Action truing/short barrel fixture question

[shawnba67]

Hoping to save myself a few rookie mistakes. I have a 14" piece of jeep axle housing tube its 2"I'd 2.5"od.
I've gathered that for action truing I need a set of bolts at 4" and 5" apart for Sa and LA respectively. I picked up 1/2-20tpi bolts and some brass rod for feet for the bolts.
How long should I make it overall I'm thinking 6" ??
I do need to be able to chuck it in my 3 jaw as I can't thread it for my spindle. Does all this sound about right??

 

[1911ly]

Here is link to the right fixture. http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...ools/chambering-truing-fixture-prod71449.aspx

You might get some ideals from it. I would worry about flexing and chatter with a home make jig if it is not stout enough.

 

[55fairlane]

I have seen lots of "off sides" lathe chucks / spiders search practical machinist or home shop machinist, several good and easy to do ideas, my south bend had the spindle threaded so I just screw a 4 jaw chuck on both sides, kinda like an oil field lathe

the fixture at over $250 is a no go for me, I think your much better off with something on both sides of the lathes spindle and if you need that fixture, just grab some D.O.M. steel and drill n tap and presto you get it

Aaron

 

[shawnba67]

Ill agree with better to hold both ends, however my sheldon lathe headstock is 19'' deep. so there is no way to hold an 18'' barrel in that manner. I have already made a spider for the rear of the spindle but once i chucked up my bald eagle on a new backing plate i discovered the 19'' minimum for this setup.
Chatter is a concern but Im currently broke and only doing small projects on my cheap 22 rifles, all failures are learned from and considered Tuition!

 

[55fairlane]

19 inches deep? wow big lathe......can you run the barrel in a steady rest??? that's the way I would go