22 RF BUTTONS
The first thing that you will need is the sizing button and rifling button. Sizes are given in the chapter on
rifling buttons. When you get the tubing, you will need to soak them in solvent to get the grease out of the
bore. After the tubing is cleaned it will need to be counter bored, and special holders made. After
counter boring, wipe the barrel with a light grade of oil for button reaming. The counter bore is 1/4 inch.
You need a 1/4 inch piece of drill rod that is hardened and about 2 inches long. A sleeve is needed to
hold, and clamp to the tubing. Set the liner in the rifling machine, slide the sleeve over the tubing, insert
the reaming button, then the drill rod and tighten the setscrews, and you are ready to button ream. After
button reaming the bore, swab with MolyKote Z and rifle the liner.
22 SIZING BUTTON
The correct size for the swaging button is .216. This is undersize for a 22 barrel but is necessary for
liners. When they are rifled the size will be OK. When you are rifling just make sure the liner or rod is
rotating.
LINER WARPAGE
During the swaging process, the liners sometimes warp so these that warp will have to be straightened.
The rifling button creates a lot of stress in the swaging process. When you make the rifling button, it
should be .223. I find that six or 8-groove button works well on accuracy. You can use these liners for 22
RF or 22 RF mags.
The counter bore should be cut off the liner, and it is ready to be chambered and installed. To install, all
that is necessary is to measure the liner, get a twist drill the same size or a few thousands larger than
the liner, and grind a pilot on it (.218) and resharpen the cutting edge.
Then a 1/4 inch piece of drill rod is brazed to the end of the drill. The old barrel can be put in the lathe,
and rebored to the liner size. Drill from the muzzle to the chamber. You will have to clean the drill every
1/2 inch or so, and keep it well oiled.