Do I need both a roughing and a Finish Reamer?

[butchlambert]

@Dusty Stevens, @Cloudrepair, your thoughts?

We all have our own methods that makes us warm and fuzzy.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Sounds to me like he knows how to chamber a barrel and telling him to do it another way may cause you to have to find another gunsmith

 

[Ccrider]

Sounds to me like he knows how to chamber a barrel and telling him to do it another way may cause you to have to find another gunsmith

 

[ShawnR]

I am reading this thread cause I have a metal lathe and would like, for the experience, chamber a barrel for my self. I am not looking to start a business. From what i have learned, it is going to cost me a lot more to tool up than to buy a pre fit barrel. But at some point, one has to draw a line. I started reading this thread because I did not know the difference between a rougher and finisher reamer. I could assume but good to read the comments. I have surmised that i need both. Thanks for the previous post on the time frame. That puts it in perspective.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I am reading this thread cause I have a metal lathe and would like, for the experience, chamber a barrel for my self. I am not looking to start a business. From what i have learned, it is going to cost me a lot more to tool up than to buy a pre fit barrel. But at some point, one has to draw a line. I started reading this thread because I did not know the difference between a rougher and finisher reamer. I could assume but good to read the comments. I have surmised that i need both. Thanks for the previous post on the time frame. That puts it in perspective.

Is that what you really surmised by this thread? If you took a poll of actual gunsmiths 9 out of 10 have never seen a roughing reamer. And yes, that 10 grand to chamber a barrel will buy a bunch of barrels made for your exact action by the best around

 

[Walt Krafft]

You DO NOT need a rougher for chambering barrels for youself. I generally get 20 to 30 barrels using just a finisher before it needs resharpened or replaced.

 

[swd]

I am reading this thread cause I have a metal lathe and would like, for the experience, chamber a barrel for my self. I am not looking to start a business. From what i have learned, it is going to cost me a lot more to tool up than to buy a pre fit barrel. But at some point, one has to draw a line. I started reading this thread because I did not know the difference between a rougher and finisher reamer. I could assume but good to read the comments. I have surmised that i need both. Thanks for the previous post on the time frame. That puts it in perspective.

A rougher is just an undersize reamer to save wear on a finish reamer. It’s a big production shop tool. You absolutely don’t need one.

 

[Old Navy]

I think Savage used a rougher instead of a finish on my 6.5X284 barrel that I just replaced. LOL

 

[Will Henry]

I have been chambering and re-chambering barrels for 45+ years. I have never used a roughing reamer in my life. I have used a common twist drill, a boring bar, or a combination of the two on every new chamber I have cut. I frequently use a boring bar to straighten a chamber when rechambering.
If roughing with a drill, the drill is never run in so far that the pilot does not touch. A good drill bit will cut to size and will follow the bore perfectly. I like Dormer drills. Sometimes, the drill is used only to open up access for the indicator so I can indicate the throat area prior to boring. It all depends on the rifle and its purpose and on the cartridge. Chambering a 375 H&H uses different criteria than a 6PPC or a 6BR. Target rifles are different than hunting rifles.
The bottom line? I would not buy a rougher unless it was thrown in for nothing! WH

 

[338 dude]

thanks so much for that reply--i have been wondering this and if i get that many --well thats enough

On my two long range rifles I purchased a finish reamer for each one ,each one has done three barrels still very sharp

 

[SKWERLZ]

I am reading this thread cause I have a metal lathe and would like, for the experience, chamber a barrel for my self. I am not looking to start a business. From what i have learned, it is going to cost me a lot more to tool up than to buy a pre fit barrel. But at some point, one has to draw a line. I started reading this thread because I did not know the difference between a rougher and finisher reamer. I could assume but good to read the comments. I have surmised that i need both. Thanks for the previous post on the time frame. That puts it in perspective.

I’d say the tooling I had to buy for my 338 was about the cost of one quality barrel ($600-800) but well worth it when the barrel i chambered actually shot really well.
Of course every caliber you chamber will have additional reamer and go gauge cost.

 

[XTR]

I have gunsmiths use my reamer for my 308s, as far as I know all of my chambers (except maybe 2 that I don't know) were cut with the finish reamer. My guns shoot rather well for the most part and 9 yrs later my reamer is still fine.

As for the Kelbly cone, there is a piloted cutting tool like a crowning tool to cut that. Makes it kind of straight forward, though I would expect that pretty much any competent smith can cut that cone without problem.

 

[Louisiana Shooter]

What's a "rougher"?

Pre-drill...boring bar.........chamber. Simple.

 

[Eagle1899]

I am not a gunsmith or machinist. Just an enthusiast and shooter.

I've watched many barrels be chambered in many different ways. Had great shooting barrels from all different methods. As to date, the most consistent barrels back to back I've shot were chambered in a rigid set up, with pressurized flush on CNC lathes. The same finish reamer over and over, barrel after barrel. It's mesmerizing to watch the rate at which they cut. Speed and feed rates are enough to make me flinch as the reamer plunges into the bore. It's impressive to say the least.

 

[hoz53]

I am not a gunsmith or machinist. Just an enthusiast and shooter.

I've watched many barrels be chambered in many different ways. Had great shooting barrels from all different methods. As to date, the most consistent barrels back to back I've shot were chambered in a rigid set up, with pressurized flush on CNC lathes. The same finish reamer over and over, barrel after barrel. It's mesmerizing to watch the rate at which they cut. Speed and feed rates are enough to make me flinch as the reamer plunges into the bore. It's impressive to say the least.

so those were done with a reamer instead of a boring bar? there are some people chambering barrels on cnc machines with boring bars.

 

[Ray123]

Yep, there are several ways to skin a cat...I don't use a roughing reamer. Just drill short and undersized, for fast material removal.Then bore to keep a true and round hole. Finally, finish ream. This works for me..

 

[Eagle1899]

so those were done with a reamer instead of a boring bar? there are some people chambering barrels on cnc machines with boring bars.

Yes, reamers.

 

[Edd]

I am not a gunsmith or machinist. Just an enthusiast and shooter.

I've watched many barrels be chambered in many different ways. Had great shooting barrels from all different methods. As to date, the most consistent barrels back to back I've shot were chambered in a rigid set up, with pressurized flush on CNC lathes. The same finish reamer over and over, barrel after barrel. It's mesmerizing to watch the rate at which they cut. Speed and feed rates are enough to make me flinch as the reamer plunges into the bore. It's impressive to say the least.

I think Chad Dixon uses a rigid reamer setup on a CNC. It has been a while since I've read some of his comments but I think I remember him saying he was cutting a 308 Winchester size chamber in under 2 minutes.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

So, if I am having a gunsmith chamber a barrel for me and he doesn't have the caliber reamer I need, do I give him a rougher and a finisher OR just a Finisher. That's my question.

I have never provided nor ever been asked to provide a roughing reamer for any of the many custom rifles I’ve ever built with many different smiths. A finish reamer is all you need to provide.

If the gunsmith uses a means for roughing the chamber first he will have the correct tooling on hand because roughing reamers or other means for that task are not cartridge specific.