Hi
Long time "hobby" machinist, but never chambered a barrel
From what I understand there are 2 common ways to chamber a barrel - between centres and through the headstock. My lathe is too short for between centres, which leaves me with the second option - through the headstock. I really feel that between centres for me would be a better way to go (just seems to make more sense in the setup for me). I appreciate that everyone has an opinion on what is better, but I'm just trying to get a chamber that shoots OK and is safe. Not after heavy gun precision here.
I have seen a lot of different ways to dial the barrel in this way, including:
range rods (or indicator rods)
Indicating directly on the lands/grooves
Indicating off the outside of the barrel (don't like this option - who knows if its true to the bore)
A lot of the text/videos i have watched say to indicate off the breech end of the barrel, and a few inches inside it (or alternatively with the range rod, to indicate at 2 places on the rod). Everyone seems to say to avoid using the bore at the muzzle to dial in. I realise the bore of a barrel isn't perfectly straight - but I would have thought a match grade barrel would be close - close enough that dialing in over a few inches would be too short to show significant deviation. Also, i would have thought that dialing in the muzzle would effectively be the same as puting the muzzle between centres and chambering it in this fashion.
What would you recommend as the novice "easiest" way to dial a barrel in between centres. I realise that this is a contravercial topic in regards to accuracy, and don't want to start a debate, just curious as to how you all do it and if there is a way that is easier than others?
Also, what precision is necessary? i have seen from 2 thou to 0.1 thou... I will obviously go for as good as is possible, but curious as to what most would consider acceptable
Thanks
Long time "hobby" machinist, but never chambered a barrel
From what I understand there are 2 common ways to chamber a barrel - between centres and through the headstock. My lathe is too short for between centres, which leaves me with the second option - through the headstock. I really feel that between centres for me would be a better way to go (just seems to make more sense in the setup for me). I appreciate that everyone has an opinion on what is better, but I'm just trying to get a chamber that shoots OK and is safe. Not after heavy gun precision here.
I have seen a lot of different ways to dial the barrel in this way, including:
range rods (or indicator rods)
Indicating directly on the lands/grooves
Indicating off the outside of the barrel (don't like this option - who knows if its true to the bore)
A lot of the text/videos i have watched say to indicate off the breech end of the barrel, and a few inches inside it (or alternatively with the range rod, to indicate at 2 places on the rod). Everyone seems to say to avoid using the bore at the muzzle to dial in. I realise the bore of a barrel isn't perfectly straight - but I would have thought a match grade barrel would be close - close enough that dialing in over a few inches would be too short to show significant deviation. Also, i would have thought that dialing in the muzzle would effectively be the same as puting the muzzle between centres and chambering it in this fashion.
What would you recommend as the novice "easiest" way to dial a barrel in between centres. I realise that this is a contravercial topic in regards to accuracy, and don't want to start a debate, just curious as to how you all do it and if there is a way that is easier than others?
Also, what precision is necessary? i have seen from 2 thou to 0.1 thou... I will obviously go for as good as is possible, but curious as to what most would consider acceptable
Thanks
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