Dialing-in Dystopia

[Greg Y]

Let's think about this from a bit farther back.

We expect a barrel to hold a surface finish and dimensions to a pretty achievable level. We spend all kinds of time trying to make a big hole be square to the little hole mentioned above. We can agree that not all of the little holes run level/flush/plumb/square/true....whatever you want to call it, and we use the area we expect to transition into as our goal.

So with all of that said, we're taking a long flexible reamer and pushing it into a hole where it contacts virtually everywhere on it's journey to the finish line. We're measuring to numbers that can change with a sneeze and thinking the flexible reamer will travel perfectly as long as we hold the rigid portion of the reamer juuuust right and find the perfect pilot.

My math in my head is telling me that vegas would place more bets on the barrel finish than all of the voodoo we try to induce on the ream.

Think about all of the potential tolerance in EVERY way we think we found zero. Side load on the stylus, rod flex, bushing slop....it's all got a flaw, yet we all turn out nice work.

I bet we think too much. Keep the sharp reamer clear of chips, send it down the zeroed hole and it probably won't matter if you use a pipe wrench or a million dollar tool holder to shove the 150 dollar reamer home.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Let's think about this from a bit farther back.

We expect a barrel to hold a surface finish and dimensions to a pretty achievable level. We spend all kinds of time trying to make a big hole be square to the little hole mentioned above. We can agree that not all of the little holes run level/flush/plumb/square/true....whatever you want to call it, and we use the area we expect to transition into as our goal.

So with all of that said, we're taking a long flexible reamer and pushing it into a hole where it contacts virtually everywhere on it's journey to the finish line. We're measuring to numbers that can change with a sneeze and thinking the flexible reamer will travel perfectly as long as we hold the rigid portion of the reamer juuuust right and find the perfect pilot.

My math in my head is telling me that vegas would place more bets on the barrel finish than all of the voodoo we try to induce on the ream.

Think about all of the potential tolerance in EVERY way we think we found zero. Side load on the stylus, rod flex, bushing slop....it's all got a flaw, yet we all turn out nice work.

I bet we think too much. Keep the sharp reamer clear of chips, send it down the zeroed hole and it probably won't matter if you use a pipe wrench or a million dollar tool holder to shove the 150 dollar reamer home.

I enjoy reading these threads because, strictly from a machinist point of view, I like seeing how different people can overcomplicate what is really a simple machining operation.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I enjoy reading these threads because, strictly from a machinist point of view, I like seeing how different people can overcomplicate what is really a simple machining operation.

Just think, all the record setting, hall of fame point snatching barrels ive seen chambered by the gunsmith legends that will never be surpassed, these guys would tell em turning red in the face how bad their chambers must be and just how wrong they are!

 

[Carl S]

I enjoy reading these threads because, strictly from a machinist point of view, I like seeing how different people can overcomplicate what is really a simple machining operation.

Correct Jackie..basic machining practices.

 

[Henryrifle]

I enjoy reading these threads because, strictly from a machinist point of view, I like seeing how different people can overcomplicate what is really a simple machining operation.

@jackieschmidt - I am a consultant. I get paid to listen to problems, repeat back what I heard and agree that the problem is impossible to solve only to do exactly what the client has already tried using more expensive and a greater quantity of people power to actually solve the problem.

If you can't do - teach.
And, if you can't teach, consult!

Hank

 

[LVLAaron]

Just think, all the record setting, hall of fame point snatching barrels ive seen chambered by the gunsmith legends that will never be surpassed, these guys would tell em turning red in the face how bad their chambers must be and just how wrong they are!

Agreed. You could also probably chamber 10 barrels in a vise with a hand drill, and end up with one that shoots well. Name of the game is reducing variables... Goes for everything from building the gun, to loading your ammo.

 

[Larry Boers]

I guess if you don't have the latest greatest lathe and can't chamber through the head stock with spiders one shouldn't discount a method that may work just fine. Use what you have it may work just fine.

All the .0001's on the loading bench and machining process doesn't mean squat if you miss a quarter inch of wind shift, pick up or let up while shooting your target.