Machining varmint barrel

[Screwem]

Hi, I have a Tikka T3 varmint barrel I'd like to have machined down to the diameter of a lite barrel and maybe have it fluted. More or less make a varmint barrel into a lite barrel. I have a few questions I'm hoping someone could help me with. Firstly, is it legal? Secondly, if so, does a gunsmith have to do the machine work or can it be done by a machinist? And C, could this work affect the barrel in any way? Thanks in advance.

[No1Mk3]

G'day Screwem,
Sorry, didn't see your post until tonight. Firstly, it is perfectly legal to profile and flute your barrel as it does not alter the Category. Second, a machinist could not take possession of your barrel unless they were appropriately licenced to do so (NSW Firearms Act 1996, Part 6, S.50B) so it is easier and safer to have a Gunsmith do the work (Tom at T-Bone Shipwrighting is very good), Thirdly it is possible, but unlikely, that your barrel may bend a little due to stress changes, a good 'smith can straighten it easily, so another reason to use a Gunsmith. Cheers

[deye243]

Plus there is no guarantee that it will still group the same I have seen a sako 222 barrel come out great from this work .
But I also seen a very good maddco barrel come out a shocker it went from .5moa and better to 5+ moa and nothing we did would better that and the barrel only had 480 odd rounds on it .

[Billo]

Hi, I have a Tikka T3 varmint barrel I'd like to have machined down to the diameter of a lite barrel and maybe have it fluted. More or less make a varmint barrel into a lite barrel. I have a few questions I'm hoping someone could help me with. Firstly, is it legal? Secondly, if so, does a gunsmith have to do the machine work or can it be done by a machinist? And C, could this work affect the barrel in any way? Thanks in advance.

What cartridge is the Barrel chambered in ? If it was a large 30 or cal Id be hesistant, but if it was a 224 chambering then why not but like other have mention you won always get the result you want.

Its probably a better idea to sell the Varmint and buy a sporter

[Screwem]

It's a 223. I'd hate to risk it if there is a chance that it might ruin the barrel, it's done very little work and shoots very well. It sounds like buying a new rifle and selling the varmint is the safer option. Thank you very much for you help.

[Wapiti]

Just consider that you're taking a chance with reprofiling, particularly the fluting... the width, depth and length of the flutes can have a marked effect on how the barrel resonates from shot to shot, it must be consistent.
Advice suggesting buying something already supplied how you like it from a proven maker, with a warranty, by others above, is good advice. Manufacturers have worn the results of different types of the above, so we dont have to. However some of us like to tinker and will just have to suck up the results as our decision.