If you are wondering about my background and skill level I refer you to my recent “Hack” thread. And before it’s mentioned, I have already searched all over the internet and in several books and haven’t found the exact discussion I’d like to see.
I have three different floating reamer holders: A Manson, an ebay model, and a JGS. I have used the first two, just got the JGS. I chamber through the headstock and am wondering which is best.
The ebay model was only $70ish and is made by a gunsmith who wanted a reamer holder that had radial AND angular movement. In theory this holder should correct for tailstock misalignment as well as barrel misalignment. It’s potential downside is that it does have a firm return to center. I think that when I had to re-indicate in my barrel this one would have follow the chamber better and perhaps avoided the .001” enlargement I wound up with as a consequence of putting the barrel back in the lathe.
The Manson model corrects only for tailstock misalignment. It has an aluminum “head” that moves quickly but can also hang up out in an out-of-alignment position. When you feed it in you need to keep your hand on the head and wiggle it. I didn’t really like using is as much as the ebay model.
The JGS I just got is used but in good condition. It only corrects radially (tailstock misalignment) but is very smooth and while it returns to zero it’s not as firm as the ebay model.
I am thinking of using the JGS—who has offered to go through it for me for free—for initial chamber jobs and then the ebay model for rechambers.
Thoughts/experiences on this?
I have three different floating reamer holders: A Manson, an ebay model, and a JGS. I have used the first two, just got the JGS. I chamber through the headstock and am wondering which is best.
The ebay model was only $70ish and is made by a gunsmith who wanted a reamer holder that had radial AND angular movement. In theory this holder should correct for tailstock misalignment as well as barrel misalignment. It’s potential downside is that it does have a firm return to center. I think that when I had to re-indicate in my barrel this one would have follow the chamber better and perhaps avoided the .001” enlargement I wound up with as a consequence of putting the barrel back in the lathe.
The Manson model corrects only for tailstock misalignment. It has an aluminum “head” that moves quickly but can also hang up out in an out-of-alignment position. When you feed it in you need to keep your hand on the head and wiggle it. I didn’t really like using is as much as the ebay model.
The JGS I just got is used but in good condition. It only corrects radially (tailstock misalignment) but is very smooth and while it returns to zero it’s not as firm as the ebay model.
I am thinking of using the JGS—who has offered to go through it for me for free—for initial chamber jobs and then the ebay model for rechambers.
Thoughts/experiences on this?