How do I correctly hand ream a 22 K Hornet chamber

[Linko]

I would like to change my Ruger 77/22 22 Hornet to K Hornet. I see the posts using a T handle with PT&G reamer. My question is how is this actually done accuratly? It would seem to need a guide to not damage the chamber, if not using a lathe.

 

[watercam]

While I have finished reamed short chambers by hand, adding shoulders and shortening necks seem a bit much without a lathe. One of those jobs I would turn over to a pro myself. That said, one could use a tight bore guide in the action and try it with the rifle assembled. Clean the chips out of the chamber area frequently.

 

[Preacher]

With the correct fitting bushing you will not have a problem doing it, the reamer will follow the existing hole..
Be careful to just clean up the chamber, and no more....
Usually they need the barrel set back to get a good crush fit, but for now just clean up the old chamber and size the cases accordingly..

 

[Geno C]

To do it correctly the barrel needs to be set back. With that said, the hornet has a rim so I wouldn't think you would damage the brass by just reaming it out without the setback.

 

[Tommie]

I reamed a 30-30AI by hand. Very similar chambering as a K Hornet. Barrel setback isn't absolutely necessary with a rimmed cartridge. Remove everything you can from the barrelled action (scope, trigger etc). Use tons of cutting oil. Clear metal chips frequently. Compressed air will help blow out chips. Be patient and progress slowly. The moment the reamer's rim cutter kisses the barrel breach, you're done.

 

[moorepower]

Send it to Randy CPC, and have him chamber it and tighten up the bolt. He is one of the few that understands what it takes to make the Ruger 77/22 shoot as well as it can. He is quick and reasonable.

 

[Linko]

I have received pros and cons about CPC. Anyone have a 22 hornet gunsmith to recommend for K-Hornet conversion? Hate to ruin a nice gun with the wrong gunsmith.

 

[moorepower]

I was very happy with the work he did for me on my .17HH.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Another good smith with lots of experience chambering/rechambering to 22 K-Hornet is Evelio McDonald in Houston. I messed up the chamber in an Anschutz w/SS barrel; sent it to Evelio & he set the barrel back & rechambered it. It is perfect now & shoots extremely well. My thinking afterwards was that you might hand ream a CroMoly barrel, but the SS was gummy/sticky no matter what I tried. Good luck with it; it is a fun little round. I shoot 40 V-max using Alliant 300MP & Rem 6 1/2 primers.

 

[Newtire]

I don’t see how it could be done any simpler than I did. At the time, I left a deposit with a website that loaned reamers. The reamer came with a pilot and a dummy cartridge case for testing purposes. I borrowed a can of cutting oil from a friend, put the rifle (a Savage 24F) between my knees and proceeded.

I took my time and cleaned chips frequently, keeping the reamer soaked with cutting oil and checking for fit each cleaning. Remember to clean both the reamer and the rifle chamber & bore. Once the dummy case fit just flush, I called it done and ran out to fire form my cases.

On this type of gun, there is no way I know of to set back the barrel and I have had no issues resizing my brass in a Redding die I have. Ideally, do all your guns of this caliber at once.
I’ve seen it written by many a keyboard commando about how you gain nothing in FPS but I found a 250+ FPS gain while keeping brass stretching down to nothing.

Cheers everyone.