Making a Rifle Barrel

This video provides an in-depth look at the manufacturing process at Thompson/Center Arms' headquarters in Farmington, New Hampshire. It details updates in their vertical integration, showcasing advanced CNC machining (Eurotech, Akari, Haas), quality control measures like 100% Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI), and specific processes for barrels and receivers. The tour highlights the production of popular lines including the Encore, Contender, and Triumph, emphasizing efficiency and precision in their operations.

Thompson/Center Arms has acquired Green Mountain Rifle Barrel Company, a move focused on vertical integration and enhancing their barrel production capabilities. This acquisition brings decades of specialized knowledge in barrel making, including expertise in 5R rifling and cut rifling, ensuring high-quality components for both T/C firearms and other industry partners like Ruger and Q. The facility boasts advanced manufacturing processes and stringent quality control measures.

This guide, presented by an expert from Thompson/Center Arms, details the essential steps for cleaning a muzzleloader. It emphasizes the importance of thorough cleaning at the end of the hunting season to prevent rust and corrosion during storage. The process involves using specialized tools like bore brushes and cleaning rods to maintain the firearm for future use.

This video provides a high-level overview of assembling a Thompson/Center break-action firearm, demonstrating meticulous work by a gunsmith. It highlights the precision involved in fitting internal components and barrel assemblies. The brand's legacy as 'America's Master Gunmaker' is emphasized, suggesting a focus on quality craftsmanship.

Doug Lewis, a manufacturing engineer for TC Arms, demonstrates a controlled test firing procedure for a rifle barrel. The process involves locking the barrel into a fixture, chambering a live round, firing it into a specialized 'snail' trap, and then inspecting the casing and chamber for machining marks to ensure quality for the customer.

This video details the 'Ten Commandments' final inspection process at Thompson/Center Arms before a firearm is released to the market. The inspection involves over 10 checks to ensure the firearm is in perfect working and cosmetic condition, including serial number verification, functional checks, visual inspection for defects, and trigger pull testing. This meticulous process guarantees the firearm is ready for sale and use.

This video demonstrates the severe dangers of using smokeless powder in a muzzleloader designed for black powder, resulting in a catastrophic barrel explosion. The speaker, identified as a manufacturer representative, uses a remote firing rig to safely showcase the consequences of this common but deadly mistake. The footage highlights the importance of understanding powder types and pressure differences to prevent dangerous malfunctions.

This video presents an accuracy comparison between a traditional flintlock rifle and a modern sporting rifle at 100 yards. The host, demonstrating high expertise and safe firearm handling, loads and fires both rifles, utilizing Hornady Match .308 ammunition and Goex Black Powder. The comparison highlights the practical differences in loading times and aims to determine which platform achieves superior accuracy under these conditions.

This expert guide details the catastrophic failure modes of muzzleloaders, as demonstrated by Thompson/Center Arms' engineering team. It covers the dangers of double loading, double powder charges, and critically, the use of smokeless powder, which led to a barrel explosion. The video emphasizes safety and understanding pressure limits in muzzleloading firearms.

This guide, presented by an expert from Thompson/Center Arms, focuses on three critical shooting mistakes and their solutions. It covers achieving a Natural Point of Aim (NPOA) for stability, mastering trigger control to overcome target panic, and the benefits of shooting with both eyes open for improved awareness. The instruction emphasizes fundamental techniques for becoming a better marksman.