels.

Friends...... Bill Calfee never used a torque wrench.

Either from working on his rifles as they have come into my shop or from the many times Bill and I perform test using different barrels shim fit to my rifle (Jasper).......
I have removed many that were directly installed by Calfee....... I (unlike Bill) test the torque on everything. I tested every one that I ever removed, it's how I learn to torque the same as Bill! Face it.....when someone uses experience to snug a barrel, asking about the torque would get you the answer........."just about there!"....as he hand tighten a barrel into place LOL

Every barrel was at 18 to 19 ft/lb's....... I think that one time, I actually found one at 20 ft/lb.

PS: I have found that often when I torque to 20 ft/lb......then check the torque when breaking loose the same barrel, my wrench actually show it breaks around 18 or 19......so I personally have settled to install all barrels at 20 ft/lb.

Good Shooting
JPatt

 

[RFS99]

I received a phone message today......individual has a "Calfee" rifle with multiple barrels that were done by Bill for this rifle.
He ask about the proper barrel torque when changing barrels.

Friends...... Bill Calfee never used a torque wrench.

Either from working on his rifles as they have come into my shop or from the many times Bill and I perform test using different barrels shim fit to my rifle (Jasper).......
I have removed many that were directly installed by Calfee....... I (unlike Bill) test the torque on everything. I tested every one that I ever removed, it's how I learn to torque the same as Bill! Face it.....when someone uses experience to snug a barrel, asking about the torque would get you the answer........."just about there!"....as he hand tighten a barrel into place LOL

Every barrel was at 18 to 19 ft/lb's....... I think that one time, I actually found one at 20 ft/lb.

PS: I have found that often when I torque to 20 ft/lb......then check the torque when breaking loose the same barrel, my wrench actually show it breaks around 18 or 19......so I personally have settled to install all barrels at 20 ft/lb.

Good Shooting
JPatt

Jeff, good info to know. A question. It seems that hand tightening would not be able to achieve 240 in/lbs (20 ft/lbs), unless you have some mighty strong hands to grip and twist the barrel. I also know that a few folks use 300-325 in/lbs as the torque level for barrels. So my question is, does it really matter? Can you simply tighten the barrel until the extraction slots are level as a non-torque value measure? If I just tighten the barrel by hand, or use a torque wrench to tighten to 325 in/lbs, does that impact accuracy at all?

Thanks,

Larry

 

[JP65]

Jeff, good info to know. A question. It seems that hand tightening would not be able to achieve 240 in/lbs (20 ft/lbs), unless you have some mighty strong hands to grip and twist the barrel. I also know that a few folks use 300-325 in/lbs as the torque level for barrels. So my question is, does it really matter? Can you simply tighten the barrel until the extraction slots are level as a non-torque value measure? If I just tighten the barrel by hand, or use a torque wrench to tighten to 325 in/lbs, does that impact accuracy at all?

Thanks,

Larry

For obvious reasons.....too loose and you could be picking up your barrel in the middle of a match lol

No.....I cannot hit 20 ft/lb by hand, but the additional torque above the hand torque is very slight, not much at all.

Yes.....barrel torque will definitely effect your accuracy potential. In my opinion 30 ft/lb is too tight! It will effect your chamber!
I do not wish to start chasing this rabbit, because it's already been exhausted......there's conflicting opinions and that's ok.....everyone is allowed their opinion.
In my opinion the answer to your questions ("does that impact accuracy at all?") is 100% yes!

For those interested........this was also the opinion of BC

B

Thread 'Is 28 foot pounds too much torque for a RFBR action with a 3/4" barrel tenon?'

Mar 27, 2023

Is 28 foot pounds too much torque for a RFBR action with a 3/4" barrel tenon?


Seekers of rimfire accuracy advancement:


Is 28 foot pounds too much torque for a RFBR action with a 3/4" barrel tenon?


The short answer is YES...


Seekers of rimfire accuracy advancement:


We've got a mess to straighten out about the proper barrel torque for our 3/4" tenon RFBR actions...


Your LBK and pistol fool friend, Bill Calfee

• Bill Calfee
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Patterson

JPatt

 

[RFS99]

For obvious reasons.....too loose and you could be picking up your barrel in the middle of a match lol

No.....I cannot hit 20 ft/lb by hand, but the additional torque above the hand torque is very slight, not much at all.

Yes.....barrel torque will definitely effect your accuracy potential. In my opinion 30 ft/lb is too tight! It will effect your chamber!
I do not wish to start chasing this rabbit, because it's already been exhausted......there's conflicting opinions and that's ok.....everyone is allowed their opinion.
In my opinion the answer to your questions ("does that impact accuracy at all?") is 100% yes!

For those interested........this was also the opinion of BC

B

Thread 'Is 28 foot pounds too much torque for a RFBR action with a 3/4" barrel tenon?'

Mar 27, 2023

Is 28 foot pounds too much torque for a RFBR action with a 3/4" barrel tenon?


Seekers of rimfire accuracy advancement:


Is 28 foot pounds too much torque for a RFBR action with a 3/4" barrel tenon?


The short answer is YES...


Seekers of rimfire accuracy advancement:


We've got a mess to straighten out about the proper barrel torque for our 3/4" tenon RFBR actions...


Your LBK and pistol fool friend, Bill Calfee

• Bill Calfee
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Patterson

JPatt

Thanks Jeff. I value your opinion most of all (and Bill's)!

Larry

 

[404tbang]

I received a phone message today......individual has a "Calfee" rifle with multiple barrels that were done by Bill for this rifle.
He ask about the proper barrel torque when changing barrels.

Friends...... Bill Calfee never used a torque wrench.

Either from working on his rifles as they have come into my shop or from the many times Bill and I perform test using different barrels shim fit to my rifle (Jasper).......
I have removed many that were directly installed by Calfee....... I (unlike Bill) test the torque on everything. I tested every one that I ever removed, it's how I learn to torque the same as Bill! Face it.....when someone uses experience to snug a barrel, asking about the torque would get you the answer........."just about there!"....as he hand tighten a barrel into place LOL

Every barrel was at 18 to 19 ft/lb's....... I think that one time, I actually found one at 20 ft/lb.

PS: I have found that often when I torque to 20 ft/lb......then check the torque when breaking loose the same barrel, my wrench actually show it breaks around 18 or 19......so I personally have settled to install all barrels at 20 ft/lb.

Good Shooting
JPatt

Howdy Jeff,

This subject has been on my mind since you started the thread. I read it the day you posted it. I can't recall if I read it in time for the PS at the end:


"PS: I have found that often when I torque to 20 ft/lb......then check the torque when breaking loose the same barrel, my wrench actually show it breaks around 18 or 19......so I personally have settled to install all barrels at 20 ft/lb.

Good Shooting
JPatt"

One of the things I do at work is to set the cutters that are used on the machining lines for engines. You learn some surprising things about metal doing this. When you "rough" the cutters you are simply removing the used inserts, cleaning out the cutters, and rotating or replacing new inserts in.

When you "set" the cutters you use a couple of different setups that measure the height of the insert as you go. It is surprising on several levels as you do this.

The height where you set the insert changes as you apply torque from the torque wrench. It changes more as you set and apply torque to the adjacent inserts. Getting the correct runout on the height of all of the inserts on some cutters is aggravating due to the way the metal moves with the torque. You sometimes have to break the torque of the clamping screw and start again.

The odd and unexpected part? Sometimes the torque required to break the clamping screw loose is substantially greater than what you literally just clicked off with the torque wrench.

Metal moves. We measure everything in microns, and it is interesting watching how it changes.

Obviously there are lots of variables on things, but I intended to mention all of this and ask if you had time, could you please measure the torque required to remove a barrel vs that used to install one.


Then I saw your PS at the end of your first post.

You've been there, done that.

I know Bill posted a pic of a little tool he once made to remove barrels at the range. Sorta looked like a metal triangle he could clamp on the barrel, and he mentioned years ago it didn't take much torque.

Anyway, where I'm going with this is that I was gonna ask for a favor/experiment regarding barrel torque, and you had already noted it.

You have added to the library of info on this site. Thank you for that, and thank you for keeping this site going.

If you know what you're looking for, or are simply curious, this site is quite literally a library of extremely useful info!

Take care,

Greg

 

[PedroS]

For a long time I torque my barrels to 30Nm.
Reading this thread showed me I'm on the range