Holding the reamer holder

[Tim Singleton]

i may get flamed here idk. I have an older in decent shape Southbend heavy10
I chamber through the head stock. I can't bring myself to use some type of tool to hold the reamer self centering or not.
I hold a standard tap handle by hand and push with my thumb on the center of the aft end of the reamer. I use a kiff micrometer stop and push her in pull it out clean off and repeat until reamer stop touches.

I fell like I have chambered some good barrels, this one particular barrel was a winner this past fall in riverbend GA 2016 Brady knight memorial
Won the Sporter grand and the 200 yd finished 2nd in the three gun
does anyone else chamber holding the reamer by hand?

 

[Hal]

As long as it is safe, the most important thing is how it shoots.
If you have any doubt you can measure you chamber.
While your barrel is still in the lathe, run the probe of your indicator in your chamber, rotate the lathe, check the throat, neck, below the shoulder and the back of the chamber.
With the gear box in gear and the probe set on the barrel threads, turn the chuck and see how true your threads are. Than measure the diameter of your chamber and see if it is the same size as your reamer, not over sized. This tells you the quality of your work.

Hal

 

[hoz53]

i may get flamed here idk. I have an older in decent shape Southbend heavy10
I chamber through the head stock. I can't bring myself to use some type of tool to hold the reamer self centering or not.
I hold a standard tap handle by hand and push with my thumb on the center of the aft end of the reamer. I use a kiff micrometer stop and push her in pull it out clean off and repeat until reamer stop touches.

I fell like I have chambered some good barrels, this one particular barrel was a winner this past fall in riverbend GA 2016 Brady knight memorial
Won the Sporter grand and the 200 yd finished 2nd in the three gun
does anyone else chamber holding the reamer by hand?

Do you bore at all?

 

[butchlambert]

Tim, Did you read the sticky on top of this page? With the right tool in the tailstock you can use it to push and not influence the direction of the reamer.

 

[Hal]

Tim, Did you read the sticky on top of this page? With the right tool in the tailstock you can use it to push and not influence the direction of the reamer.

Thanks Butch for pointing that out. Its freezing out (Montana) so it will give something to read.

Hal

 

[Tim Singleton]

I drill then bore to .010 under finish diameter ream from here
I ream at the slowest speed on the lathe
Chambers check out good. Not over sized or anything they run true. I use a .0005 mitoyo with the 1.47 arm

Butch
I keep telling myself, I'm going to make a pusher like yours
But I just haven't
I wondered if anyone else chambered like this