Dusty Stevens
Shiner
Any good rifle builder will have numerous 6br norma reamers in their shop. Call some off here and send them your barrel when you find one thatll do it when they get it. Wont take long to fix and youll have it back in a few days
Differences in 22BR brass manufacturers
- Thread starter Roadrunner
- Start date
The BIG issue is the differing web diameters of the various brands: the original Remington virgin brass usually measures 0.463-.464" just above the extractor-groove (reamers usually cut .467-.467 chamber), while the LAPUA in my boxes runs 0.469 - .4695" (reamers usually cut .471-.473" diameter chamber). While the chamber and brass lengths can be an issue, the relative diameters - throw in a sizing die - are the major concern. Determine which reamer(s) your smith has and obtain appropriate brass - bear in mind, anything close to the original Remington dimensions may prove difficult to find. FWIW, though, "too small", the Rem. 7BR brass does work well in a 'LAPUA' dimensioned chamber, the opposite, not so well. 
Way back when, Remington expected us to make our 22/6BR brass from full-length .308 brass, which they sold it under the moniker, '.308UBR'. The UBR features small primer-pockets, & to accommodate forming, is annealed all the way down to where the BR shoulder would form - I still have a good stash and use for many wild-cats, and competition applications.
RG
Way back when, Remington expected us to make our 22/6BR brass from full-length .308 brass, which they sold it under the moniker, '.308UBR'. The UBR features small primer-pockets, & to accommodate forming, is annealed all the way down to where the BR shoulder would form - I still have a good stash and use for many wild-cats, and competition applications.
RGRight!
TO: Hogpatrol & everyone who has tried to coax me to a decision
Many thanks for the insights, advice, occasional sarcasm, and geniune effort to help. A decision has been made right or wrong!
The barrel is being shipped to me without a chamber. Shilen was easy to work with and refunded whatever was appropriate. I don't want to give the impression the they were a problem and were pretty much up front with age of their reamers, etc.
I have a gunsmith within my driving distance that has a reamer and seems willing to talk to me. I also have other options somewhat locally. My first go will be to a guy who is incredibly busy and particular about what he takes on. He may not take the work, but he seems willing to at least talk to me. I will have the correct chamber when I get done with this!
It is interesting that djporter reported having two 22BR barrels from Shilen without a problem with Lapua brass. I have elected to have the chambering done elsewhere. (BTY: I couldn't get the spec of the other 22 BR reamer from Shilen because it was an even older purchase.)
Many thanks to all!
Ted
BTW: I got cut off the forum for having too many posts in a 48 hr period. I guess I'm naturally blabby!
redrockranger
Silver $$ Contributor
I use Remington 6 B R brass in a 22 BR Norma chamber with a PTG reamer,0 freeborn with no problems. No problems with Lapua brass either. Dave Kiff specked the reamer.
I see no reason why a gunsmith in the 21 century would even have a 22 B R Remington in his shop. Especially if they do not explain the difference between the original Remington reamer and the upgrade to the Norma/Lapua reamer. Looks like a screw up waiting to happen. Maybe to tite to purchase a new reamer.
I see no reason why a gunsmith in the 21 century would even have a 22 B R Remington in his shop. Especially if they do not explain the difference between the original Remington reamer and the upgrade to the Norma/Lapua reamer. Looks like a screw up waiting to happen. Maybe to tite to purchase a new reamer.
hogpatrol
Gold $$ Contributor
Good move.
The DIY aspect has diminished given the fact that Shilen is only doing the barrel blank. I stopped them (Shilen) short of the chambering and threading so the chambering as well as the mating of action and will be done locally. The install and headspace was to be done locally. Ted
The BIG issue is the differing web diameters of the various brands: the original Remington virgin brass usually measures 0.463-.464" just above the extractor-groove (reamers usually cut .467-.467 chamber), while the LAPUA in my boxes runs 0.469 - .4695" (reamers usually cut .471-.473" diameter chamber). While the chamber and brass lengths can be an issue, the relative diameters - throw in a sizing die - are the major concern. Determine which reamer(s) your smith has and obtain appropriate brass - bear in mind, anything close to the original Remington dimensions may prove difficult to find. FWIW, though, "too small", the Rem. 7BR brass does work well in a 'LAPUA' dimensioned chamber, the opposite, not so well.
Way back when, Remington expected us to make our 22/6BR brass from full-length .308 brass, which they sold it under the moniker, '.308UBR'. The UBR features small primer-pockets, & to accommodate forming, is annealed all the way down to where the BR shoulder would form - I still have a good stash and use for many wild-cats, and competition applications.
RGR: It was when I discovered the original diameter differences in the two versions of the 22 BR that I becamer concerned and joined the forum for some experienced based opinions. Thanks for your rundown on the history. I only became aware of this coinicident with Shilen informing me that the barrel has gone to the chambering area to await its turn. (I pulled it from further processing, so I now have a profiled barrel blank.) The most often mentioned issue was with case length which seems a simple fix to me, but the diameter issue seemed another matter. Everything you say makes sense and I finally buckled deciding to not take the chance that the smaller chamber would become a headache. Anyway, thanks for the comment! Ted
Baddog: I never really responded to your question concerning whether I was doing a Rem or RemAge. It's a Rem. I only learned of the RemAge possibility a couple months ago. Regards, Ted
With a .22BR, as you note, length is pretty controllable - one can usually obtain satisfactory results, as one is necking down as opposed to up.
With the contemporary chamber diameters, you've made a good decision: if you can find some, the Remington manufactured 7MM BR and .308UBR (for un-primed BR) will still work satisfactorily, as will Lapua 6BR Norma, but the reverse is a bummer.
Though the Remington 7BR brass which I had stashed ran only 0.4635-.464", I decided to use it for my latest 30BR (Bartlein 1:18" 5R) project, just to see how bad things would be - with it, the rifle was good for 3Rd place at the 2016 NBRSA VfS Nationals, and 1st place at the 2018 version - thank you, Frank Green and company!
If the small brass hurt, I was too dumb to notice, as the barrel is a keeper . . . it just wants to shoot. In looking at my old (1988) 22BR, SAAMI minimum Spec., JGS chamber reamer print, the diameter, 0.200" ahead of the bolt-face is .4680"; my Forgreen's 30x47HBR reamer is only .4670" at that point - the Rem/Win. .300Savage brass was about .463-464". My last several BR[based] reamers, at the recommendation of Hugh Henriksen, have been Spec'd. @ 0.4714" - they all work great.
RG
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