Giving some thought to threading a Remington 700 for a muzzle brake but given that I have not previously attempted this process I'd love to get my hands on a some barrels to practice with.   I have not had much success finding a source for something like that online.  Are there sources out there anyone knows of.    I'm really hesitant to learn on my nice new 700 XCR.

It's not really different than putting threads on another piece of steel.

If you want to practice, drill and ream a hole in piece of round stock, then take it out of the lathe.
Put it back in the lathe, but this time indicate it in off the reamed hole.

Cut your threads. Crown it.

You're done. Ready to have a go at your 700.

This, but I'd suggest brass if you haven't done much threading. Easiest metal to work with EVER.

Hit your local gun smith up . Last time at ours he had hundreds of take offs and more stubs from cut offs.  
What lathe did you go with Ive been looking for one to get started.

It's the lathe I have and I have not yet determined that it's even up to the task.   Grizzly 10x22.   It was not purchased with the intent to gunsmith really but some folks indicate it has worked for them.  I did replace the rear spindle nut with my own nut that includes holes for spider bolts.   My rifle arrives this week but if the barrel is too fat for the small spindle bore on the 10x22 then it's a no go anyway.   I have done threading on several jobs, but never with the additional pucker factor of potentially buggering up a $1000.00 rifle  ;)

I am most concerned with how to indicate in on the bore since the lands and grooves would seem to make that difficult and I know the outside of the barrel is seldom concentric enough to work from.


Good thought on the gunsmith route.   I'll see if they have any.   The challenge is that few barrels are straight tubes, they are tapered and such so I'm curious to run through doing a few well enough that I'd feel confident working on the real thing.

Use a gage pin to get close and then indicate on the "highs" which would be the bore.
It does take some practice, it's a little weird at first.

I reccomend putting some tape on the indicator ball, too.

This guy made his own rod if you dont have one.

The EE always seem to have take off'' for sale.
Try there

Piles of take off barrels on ebay

20 bucks plus shipping is common.  My 6.8 barrel started as a R700 270 barrel for less than 10 bucks.

Also gunbroker

Thanks, the term 'take off barrel' yields much better results!