This...Otherwise, you really have no way of knowing if anything moved or not. There's several reasons to check your work but the single most likely issue with some setups is that something moved. There's no other way to know and it's too late when it happens after the reamer goes in. I wasn't born last night. I seldom get into these discussions though, because someone always knows a better way. Just do what works. There are several methods that are PROVEN methods. It doesn't mean anything until you win some Nationals and set some records. And if a gun doesn't set the world on fire, it's often the gunsmiths fault, right? Again, just do what works and gives good results for you. There is more than one way and there's more than one way that have set records. I do all I can to give every single bbl the best chance of doing just that, that I know how to do. That's exactly what I get paid to do...just like bbl makers and action makers, etc. These threads come up from time to time but most of the posters read more threads than cut them, frankly. I appreciate anyone wanting to learn but there are multiple ways that are proven to work and the last thing an experienced smith wants is to have his methods questioned publicly by someone still learning the basics.
Check your work from the exact setup it was chambered in. Otherwise, you're checking your setup and lathe more so than the actual work. A good test fixture and setup should be at least twice as accurate as the lathe the chamber is cut in or else, it's pretty useless. So it's best done in the same setup. Many new lathes come brand new with more runout than you read about on the internet, checked by people that do it all day, with the right equipment. So, to have two different setups, in two different fixtures that are barely worth the claimed runout on their own is farting in the wind. Check your work from a single setup. There is no better way at all.
I enjoy reading these threads because there are often some good ideas presented. I think that's what should be the focus of these threads rather than one proven method being superior to another proven method. A hands on class by a winning smith is what's needed but you won't see many winning br smiths posting on these kinda threads, with a few exceptions. Is that because they don't want to share or because of the nature of these threads? That's obvious to me but it's still a good discussion. Carry on.
