We are in the process of running some 03 barrels through the shop. These barrels have some unique features that need taken into consideration when machining. The barrel has several features on the back as well as at the muzzle that need to be timed to the square threads. A lathe with live tooling could handle the extractor cut, but you would still need to cut the spline for the front sight. Running between centers would not let you cut the extractor cut or cone. What we decided to do was to partially contour the barrel on the lathe, then put it on the machining center to thread, and machine all the features that need timed to the threads. This ensured that each feature is timed correctly to each other and they are all justified to the threads. My web guy needed some video editing practice, so he made a little video of the process. Thought you might find it interesting. Although we were primarily running barrels for the guys shooting the vintage rifle matches which require the original military contour, we did run just a couple barrel in the NRA sporter contour. I figure the guys on this forum are probably the only ones that would be interested in those. We did not put the engraving on the muzzle of the sporter barrels.

Hope you enjoy.

John