THREADING AND FITTING THE BARREL

When you have finish turning the barrel, and double-checking it for straightness, it is time to turn the
shank. Set the tail stock back to 000, take the lathe dog off, and put a smaller one on the muzzle end of
the barrel. With a shim under the setscrew to keep the barrel from being marked by the setscrew. Put
the barrel back in the lathe, and turn the shank to the correct diameter.

On a 98 Mauser, who we will thread to, take only a light clean up pass. This is assuming that you made
your barrel out of 1 1/8-inch stock. It would be best if you have an old 98 Mauser barrel handy to look at,
while you are doing this.

If you look at the chart for threading the 98 Mauser, See chapter on barrel thread dimensions. The O.D.
of the shank is 1.100. That only leaves less than .020 for the shoulder. This is OK as on the 98 Mauser
we seat the barrel on the inside ring.

Turn the thread end down to 1.100 now. Using a dial indicator as you are turning cut a .625 long
shoulder. When you have the thread shank turned to the correct size, take a small square end tool, and
relieve the threads on the front end of the shoulder, and the back end of the thread shank. This relief
should be about .060 deep per side.

It is time to cut the threads on the 98 Mauser. The 98 has 12 threads per inch V type. Set up a V tool bit
ground right for threading. This is a 60-degree tool. Set the point of the tool right on center, using the
center on the tail stock. The compound should be set at 30 degrees, when you clamp the tool. Set the
quick-change gears for 12 threads per inch, make sure your feeding dial is engaged, and you are ready
to cut the threads.

Set both dials to where the tool is just touching the shank. Set the dials on 000. Set the tool in so you will
take a .005 cut. See the chart for amount that you will have to turn in to get the proper depth. Have the
lathe in back gear, running it at the slowest speed. When the threading dial comes around to 0, engage
the feed. It feeds fast, so be ready to disengage the feed and back out the tool in one operation.

When it has completed set the tool in .010, when the dial comes back to 0, engage the feed. Keep
repeating the process until you have gone in .062, make a clean up pass at the last setting. Use a good
cutting oil when cutting threads. Always turn in the compound dial, leave the other at 0, and back this out
each time.

FITTING THE BARREL TO THE ACTION

Take the action and see if it will screw on to the barrel. It should but if it doesn't take, another pass until it
does. DO NOT TURN ON THE LATHE OR CHANGE ANYTHING UNTIL THE ACTION WILL
SCREW ON. The barrel screws on to the action and butts up against the shoulder on the inside of the
action.

Take a depth mike and measure the depth from the front of the action, to the inside ring. Check this