1917 Enfield Barrel from Numerich

[JDinFbg]

I note that Numerich Gun Parts offers a replacement barrel for the 1917 Enfield. It is listed as having 6-groove, 1/10 twist rifling and is in the white. It would require some gunsmithing to install, but the price seems reasonable at $132. They list the manufacturer as: U.S. Military, but I'm sure it was made by some contract supplier. My question are whether anyone out there has ever purchased a mil sup barrel from Numerich, and what kind of quality is it? I note that Criterion lists a 4-groove barrel with Parkerized finish and the extractor groove already cut for $229. So, looking for opinions on which way to go, recognizing that the more I spend the more flack I'm going to get from my wife, but don't want to buy a pig in a poke.

 

[Rudolph31]

I’ve never bought a barrel from Numrich, but I’ve bought a lot of parts from them, and never had a problem. That said, unless you’re a machinist, you’ll probably spend more getting the unfinished barrel ready than you would if you bought the drop-in part.

 

[AlexanderA]

If the receiver of the gun is made by Eddystone, be very careful in removing the original barrel. These barrels are known to have been torqued on too tight, and receivers tend to get hairline cracks during the removal process. If the original barrel is to be scrapped, cut a relief slit just in front of where it abuts the front of the receiver.

 

[JDinFbg]

If the receiver of the gun is made by Eddystone, be very careful in removing the original barrel. These barrels are known to have been torqued on too tight, and receivers tend to get hairline cracks during the removal process. If the original barrel is to be scrapped, cut a relief slit just in front of where it abuts the front of the receiver.

Yes, I've read quite a bit about Eddystone made receivers and the need to cut a relief strip. Luckily, mine was manufactured by Winchester. However, if I do decide to replace the barrel I plan to soak the threads with Kroil for a day or two. I've read that Kroil works wonders and will soak all the way through the threads and make removal much easier, and I think that would be applicable for removing the barrel from any 100+ year old military rifle.

 

[JDinFbg]

Just as an update, I contacted both Numrich Gun Parts and Criterion about their 1917 Enfield barrels and got a prompt response from both. Numrich could not confirm the bore and groove diameters of their barrel, but did answer all my other questions. Criterion was able to confirm that their barrels have a bore of 0.2995" +/-0.0010 and a groove diameter of 0.3077". The barrels they both offer have a right-hand twist, are threaded, and short-chambered to allow for reaming to achieve final headspace.

So, I have more specifics on the Criterion barrel, but have to decide if it is worth nearly $100 more. I don't have any experience with 4-groove barrels like those offered by Criterion, but wonder if they would offer any advantages over a 6-groove barrel or be better suited for handling light, cast bullet loads? I've read that cast bullets do not shoot well in barrels with twists faster than 1 in 12, but have not seen anything on whether the number of grooves has any bearing on cast bullet performance. I know that cast bullets do not shoot well in my existing 5-groove barrel, but that may have more to do with the general condition of the barrel than the number of grooves. Any thoughts on all this?

 

[boom boom]

Just as an update, I contacted both Numrich Gun Parts and Criterion about their 1917 Enfield barrels and got a prompt response from both. Numrich could not confirm the bore and groove diameters of their barrel, but did answer all my other questions. Criterion was able to confirm that their barrels have a bore of 0.2995" +/-0.0010 and a groove diameter of 0.3077". The barrels they both offer have a right-hand twist, are threaded, and short-chambered to allow for reaming to achieve final headspace.

So, I have more specifics on the Criterion barrel, but have to decide if it is worth nearly $100 more. I don't have any experience with 4-groove barrels like those offered by Criterion, but wonder if they would offer any advantages over a 6-groove barrel or be better suited for handling light, cast bullet loads? I've read that cast bullets do not shoot well in barrels with twists faster than 1 in 12, but have not seen anything on whether the number of grooves has any bearing on cast bullet performance. I know that cast bullets do not shoot well in my existing 5-groove barrel, but that may have more to do with the general condition of the barrel than the number of grooves. Any thoughts on all this?

Supposedly the 2 groove is a bit better for cast bullets but given the general accuracy of old milsurp firearms, one probably could not tell much difference at normal ranges and not going the full tilt to accurize the rifle itself (bedding, stock work, and so on). On the auction sites, you occasionally see a New Old Stock (NOS) or used Johnson Automatic WWII era 1917 rifle replacement barrels that are all two grooves. The High Standard WWII replacement barrels are all 4 groove but are generally tack drivers for fmj--I have bought one to restore a bare receiver that had the WWII green/gray parkerizing and have been well pleased with the result.

Regarding the Criterion barrels, there is a gunsmith of vintage rifles going by chuckindenver (Chuck Moline dba Warpath Vintage LLC) who has a lot of experience in rebarrelling old milsurps including the 1917 rifle. He generally posts on gunboards.com and from what I recollect is that he really likes the Criterion line of barrels as does the CMP. https://forums.gunboards.com/member.php?93587-chuckindenver https://forums.gunboards.com/member.php?93587-chuckindenver

Here is an old cmp forum posting involving some folks experiences with the criterion barrel in the 1917.