How to straighten a bent barrel

[woodbutcher]

The barrel on the Trail’s is are shinny and smooth. A very beautiful barrel. Also very slippery. My hand slipped off while coking and the barrel flew up. I was able to slow it down but it bent the barrel up quit a bit. I read on GTA  that the barrels usually bend right at the barrel and breach joint. I was able to straighten it by placing a 1” thick piece of wood under the muzzle and using a C-clamp on the barrel end of the breach.  (a rag under the muzzle and paper towel under the breach also) It took quite a bit of force. Be sure to do it a little bit at a time. Check it often. I went a little to far. Then I had to bend back up the slightest. I cut the piece of wood so I didn’t have to remove the arms. With a couple of twists on the clamp and it’s finally straighter than new.
The moral of the story is “Keep a good grip”.

[Motorhead]

 Lol ... yup, flip a barrel up by a vague grip ya get a wanged barrel 

[Roadworthy]

Too cool!!  I love the elegance of the simplicity of the solution.

[ezman604]

Congrats, but you bent it with the shroud still installed?

[woodbutcher]

Yes, should I have removed the shroud?

[HYspd]

GTA Machining Gate:
Machine Shop Talk & AG Parts Machining  » Share Your Simple Home Projects (TRICKS-N-TIPS)first thread in the list..is about barrel bending

nice work..i haven't had that happen to me....yet, though I do sense the impending inevitable-ness of it...

one of the other GTA members has mentioned using barrel bending to "bring in" the barrel to be very near the point of aim of an optically centered scope at 30 yards... the reasoning being that a scope performs best when close to the center of the adjustment ranges...as this member is a long time competition shooter, I'm giving this some serious thought...

[Sfttailrdr46]

Yes, should I have removed the shroud?

I think DEz asked because it probably isn't a good thing but hopefuly I'm wrong

[ezman604]

I would never attempt to bend a barrel with the shroud installed. First off, you do not get a REAL look at the actual barrel to be certain of your progress. Secondly it can and probably will damage the shroud by bending with it installed.

[HYspd]

have to wonder if the shroud was damaged when the barrel originally got bent too...

[ezman604]

Most likely...at least the centering section closest to the breech.

[ezman604]

Thanks for the reminder too. I updated my sticky in the Barrel Bending 101 thread.

I honestly didn't even think about that until this post. The things we take for granted.

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=49873.0

[woodbutcher]

oups.. I haven't had a chance to really shoot it but depending how it shoots I may be better off ordering a new barrel assembly from Crossman...?

[ezman604]

Well, hopefully you can use the instructions in the sticky if it's not too badly bent or wrinkled. You have a jig and good start already.  You may have to order new shroud pieces though.

[Sfttailrdr46]

    Like I said DEz doesn't ask questions that are random

[woodbutcher]

Great sticky! Wish I'd found it first.

[JR]

You can always try to fix it, if not a new one is about $25 shipped to your door, just got my new barrel last week.