Hand reaming for longer throat ?

[Wolfdog91]

Ok so I'm sorry if this is a dumb question but I'm curious about something.
Could someone hand ream a barrel to get a longer distance to the lands ? Or longer throat I guess ?

I know it was popular for a bit for people with H&R single shots to rent reamers and just turn them by hand to do stuff like making a . 22hornet to a .22k hornet or .357 to a .357 max. So could it able be done with say, a AR barrel ?

Reason I'm asking is I got this lil $100 6.5 grendel barrel ( shoots fine for what I want pretty happy with it y'all probably remember it) but seems the distance to the lands is a bit short and I need to seat my bullets a bit deep.still have plenty of mag room though.

Anyhow seems like it would be a next lil project to tinker with. So, is it doable ? Anyone ever do it ?

 

[paperpuncher]

Look into a tool called a unithroater from ptg

 

[Paul Hilgedick]

The 2 times I used a throating reamer it was difficult to feel when the cut started. I think your 2 biggest issues will be keeping the reamer centered and measuring how muck you cut. I just did a Hornet to K-Hornet by hand. It turned out OK but not great.
Good Luck if you go forward.

Paul Hilgedick

 

[xr650rRider]

You can rent a uni-throater from 4D reamer rentals. I've used a fired case and cut-off just above the web and bored out 0.4375" for a guide on back, good fitting bushing up front. Check progress with a Teslong borescope. There is a micrometer adjustment, so you just keep easing up on final dimensions. Easy as can be.

 

[LVLAaron]

You can rent a uni-throater from 4D reamer rentals. I've used a fired case and cut-off just above the web and bored out 0.4375" for a guide on back, good fitting bushing up front. Check progress with a Teslong borescope. There is a micrometer adjustment, so you just keep easing up on final dimensions. Easy as can be.

^ this

 

[gat]

Place throating reamer in throat and rotate backwards so the reamer rises up on lands at beginning of throat. measure the distance the shank of reamer protrudes fom rear of barrel, ( preferably with a depth mic) subtract distance you want to move throat forward. Secure small adjustable tap handle to shank of reamer with face of tap handle closest to the barrel at desired measurement muzzle straight down chamber up and rotate clockwise. Use thumb and forefinger on rear of reamer shank to turn it not the tap handle. All the tap handle does is act as a stop. When tap handle reaches rear of barrel you're done! KISS principle!

 

[Savagenut71]

I use Dave Mansons throat reamers and put bore appropriate bushing on and ream until my dummy round just closes. Love Dave Mansons stuff and he's a wealth of knowledge. Dave kiffs tools are great as well.

 

[ronemus]

I use a unithroater and insert it through a Sinclair bore guide to keep it centered - very good result.

 

[Preacher]

Not a problem at all, ya just need to sneak up on it, a little pushing goes a long way...

 

[jackieschmidt]

Not a problem at all, ya just need to sneak up on it, a little pushing goes a long way...

Yeh, you can unknowingly turn a .050 throat into a .150 throat and never feel the darn thing cutting.

Ask me how I know

 

[ronemus]

Place throating reamer in throat and rotate backwards so the reamer rises up on lands at beginning of throat.

This step is critical - rotating forwards you probably won't feel it start to cut if it's sharp.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Yeh, you can unknowingly turn a .050 throat into a .150 throat and never feel the darn thing cutting.

Ask me how I know

Yessir, establishing the point where it just starts to cut is the only hard thing about doing this. And yes, you can mistakenly remove a fair bit without even realizing it before getting there. Everything sounds all good and easy until you do it. It's not terribly bad but you can easily screw up too. I suggest the Uni-Throater. Still the same but much more controllable depth. Once you have a base number with it, it's easy but getting that base, or starting number is the trick to it.