OK guys, gals. I need some help on machining a barrel band for my old winchester 1886 rifle. I attempted to make one and did so in three parts then welded them together. Well it didn't come out to satisfaction and I've decided to try to machine one out of one piece for metal. I think I'm going to start by using a piece of round stock and machine it down (round) for the sling swivel in my lathe. Once I have that round stepped down area to size I will take it out of the lathe and put it in the mill. I think I will drill holes in a line and rectangle to get rid of the center of the blank to open up the inside where the forearm will slide through. The problem I see and have had is machining those 45 degree angles where the octagon barrel sits. How would you folks do this? What type of cutter or how would you go about doing this. I don't think I will have any problem doing the rest, it just how do you machine those angles.
