22 BR project not as planned,... now what!

[Lefty Trigger]

Ok this whole project started with the purchase of a used 22 BR barrel. I resized some old 6 BR brass and loaded a few dummy rounds to make sure the barrel was a "no turn neck". I did not want to have to get into turning brass necks and though for sure this barrel was a .252 neck based of brass I got with it. 6 br brass resized and loaded will not chamber with a loaded neck diameter of .250. The brass that came with the barrel loaded measures .2485.
So I'm either going to have to buy a bunch of tools and turns necks or scrap the project and sell off the 22 BR stuff.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Have a Gunsmith, do a Piloted, "Neck Ream" job, by HAND, to take the Neck out to, .252 -.254 dia
Shouldn't cost too much, as only .002 - .003 per side,.. larger.
Just MY "thoughts" on this subject.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

I did not know that could be done, but it would be the easiest in the long run...

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Do they make left handed throat reamers? lol.

 

[littlebuddybr]

Have a Gunsmith, do a Piloted, "Neck Ream" job, by HAND, to take the Neck out to, .252 -.254 dia
Shouldn't cost too much, as only .002 - .003 per side,.. larger.
Just MY "thoughts" on this subject.

This..

 

[JSH]

I wouldn’t ditch the cartridge, it’s a dandy.
The neck turning may well be an advantage to you if your a real accuracy nut.
I picked up a 22BR that I had to figure out from square one what exactly I had. It was a good winter project and I now have another one built, though I did do a no turn chamber. I did skim turn them anyway just to knock off the high spots.

 

[nakneker]

You could always have the brass prepped/turned. It’s not that expensive and a 100 pieces of 22BR brass will go a very long ways.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Go with the new reaming job. BR's are great. Turning necks is a chore!
What action is it going on?

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Well after a lot of convincing from a few PM's I have decided to go with turning the necks. What looked like a nightmare of confusing tools and setting up was unfounded with the PMA tool system. So for a couple hundred bucks I have the tools on the way to expand the brass and turn the necks.
Any good way to figure out what to turn them to?
I did find out that the brass that came with the barrel was turned on the inside, not the outside. This is why I assumed it was a no turn neck barrel.

 

[boltfluter]

You can do a chamber casting or use pin gauges to get you within .001 or so.

Paul

 

[JSH]

Not a fan of reaming.
I don’t neck turn a lot, but it is a one time thing. More times than not the effort is well worth it.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Well after a lot of convincing from a few PM's I have decided to go with turning the necks. What looked like a nightmare of confusing tools and setting up was unfounded with the PMA tool system. So for a couple hundred bucks I have the tools on the way to expand the brass and turn the necks.
Any good way to figure out what to turn them to?
I did find out that the brass that came with the barrel was turned on the inside, not the outside. This is why I assumed it was a no turn neck barrel.

You did good. I used another brand of neck turner for 25 years. Bought a PMA last year, it was like going from a Model T to an Escalade. For my .22br I turn so a loaded front has .002 clearance. It has proven to shoot very well with VV135 and 55gr Sierra blitz. Have fun.

 

[PigButtons]

So glad it's working out. Just another example of why this is the best site on the web.

 

[dcali]

Get the carbide turning mandrel. It makes a big difference and is well worth the extra cost.

 

[NorCalMikie]

A little late now but, if it was me, I'd have opened up the chamber neck so I wouldn't need to turn the case necks. Resize, load and go shooting. No messing with neck turning, just more trigger time.
I ran into that same situation on my 20 VT. N
Loaded necks were all over the place and I didn't want to mess with turning necks. I did turn but didn't like it.
Finally got a custom reamer cut with a .234 no turn neck. Ended up not liking the 20 VT "that much" and sold the reamer. But it sure did take care of the no turn neck thing.
Got all the turning gear I need but don't have to use it now.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

A little late now but, if it was me, I'd have opened up the chamber neck so I wouldn't need to turn the case necks. Resize, load and go shooting. No messing with neck turning, just more trigger time.
I ran into that same situation on my 20 VT. N
Loaded necks were all over the place and I didn't want to mess with turning necks. I did turn but didn't like it.
Finally got a custom reamer cut with a .234 no turn neck. Ended up not liking the 20 VT "that much" and sold the reamer. But it sure did take care of the no turn neck thing.
Got all the turning gear I need but don't have to use it now.

If it would have been easy to get done I would have went that way. Can't get any gunsmith near me to do anything for 8 months or more and never know who to send it off to. If I had the shop space I'd have my own lathe and setup going here at home as I know how to run the equipment.

 

[NorCalMikie]

If it would have been easy to get done I would have went that way. Can't get any gunsmith near me to do anything for 8 months or more and never know who to send it off to. If I had the shop space I'd have my own lathe and setup going here at home as I know how to run the equipment.

A throating reamer sure would have made things easier for you and you could do it yourself. PT&G sent me one by mistake. Sent it back but if I needed it, sure wouldn't have hesitated to use it.
An 8 month + wait?? Sounds about normal for smith work. You do know that you can ship USPS and get things done don't you? I know a Guy that knows a Guy that may be able to fix you up. Never hurts to ask. Worst thing is he says no.
Don't need no stinken shop space when there's so much talent out there.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

A throating reamer sure would have made things easier for you and you could do it yourself. PT&G sent me one by mistake. Sent it back but if I needed it, sure wouldn't have hesitated to use it.
An 8 month + wait?? Sounds about normal for smith work. You do know that you can ship USPS and get things done don't you? I know a Guy that knows a Guy that may be able to fix you up. Never hurts to ask. Worst thing is he says no.
Don't need no stinken shop space when there's so much talent out there.

I have used three "local" smiths for various repairs and all ended badly. I have also shipped a few things out and have had a few of those end up being "Well shit shouldn't have done that" moments. There are a couple by me that are very well known but getting anything out of them is near impossible. Seems like they could actually get shit done if they would just do it, but they are never in their shop.
I got a few PM's and some members have talked me into just turning the brass and be done with it. I bought the tools and should have them mid week. The brass is dedicated to the 22 BR anyway so it anit like it's will be sized back to a 6mm.

 

[Mark W]

Turning brass isn’t that bad once you get everything set up. I use an old feeler gauge to set up my cutter and then try not to move it once its set where I want it.

 

[searcher]

I'd go with neck turning. The first few times you set it up - it can be viewed as a PIT as something new to figure out when one just wants to get ammo loaded. But once you get used to your turner and see how simple it really is - you might find yourself turning necks on a lot of your brass. I too have had a few regrets using local gunsmiths on a few "easy" projects. Bad way to get picky.