Nevius reamer questions

[dgeesaman]

I bought one of these from JGS knowing a friend is having a match grade barrel made up and to have the option myself for my .22 rifles.

I’ve been reading more about it including Kevin’s notes from recent years and it might not be as straightforward as supplying a centerfire reamer to a gunsmith. He describes using a reference cartridge to set the reamer depth, for example.

Is this reamer a tool that most any rimfire gunsmith will be able to apply and use effectively? Or is it set up differently from other .22lr match chamber reamers?

 

[VLNBYR]

Here's the answer...do the exact same research you did on the Nevius chamber but do it on which rimfire gunsmiths are producing the most match winning barrels. Problem solved.

 

[dgeesaman]

Here's the answer...do the exact same research you did on the Nevius chamber but do it on which rimfire gunsmiths are producing the most match winning barrels. Problem solved.

Yes for a competition gun that’s the obvious plan. The smith would already have the reamer too and that would be part of the selection process.

My friends barrel is lined up to be chambered and we’re trying to asses whether it’s wise to just send this reamer to this gunsmith. I’m trying to understand how exotic this Nevius chamber is compared to others in the actual chambering process.

My friend wants an accurate gun but not looking to get in the long line of a competition-winning gunsmith.

 

[1813benny]

I sent Kevin a link to see if he can add input.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Yes for a competition gun that’s the obvious plan. The smith would already have the reamer too and that would be part of the selection process.

My friends barrel is lined up to be chambered and we’re trying to asses whether it’s wise to just send this reamer to this gunsmith. I’m trying to understand how exotic this Nevius chamber is compared to others in the actual chambering process.

My friend wants an accurate gun but I’d not looking to get in the long line of a competition-winning gunsmith.

The Nevius reamer is based on the Myers 1.5 degree reamer. The Nevius has no stop so JGS required a new name
You want a chamber depth so 0.075 of a live round will stick out when pushed in with your finger and stop when you feel it hit the leade. This will give the 0.030 engraving Kevin said is ideal
I have had 4 barrels done this way
One which is 5 years old about and has well over 20K came close by .70mm of setting a new 50M at Lapua's Mesa tunnel
With all this said if you plan on shooting Eley use a 2-degree reamer

Lee

 

[kevin nevius]

Hi All:

There is nothing exotic about the chamber (as Lee mentioned)…….It is just a match 1.5 degree leade with no datum stop (so you can set the depth and bullet engagement distance.

Rimfire smithing is a little bit of a "black art", concentricity is very important and so is chamber surface finish (especially the short leade area that contacts the bullet). It is more critical than with any CF cartridge, if there are tool marks, burrs or imperfections they are not erased or mitigated by heat and pressure.

Personally, I use all JGS carbide reamers, run at high(er) speed with Kimbal Midwest tool coolant.

The .030" engagement dimension (or around .073" from the datum face to the back of the cartridge, including a .0430" headspace) Lee mentioned is still my standard, and has performed really well for the past many years with Lapua ammunition. Lee is also correct that the 1.5 degree leade - although optimum for Lapua bullet profiles IMHO - is not optimum for Eley stuff. If you are testing / using both, a 2 degree leade chamber seems more tolerant.

I am not sure what the current BR competitors are using - or if any are using a chamber similar to mine (especially for Lapua ammunition). It would be really interesting to know, but competitors in that discipline are much less forthcoming than in my particular discipline (Metric and Conventional prone events).

I hope that helps,

Kev

 

[dgeesaman]

I hope that helps,

Kev

It sure does!

Fortunately I was able to glean the .043 and .070 already from past discussions but they seem to date around the time you released your reamer design to the public so I very much appreciate you confirming those numbers.

Does it particularly matter how that sample round is chosen? I know for some time you mentioned using a particular box of XAct. I have some CenterX.

We both intend to shoot Lapua with this setup - for someone who is willing to do the lot testing and buy a case or two, Center-X / Midas+ seems to be an ideal solution. If we were trying to actively engage in the competitive rimfire barrel/ammo scene it seems we’d need to explore more than that, but we are not...

Anyway seems like Nevius / Lapua is a formula for making a supremely accurate rifle for everything short of the highest levels of competition. And with the right barrel, shooter, and lot, that also.

Thanks,

David

 

[David Buffington]

I bought one of these from JGS knowing a friend is having a match grade barrel made up and to have the option myself for my .22 rifles.

As the friend mentioned above allow me to provide a bit of detail …

The barrel blank is coming from Hart Barrels (hartbarrels.com). Why? Simply because I have a ancient Remington Model 37 with a Hart barrel, and that rig is silly accurate.

Now, normally, Hart would also fit the barrel to an action, but in this case, the barrel is going on a Sako Quad. For that work, Hart recommended (strongly recommended) Shawn Thomason of Diamond T Rifle Shop in Idaho.

So dgeesaman is sending the JGS/Nevius reamer to Shawn. The barreled action will then go into a McMillan stock.

Kevin, many thanks for your input. If there's anything else we should be considering, please let us know.

Yours,
Dave

 

[kevin nevius]

Hi David:

Lapua ammunition is exceptionally consistent regarding the location of the contact driving band, so any live round should do. Please use caution (insert disclaimer here)……..live rounds should be handled / treated with respect.

Remove the lubricant, and use several to get a good measurement. Lead is soft, and the leade angle small - so consistent pressure "seating" (or finding the contact point for measurement) is important. When you insert it under very mild pressure, you can definitely feel a hard stop.

Small(er) leade angles leave less transitional space for the accumulation of lubricant and carbon - maybe that's why the small(er) engagement depths work well with this chamber. I am only speculating - to me, the only thing that matters is where shots go at the target (and is the accuracy consistent throughout a normal course of fire).

All the very best,

Kev

 

[kevin nevius]

Oh...and you will need to polish a .006" radius for rim clearance after chambering.

This radius is normally included in the datum portion of a reamer - mine has no stop, so the sharp edge should be polished by hand.

Kev

 

[David Buffington]

Oh...and you will need to polish a .006" radius for rim clearance after chambering.

This radius is normally included in the datum portion of a reamer - mine has no stop, so the sharp edge should be polished by hand.

Many, many thanks!
Dave

 

[1813benny]

Kev
Thx for taking the time today to assist others! That’s what makes shooters exceptional - we help each other.

Later Amigo
Ken

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Hi All:

There is nothing exotic about the chamber (as Lee mentioned)…….It is just a match 1.5 degree leade with no datum stop (so you can set the depth and bullet engagement distance.

Rimfire smithing is a little bit of a "black art", concentricity is very important and so is chamber surface finish (especially the short leade area that contacts the bullet). It is more critical than with any CF cartridge, if there are tool marks, burrs or imperfections they are not erased or mitigated by heat and pressure.

Personally, I use all JGS carbide reamers, run at high(er) speed with Kimbal Midwest tool coolant.

The .030" engagement dimension (or around .073" from the datum face to the back of the cartridge, including a .0430" headspace) Lee mentioned is still my standard, and has performed really well for the past many years with Lapua ammunition. Lee is also correct that the 1.5 degree leade - although optimum for Lapua bullet profiles IMHO - is not optimum for Eley stuff. If you are testing / using both, a 2 degree leade chamber seems more tolerant.

I am not sure what the current BR competitors are using - or if any are using a chamber similar to mine (especially for Lapua ammunition). It would be really interesting to know, but competitors in that discipline are much less forthcoming than in my particular discipline (Metric and Conventional prone events).

I hope that helps,

Kev

Great detailed information Kevin as usual.

Lee

 

[flatlander]

This is very timely information - I just received a Nevius reamer from JGS Saturday, and intend to use it in a Shilen ratchet rifled blank for a Vudoo V-22S action, which should arrive later this month. Depending on how the Shilen shoots with a very good lot of Center-X I have on hand, I may or may not chamber a Krieger blank for this action, and am hoping to see some results with the Shilen that will help make the decision on whether to use the Nevius in the Krieger, or try my EPS in it. Somehow, I doubt there will be a clear-cut choice; it's more likely I'll spend more time thinking about it, and will probably wind up ordering in more bbl blanks to experiment with. Fun, fun, fun....lol

 

[David Buffington]

Hi Kev!

One final question for me ... How do you say your name? NEE-vee-us? NEV-e-us?

Thanks!
Dave

 

[escopeta]

Hi All:

There is nothing exotic about the chamber (as Lee mentioned)…….It is just a match 1.5 degree leade with no datum stop (so you can set the depth and bullet engagement distance.

Rimfire smithing is a little bit of a "black art", concentricity is very important and so is chamber surface finish (especially the short leade area that contacts the bullet). It is more critical than with any CF cartridge, if there are tool marks, burrs or imperfections they are not erased or mitigated by heat and pressure.

Personally, I use all JGS carbide reamers, run at high(er) speed with Kimbal Midwest tool coolant.

The .030" engagement dimension (or around .073" from the datum face to the back of the cartridge, including a .0430" headspace) Lee mentioned is still my standard, and has performed really well for the past many years with Lapua ammunition. Lee is also correct that the 1.5 degree leade - although optimum for Lapua bullet profiles IMHO - is not optimum for Eley stuff. If you are testing / using both, a 2 degree leade chamber seems more tolerant.

I am not sure what the current BR competitors are using - or if any are using a chamber similar to mine (especially for Lapua ammunition). It would be really interesting to know, but competitors in that discipline are much less forthcoming than in my particular discipline (Metric and Conventional prone events).

I hope that helps,

Kev

I recently did a couple of barrels for my son and one was with the Nevius reamer set up for Lapua Midas +. Was for RimX action. Took a lot of time to get it just right and .030” engraving when chambered. A tool maker microscope would make it easier to measure engraving but only had a 10x glass and precision ruler marked in .010” increments. Took a long time and requires a lot of measurements and care. This reamer is for seasoned machinist with good equipment. My son has not tried yet as where he lives it’s triple digits every day in the desert south west. He has 3 barrels to use with Nevius, PTG Match, and 52D. I use the JGS Match in Shilen ratchet for my RimX shooting Midas. With the Ezell PD tuner have got mine shooting in the ones at 50yards. If I get another barrel will try the Nevius.

 

[kevin nevius]

Good morning Dave:

Its pronounced Knee - V - us. But anything close is fine. My parents actually pronounced it two different ways. My Dad pronounced it Knee-vis, my Mom the other.

I guess he would know! (but I still use Mom's pronunciation).

All the best,

Kev

 

[HuskerP7M8]

Good morning Dave:

Its pronounced Knee - V - us. But anything close is fine. My parents actually pronounced it two different ways. My Dad pronounced it Knee-vis, my Mom the other.

I guess he would know! (but I still use Mom's pronunciation).

All the best,

Kev

As Lones used to tell me, "Devious Nevius"! LOL

Landy

 

[skeetlee]

The Nevius reamer is based on the Myers 1.5 degree reamer. The Nevius has no stop so JGS required a new name
You want a chamber depth so 0.075 of a live round will stick out when pushed in with your finger and stop when you feel it hit the leade. This will give the 0.030 engraving Kevin said is ideal
I have had 4 barrels done this way
One which is 5 years old about and has well over 20K came close by .70mm of setting a new 50M at Lapua's Mesa tunnel
With all this said if you plan on shooting Eley use a 2-degree reamer

Lee

Ive seen the statement made about using a 2 degree lead only for eley more than once. this statement just dosnt hold water very well. i chamber several 22 barrels every year and my go to reamer is a JGS match. this reamer has a 2 degree lead.. More times than not by about 70%, Lapua always shoots better in this chamber. i set me gap for whatever brand my customer wants of course but my barrels almost always shoot the Lapua best.. At least this past year anyway. perhaps lapua is just producing better ammo than eley? im not sure..
dont get me wrong i dont necessarily disagree that 2 degree is better for eley but it certainly isnt a standard that i find to be true through several barrels/chambers. Just my findings of course. Lee

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Ive seen the statement made about using a 2 degree lead only for eley more than once. this statement just dosnt hold water very well. i chamber several 22 barrels every year and my go to reamer is a JGS match. this reamer has a 2 degree lead.. More times than not by about 70%, Lapua always shoots better in this chamber. i set me gap for whatever brand my customer wants of course but my barrels almost always shoot the Lapua best.. At least this past year anyway. perhaps lapua is just producing better ammo than eley? im not sure..
dont get me wrong i dont necessarily disagree that 2 degree is better for eley but it certainly isnt a standard that i find to be true through several barrels/chambers. Just my findings of course. Lee

Lee,

Have you tried a 1.5 leade? and set for 0.030 engraving only? as Kevin has said he found the 2-degree will shoot Lapua but going the opposite 1.5 doesn't seem to be true. and that is what I was talking about.
and Lapua is making great ammo, but I been saying this for about 5-years now.
if I could get a 44-year old factory barreled match 54 to do 11.86mm at Mesa, I would say Lapua is making even better ammo


Lee