Has anyone here had a Steyr Prohunter rebarreled?
- Thread starter Effnjeff
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deerwarden
Well-Known Member
Had a Steyr Mannlicher professional M for many years, loved it but it had a system where the barrel was fused to the action, not screwed, this meant cutting it off, rethreading the action to accept the new barrel. More expensive than other rebarreling jobs, if yours is the same, I bought a new Sauer 202 for £350 more than having it rebarreled, shame as I loved the gun, yours may not be the same, but if is, buy another gun. deerwarden
I'm pretty sure the Prohunter has the same fused on barrel arrangement which I'm sure will cost a fair wedge over the standard cost of a rebarrel.
I'm trying to figure out if I should rebarrel, or sell the rifle and replace with what I want. This is complicated but as I've already bought a Macmillan stock and the expensive high capacity magazine kit for the Steyr, which would undoubtedly sell for far less than I paid. Finally, I intend to rebarrel to 6.5x47, which is not available as a factory rifle, so I'd be looking at a rebarrel whatever the rifle. I'm just wondering how much more I might have to pay for having that done to the Steyr?
I'm trying to figure out if I should rebarrel, or sell the rifle and replace with what I want. This is complicated but as I've already bought a Macmillan stock and the expensive high capacity magazine kit for the Steyr, which would undoubtedly sell for far less than I paid. Finally, I intend to rebarrel to 6.5x47, which is not available as a factory rifle, so I'd be looking at a rebarrel whatever the rifle. I'm just wondering how much more I might have to pay for having that done to the Steyr?
deeangeo
Well-Known Member
I could be wrong here & if so I'm sure I'll be corrected......anyway, here goes!
Steyr-Mannlicher barrels were fitted to their actions by heating up the action/receiver to expand the mounting aperture ready to receive the barrel.
The barrel was dipped in nitrogen oxide to 'freeze-shrink' the metal, then the two parts assembled.
When at normal temperature once again there is firm 'friction fit' that will not easily come apart again. I feel pretty sure that's how they were assembled....whether they still utilise the same process is a different matter.
It may be if the process is still being used, the way to remove the old barrel will be to heat up the receiver where the barrel is located. There is a probability the reciever will heat up faster than the barrel, allowing the barrel to then be removed.
Personally, I think you need an expert in the process, but I am aware of Mannlichers being re-barrelled. Where the work has been done, I do not know. Cheers, ATB
Steyr-Mannlicher barrels were fitted to their actions by heating up the action/receiver to expand the mounting aperture ready to receive the barrel.
The barrel was dipped in nitrogen oxide to 'freeze-shrink' the metal, then the two parts assembled.
When at normal temperature once again there is firm 'friction fit' that will not easily come apart again. I feel pretty sure that's how they were assembled....whether they still utilise the same process is a different matter.
It may be if the process is still being used, the way to remove the old barrel will be to heat up the receiver where the barrel is located. There is a probability the reciever will heat up faster than the barrel, allowing the barrel to then be removed.
Personally, I think you need an expert in the process, but I am aware of Mannlichers being re-barrelled. Where the work has been done, I do not know. Cheers, ATB
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I'm pretty sure you're correct that the barrel is an interference fit of some kind, and is not conventionally threaded. This means that the original 308 barrel would be destroyed upon removal, but the action could then be threaded for a replacement barrel.
I'd like to find out if anyone has actually had this done, and if it was crazy expensive. Finally, the Prohunter has an unusual rotating collar inside the action that encases the bolt lugs, so was wondering if this presents a problem.
I'd like to find out if anyone has actually had this done, and if it was crazy expensive. Finally, the Prohunter has an unusual rotating collar inside the action that encases the bolt lugs, so was wondering if this presents a problem.
In the late 1970's / early 80's Steyr target rifles enjoyed a degree of popularity for fullbore target rifle shooting, as with other Steyr rifles these had barrels which were shrunk-fit into the action (as described above). This was probably no disadvantage to the vast majority of sporting users but a fullbore target rifle may fire a couple of thousand rounds a year so barrel changes were frequent. Fultons at Bisley used to remove the old barrel & then thread the action. Once it was done subsequent barrel changes were problem free.
The Steyr method of shrinking the barrel into the action may have a small theoretical advantage (ref Vaughan's book on rifle accuracy) but it's doubtful they had this in mind when they developed the method. It certainly limited the popularity of their rifles for fullbore TR which was a pity as they were otherwise very decent relative to the competition at the time.
For anyone wanting a barrel replaced it could be worth contacting Fultons.
The Steyr method of shrinking the barrel into the action may have a small theoretical advantage (ref Vaughan's book on rifle accuracy) but it's doubtful they had this in mind when they developed the method. It certainly limited the popularity of their rifles for fullbore TR which was a pity as they were otherwise very decent relative to the competition at the time.
For anyone wanting a barrel replaced it could be worth contacting Fultons.
deeangeo
Well-Known Member
I have the idea the receiver would be too thin to thread, but if their assembly process has changed, the Steyr may have already been threaded.
I've no idea about the prohunter in particular, so the answer to this is possibly Callum Fergusson territory.
You could email Steyr and Callum the question
I've no idea about the prohunter in particular, so the answer to this is possibly Callum Fergusson territory.
You could email Steyr and Callum the question
bobjs
Well-Known Member
I am also 100% sure its not a easy thing to do as said they are fused together, and the cost of doing the work is immense, i sold both my 223 and my 243 steyrs and moved to a tikka, nothing wrong with the rifles but i just wanted to have something with a barrel that was easy to remove if i needed a change.
bob.
bob.
waterford103
Well-Known Member
Peter Sarony at Armalon does these as a matter of course , try him before anything else .
Martin
Martin
j0e_bl0ggs
Well-Known Member
waterford103
Well-Known Member
just a screw in jobby then ! new barrel from bergara and away you go 
bobjs
Well-Known Member
G'day Bob. That's good to know. I'm hoping that threading the action won't be prohibitively expensive.
ATB
Matt.
Brithunter
Well-Known Member
I seem to recall seeign that Boarder barrels had got a way to re-barrel these. Might be worth enquiring.
waterford103
Well-Known Member
Mine just screwed in , no problem , it's the ssg's that are shrunk in I'm sure . As I said before Peter Sarony at Armalon is your man , he's done loads of the shrunk in type .
Martin
Martin
waterford103
Well-Known Member
It is on an "L" , but looking at the exploded drawing it looks the same and certainly shares some part numbers. Call Peter ,he'll tell you the definitive story , his prices are very fair and reflect the care he puts into his work . No complaints from me . Shame you are so far away , I would have been happy to look at it for you , I'm retired now but was an RFD and built rifles to spec some years ago.
Shame you are so far away , I would have been happy to look at it for you , I'm retired now but was an RFD and built rifles to spec some years ago.Thanks all for advice proffered.
I emailed all mentioned and, of the responses so far received, only Peter Sarony of Armalon can or will take on the job. He believes the Prohunter has Steyr standard shrink fit barrel, and he is prepared to remove the old barrel, thread the reciever and install a new barrel of his own manufacture for under £700 inc proof. Muzzle threading with protector under another £100, and Armalon signature fluting for another £200.
It all seems pretty reasonable to me. Has anyone got any experience of Armalon barrels?
I emailed all mentioned and, of the responses so far received, only Peter Sarony of Armalon can or will take on the job. He believes the Prohunter has Steyr standard shrink fit barrel, and he is prepared to remove the old barrel, thread the reciever and install a new barrel of his own manufacture for under £700 inc proof. Muzzle threading with protector under another £100, and Armalon signature fluting for another £200.
It all seems pretty reasonable to me. Has anyone got any experience of Armalon barrels?
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