Bulged barrel of my SIG Hämmerli P 240

[Christopher Miceli]

Depends on bore and groove size, barrel twist, and being oversized in the right places for gunsmith Fitting

[Dr. Jim]

Jacques, if Lothar Walther is to produce a batch of P240 barrels please encourage them to minimize the main length reduction. I would suggest that a ten thousandths of an inch reduction from the bushing area is sufficient to allow the pistol to operate normally and to strengthen the barrel. The factory "sliming" is considerably more, and it doesn't need to be. And I'm in for one if it happens.

Cheers Jim

[fc60]

Greetings,

Suggest to Walther having the twist rate set to 1:350mm (1:14inch).

This would help the shooters that fire at 50 yards/meters accuracy-wise.

Also, the hard surfacing that Haemmerli used on their 280 and SP-20 32 barrels would be nice.

Cheers,

David

[David M]

You might also try IGB barrels of Austria.
They do a number of pistol barrels including the P210.
You may be able to talk them into doing a P240.
http://www.igbaustria.com/shop/index.php

[astigmat2000]

Hello friends,
I'm still in the process of discussion with Gerd Walther. I guess he might be away from office for a week because he didn't give any sign for a few days. I hope that the exchange of mails will restart this week....
Have good time...the import company for the US market is LOTHAR WALTHER Precision Tool Inc. USA-GA 30040 Cumming, tel: 001 770 8899998
Greetings from France.
Jacques

[astigmat2000]

Hello David,
I've contacted IGB Austria and they seem to be the correct answer to my problem. I dropped them a message this morning, but it's Bank Holiday in most of the European countries (Easter) therefore I'm not expecting news before tomorrow.
We'll see what will come up....
Have a good end of weekend....
Greetings.
Jacques

[astigmat2000]

Hello friends,
It seems that the Austrian Company is eager to launch another bunch of barrels for the P 240. I'll keep you updated of the situation. Things will go slowly. First is the administrative documents to be prepared for my gun to cross the borders within the EU to be repaired. The price is not so heavy either. The quotation is around 500€, plus the CIP test 20€, fine adjustments of the barrel on the gun, firing tests and destruction of the original barrel. The shipping back is done via DHL and costs 85€.
To be continued.
Greetings from Brittany.
Jacques

[fc60]

Greetings,

Your post leads me to believe that they have made P240 barrels in the past? Is this true?

Is it doable to have a barrel made in Austria shipped to the USA or Canada?

Cheers,

Dave

[Dr. Jim]

No problems getting a barrel INTO Canada, I expect there is the usual pile of German/Austrian paperwork to deal with, but far less than what has to go on to get one out of the USA!

Cheers, ADD me to their list!

Jim

[astigmat2000]

Hi Friends,
I'll keep you updated of the situation.
I'm preparing the documents needed, from the French authorities, for my pistol to cross the borders to Austria and to come back. I suppose that these will take me a couple of weeks at the least. Afterwards, IGB asks a repair time of 6 to 8 weeks.
My French colleague will follow shortly later on.
By the way, the chamber of his barrel exploded (full of micro-cracks)...have a look on picts.
To be continued.
Greetings.
Jacques

[Dr. Jim]

Just had a reply from IGB, they said that P240 barrels are not a regular item, but would be made on special order and require a lot of handwork to complete. The lady who responded quoted a price of near 500 euros, and won't ship except via DHL at a cost of another 160 euros (a lot for a 300 gram package!) Fortunately they have an agent in Canada and an order could be included in his next order if I'm not in a hurry. The agent has not yet responded, I'll let you know what progresses.

Cheers Jim

[astigmat2000]

Hi Jim,
Jolly good !!!

[astigmat2000]

Hi friends,
I'm still waiting for the documents needed for my pistol to cross the borders.... French bureaucracy.
I hope I'll receive these docs shortly, otherwise the gun won't be repaired before next September, that's the beginning of the shooting season here. The Brittany championship (regional) will take place at the beginning of June and that will close the season for the unqualified shooters (I'm usually one of them :-).
In summer time, we can shoot but there is no competition. September is the beginning of the next season 2017/2018.
Have good time.
Jacques

[astigmat2000]

Hello friends,
At last, I received, on Tuesday, the French customs export authorisation to ship my pistol accross the borders up to Austria. The parcels are on their way: 2 parcels must be sent with a 48-hour delay in between, that's the rule in France.... IGB should receive the parts on next Monday.
To be continued.
Greetings.
Jacques

[fc60]

Greetings,

"Two parcels"?

Does the law stipulate that the pistol has to be disassembled and shipped in two separate packages?

All the same, looking forward to the end result.

My P240 barrel is now in Canada en route to the new owner.

Cheers,

Dave

[Dr. Jim]

Update time! David found a broker who would get a barrel across the 49 th parallel! So we agreed to do it and after efforts by David and BorderView the P240 barrel landed here this week. I have to say that David is one ABSOLUTELY phenomenal machinist. The quality of his work makes the old Hammerli product look like it was done by the shop apprentice. Superb finish! I had to only polish the locking lug a bit to get it to lock up tight. Then I forgot to lube it. Oy Vay! Testing with my old fading eyes and off a rest showed I needed a sight adjustment but the last mag load went into the ten ring (ISSF 25 m standard target) with four making a single enlarged hole. Color me extremely happy.
I will try to get some photos up next week.

OK Léon, now your turn to get David to try shipment to Oz!

Hope Jacques is having success in Europe. P240s forever!

Cheers Jim

[Leon]

I am so pleased for you Dr Jim. It has been a long time coming for you, and you have been very patient.

David, expect a PM from me. Although both my .38 P240s have perfect barrels, I wouldn't mind having a spare.

[astigmat2000]

Hello friends,
My pistol just arrived in Austria. I'm in contact with Viktor Schranz who is, probably, the IGB Company owner and engineer. He will personally take care of my barrel problem. We already discussed about this reduction, in diameter, of the central section of the barrel. I let the specialist make what is best for my gun....
The second "French" P240, the one with the exploded chamber, will be repaired when mine is finished.
I'll put picture of the new barrel in here when I get it back sometime beginning of August.
Greetings.
Jacques

[Dr. Jim]

OK just to show off David's work. My old P240 barrel can to me as part of a salvaged gun, I knew the barrel had been damaged, and I was set to core out the breech and install a new chunk of tube. Hesitation kept me from doing it. The barrel had been bulged, the cracks are visible but someone unknown had done a mostly creditable welding job. The pictures show the comparisons (sorry iPad photos) and to show David's work.

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Sorry could only get two to move here.

Cheers Jim

[Leon]

Nice !