Fixed or Interchangeable Piloted Reamers?

[CentrePunch]

Hi all,
I have a Dave Manson 22-250 AI fixed pilot reamer to cut the chamber in my Lilja barrel.
Am i asking for trouble by not using a interchangeable pilot reamer?
Although this is my first re-barrelling i am an experienced machinist but i am only working on rifles for myself and think the need for a set of pilots an extra expense for a one calibre project.
Reamers and pilots are twice the price here in the UK as they are in the USA.
Any advice please, thanks.

Ian.

 

[Preacher]

A lot of chambers have been cut with a unpiloted reamer as long as it has a OK fit.
Some of them are pretty sloppy, but if your doing a recut "from a normal 22/250 to the Ackley version" it will follow the original hole and turn out just fine.
If your cutting a chamber from scratch, at least make sure the end has a good fit, and use tape of the right thickness to make up the extra fit needed if necessary.

 

[ArtinNC]

If your using a fixed pilot and it starts to chatter you better quit, I don't think , or I can't stop it ) You can stop it from chattering. I think with a close fitting floating pilot you don't have the potential for chatter. Art

 

[Cheechako]

Preacher gave a good suggestion on increasing the solid pilot size. i have even gone so far as to fit thin walled brass tubing and polished it down to the correct diameter.

I agree with him also that if it's already chambered the reamer should follow the existing hole just fine. In fact you'd be hard pressed to try and make it NOT follow that hole.

There are ways to correct reamer chatter by packing the flutes with heavy grease or wrapping paper around the reamer. But like most things when you really need them, they don't work. Murphey's law #42, I think.

 

[CentrePunch]

Thanks for that guys,
The pilot mic's up at .2178" so it is pretty close, its just that the so called "smiths" over here have been telling me i cant do a proper chambering job if i dont use interchangeable pilot reamers.

Ian.

 

[Preacher]

Thanks for that guys,
The pilot mic's up at .2178" so it is pretty close, its just that the so called "smiths" over here have been telling me i cant do a proper chambering job if i dont use interchangeable pilot reamers.

Ian.

I bet they would really freak out if they knew lots of chambering work is done with out using a lathe, IE- done by hand...... and fine work too.......

 

[Rustystud]

Centerpunch:

Piloted reamers give you an advantage to use the same reamer on many barrels.,no two barrels are exactly the same.) This is accomplished by having different pilots for different bore diameters. One can buy a solid pilot for a particular bore diameter. For slow turning speeds the solid pilot is just fine. For high speed high presure flush reaming the pilot protects the bore by actins as a bushing between the throat and the reamer. Any friction is kept inside between the pilot and reamer. With a pilot one can get a .0002 to .0005 fit.
There are many who will argue both sides of this fence. I don't buy reamers for the purpose of a single use. The extra money spent on a piloted reamer is money well spent. Solid pilot reamers are longer and can be turned and pilots put on them.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Rustystud