Vortakt’s Operational Expertise

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Vortakt has partnered with firearms manufacturers since 2015 as a supplier of rifle and pistol barrels, combining precision deep-hole drilling with advanced barrel-making expertise. Vortakt began as a division of a larger manufacturing group to support firearms manufacturers seeking to ramp up their production and investment. Soon after, they recognized an opportunity to modernize and disrupt the OEM barrel manufacturing market. By leveraging its operational expertise and investing in advanced manufacturing technology and automation, the company positioned itself to deliver greater consistency, efficiency, and scalability for OEMs. Vortakt became a free-standing, independently operated division in 2018 to ensure continued investment in the equipment and resources necessary to provide this dedicated service to its partners. 

Now a formidable part of the overall business, Vortakt not only benefits from critical operational best practices and shared resources, but also contributes to new perspectives, engineering advancements, and technologies that strengthen the group as a whole.

This collaborative approach directly influences equipment design and process improvement. Through daily use of advanced machines, Vortakt’s engineers and talented machinists gain valuable insight into production demands, working closely with machine manufacturers to refine performance and drive continual improvement for customers.

Gunmakers work one-on-one with Vortakt, providing all necessary specifications such as caliber, barrel dimensions, and material. After sourcing the material, skilled workers then drill, ream, and rifle the barrels, turning them into barrel blanks. Depending on the customer’s needs, Vortakt can also stress relieve, contour, thread, chamber, flute, or process the barrels as requested.

Currently, Vortakt offers five levels of rifle barrel blanks:
• 100 Series: Gun-drilled and reamed with faster feeds and fewer tool changes for cost-effective production. Maintaining rigorous standards and SAAMI specifications, 100 Series barrels deliver consistent quality at production quantities.
• 200 Series: The most popular option; balances affordability without sacrificing performance. These barrels are manufactured and tested above industry standards to meet the needs of most firearm OEMs.
• 300 Series: Match-grade quality. Gun-drilled and reamed at slower feeds and lapped to remove tooling marks. These adhere to tighter tolerance standards with straighter bores, superior finishes, and improved accuracy even at higher production
levels.
• 400 Series: The same match-grade quality as the 300 Series, with the added process of lead lapping to remove nearly all tooling marks, resulting in a premium surface finish and consistent bore and groove diameters.
• 500 Series: The ultimate in performance and accuracy. Every barrel is pre-lapped, single-point cut-rifled, and finish-lapped, producing a stress-relieved barrel with tight
bore and groove tolerances and excellent uniformity.

In addition to rifle barrels, Vortakt now manufactures pistol barrels cut to required lengths, saving customers time and money by eliminating scrap and reducing machine time.
“Since the very first SHOT Show Supplier Showcase, we've seen it consistently attract the right mix of attendees, companies, and professionals that align perfectly with Vortakt’s target markets, says Chad Weister, Vortakt’s managing director. “Participating allows our team to engage directly with key stakeholders, identify emerging needs, and explore solutions that truly matter to our customers. The value of attending goes beyond visibility; it’s a chance to connect, learn,
and refine our approach in real time.