Match reamer specs for 10/22 style benchrest rifles

[High Noon]

I was wondering what is the best chamber reamer for benchrest 10/22 style rifles. I’m looking for a reamer that would engrave the bullet slightly but still function correctly. I have three “match” barrels by three different companies and not one will even slightly engrave the bullet.

My other question can the barrel be shortened enough on the breach end to slightly engrave the bullet. My full benchrest rifle below is a Kidd Supergrade action and Kidd match barrel. It has a two stage 3 oz. trigger and full three inch benchrest stock.

I thought it would be interesting and helpful to have a discussion on the 10/22 benchrest rifles looking at true match chambers, barrels, top accuracy gunsmiths and other information that may help these rifles to top performance levels.

Thanks,
High Noon

View attachment 1212517

 

[marazzi59]

Check out rifleshooter.com He actually has an article about cutting a 10/22 barrel/chamber down to remove some free bore. Bullet engraving would be concerning to me for trying to extract loaded rounds from the chamber. But i think if you had very consistent ammo loaded length and a precise chamber job it might work.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

I was wondering what is the best chamber reamer for benchrest 10/22 style rifles. I’m looking for a reamer that would engrave the bullet slightly but still function correctly. I have three “match” barrels by three different companies and not one will even slightly engrave the bullet.

My other question can the barrel be shortened enough on the breach end to slightly engrave the bullet. My full benchrest rifle below is a Kidd Supergrade action and Kidd match barrel. It has a two stage 3 oz. trigger and full three inch benchrest stock.

I thought it would be interesting and helpful to have a discussion on the 10/22 benchrest rifles looking at true match chambers, barrels, top accuracy gunsmiths and other information that may help these rifles to top performance levels.

Thanks,
High Noon

View attachment 1212517

I would have to ask how do they shoot? also are these pre-fits or actual custom blanks that were chambered.
if a chamber engraves or not doesn't matter it is how the barrel shoots.

Lee

 

[zeke06]

I have tried a number of different chambers in 10/22 barrels and have played with how much it will engrave the bullet as well. Over the years I came up with a chamber that is very accurate and still cycles reliability without having to clean every 50-100 shots. It’s the 22 Auto Z-Match and Dave Manson has a print for it.

I agree with Lee that you you don’t always need a lot of engraving for a barrel to shoot well. There is a sweet spot with 10/22’s on how much to push the bullet into the lands and still be reliable and consistent.

Zeke06

 

[High Noon]

Lee,

First, thanks for all your informative posts on this forum! I really respect your knowledge!

These three barrels are all “match” pre-fit. I do plan on adding another match barrel or two soon....any recommendations on gunsmith?

I’m a little confused with your answer. “if a chamber engraves or not doesn't matter it is how the barrel shoots” .....then why do every top rimfire benchrest shooters have match chambers that really engrave? I have three bolt action BR rifles built by three of the top rimfire gunsmiths and they all engrave the bullet. I fully understand the 10/22 style rifles can’t work with that deep engraving however I really would like to a least get the bullet slightly touching the lands. Btw ...I’m using all Center X.

Zeke,

Would you have a print of your 22 Auto Z Match? As stated above I’m using Center X.

Thanks everyone!

High Noon

 

[USMCDOC]

Lee,

First, thanks for all your informative posts on this forum! I really respect your knowledge!

These three barrels are all “match” pre-fit. I do plan on adding another match barrel or two soon....any recommendations on gunsmith?

I’m a little confused with your answer. “if a chamber engraves or not doesn't matter it is how the barrel shoots” .....then why do every top rimfire benchrest shooters have match chambers that really engrave? I have three bolt action BR rifles built by three of the top rimfire gunsmiths and they all engrave the bullet. I fully understand the 10/22 style rifles can’t work with that deep engraving however I really would like to a least get the bullet slightly touching the lands. Btw ...I’m using all Center X.

Zeke,

Would you have a print of your 22 Auto Z Match? As stated above I’m using Center X.

Thanks everyone!

High Noon

He told you where you can get the print.... you get it from Dave Manson

 

[High Noon]

I was hoping Zeke would post it here for everyone interested.

Thanks,
High Noon

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

I dunno if this helps but, my 20" Green Mtn Barrel has a Bentz Chamber that, I carefully polished, the "Throat area" lightly with some JB's on, a patch, over a bronze brush, to smooth out the rifling's "Bite" ( hold ) on the Bullet for, LIVE round, extraction and now, works,.. flawlessly, until, gun gets very Dirty !
I'm getting 5 shot groups with, Wolf ME and SK Standard Plus Match ammo that's, easily sub 1/2 MOA at 50 yards and down into the .2's / .3's with, a 2.25 Pound, Volqt. Trigger. I think the Rifle would do much better with, a Kidd 3 ounce, Trigger !
I built Rifle for,.. Sage Rats and Cottontails, as I'm not into, Match shooting so, the 2.25 lb. Trigger is just fine for Hunting use. Might look up some of, Zeke's old posts, because I remember him talking about, various Chambers and his Taper Polishing of, Rifle Bores.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Lee,

First, thanks for all your informative posts on this forum! I really respect your knowledge!

These three barrels are all “match” pre-fit. I do plan on adding another match barrel or two soon....any recommendations on gunsmith?

I’m a little confused with your answer. “if a chamber engraves or not doesn't matter it is how the barrel shoots” .....then why do every top rimfire benchrest shooters have match chambers that really engrave? I have three bolt action BR rifles built by three of the top rimfire gunsmiths and they all engrave the bullet. I fully understand the 10/22 style rifles can’t work with that deep engraving however I really would like to a least get the bullet slightly touching the lands. Btw ...I’m using all Center X.

Zeke,

Would you have a print of your 22 Auto Z Match? As stated above I’m using Center X.

Thanks everyone!

High Noon

Highnoon,

I should have said minimum engraving and not doesn't engrave. I understand the trend is to use full engraving as the norm for custom BR builds. and this may be great for shooting different brands such as Eley and Lapua. but for me I only shoot Lapua, and found 0.030 engraving with a 1.5 degree leaded works best for me.
I have one rifle with a barrel done by what a lot of the BR community would consider one of the best smith and it fully engraves a round. it shoots great, but I noticed it is sensitive to lots that I have and needs to be cleaned much more frequently doing a match. but what matters is not how much it engraves but how well it shoots. don't get stuck on it has to engrave by a certain amount, end results is all that matters.

On 10/22 I think you can run the same chamber as a bolt gun and I believe a friend does that with good results and no problems. I know he told me he has to tune the magazines, not sure what he means.
I think Joe Chacon (ABRA) use a match reamer with 0.030 engraving with very good results.

One last thing regardless of what chamber you need good ammo!

Lee

 

[High Noon]

Lee I’m using CenterX that proved very accurate in the Ohio Lapua test tunnel in my 2500x bench rifle.

I also asked the same question on the Rimfire Accuracy forum and this was Jerry Stiller’s answer.


“The ones that I have done have about 0.030 engraving. That is about all it can take before not seating fully. I like a slightly larger chamber in the 0.226 range. I would slightly radius the mouth to assist in the initial start of the feed. I bore my chambers, so I add a additional taper to the start. My chambers actually start at 0.228 and taper to 0.226 at 0.100 in and then straight to 0.565 with a 0.007 radius at the entrance. The lead is added in a separate step.”

So it seems the top accuracy gunsmiths use a .030 engraving on the bullet. My question now can I set my Kidd barrel back until I see some engraving. When I install the barrel on the Kidd Supergrade action it actually moves the bolt rearward quite a bit. I would think .020 to .030 wouldn’t affect the function? Any thoughts.....

Thanks ,

High Noon

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Lee I’m using CenterX that proved very accurate in the Ohio Lapua test tunnel in my 2500x bench rifle.

I also asked the same question on the Rimfire Accuracy forum and this was Jerry Stiller’s answer.


“The ones that I have done have about 0.030 engraving. That is about all it can take before not seating fully. I like a slightly larger chamber in the 0.226 range. I would slightly radius the mouth to assist in the initial start of the feed. I bore my chambers, so I add a additional taper to the start. My chambers actually start at 0.228 and taper to 0.226 at 0.100 in and then straight to 0.565 with a 0.007 radius at the entrance. The lead is added in a separate step.”

So it seems the top accuracy gunsmiths use a .030 engraving on the bullet. My question now can I set my Kidd barrel back until I see some engraving. When I install the barrel on the Kidd Supergrade action it actually moves the bolt rearward quite a bit. I would think .020 to .030 wouldn’t affect the function? Any thoughts.....

Thanks ,

High Noon

Highnoon,

That is a beautiful stock. on setting back the barrel I would be concerned on the extractor depth cut and that when the bolt is at battery the extractor is not hitting the barrel.

Lee

 

[ebb]

If you want to know what works best, ask Joe Chacon.

 

[pcmacd]

Bill Calfee, a well known rimfire benchrest gunsmith in Southern Indiana, has a reamer with no taper in the chamber walls. You might be able to buy one outright. His rifles have won truckloads of matches.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

Bill Calfee, a well known rimfire benchrest gunsmith in Southern Indiana, has a reamer with no taper in the chamber walls. You might be able to buy one outright. His rifles have won truckloads of matches.

Yes Bill Calfee has built a lot of winning rifles that are just stellar on what they have done and are doing.
but to think you just need the same reamer he is using, I am afraid it is not that simple otherwise he wouldn't be the bar in which everyone one is trying to reach.

Lee

 

[ebb]

I don't think Calfee's reamer for bolt action rifles would be the one to us on a 10-22. Joe Chacon invented the 22 semi auto benchrest league and has built the rifles that are winning it at least till a couple of years ago. I haven't followed him much lately.

 

[Hi-NV Shooter]

I don't think Calfee's reamer for bolt action rifles would be the one to us on a 10-22. Joe Chacon invented the 22 semi auto benchrest league and has built the rifles that are winning it at least till a couple of years ago. I haven't followed him much lately.

He may have organized semi-auto (10/22) into its own BR organization. but I wouldn't say he invented it.
there have been many guys who built purpose built 10/22 for BR way before he did. the name KIDD comes to mind as well as Clark

Lee

 

[zeke06]

I’ll post a picture of the final reamer print from Manson below.

I went with a 1 degree leade with the logic of it having more surface area then a 1.5 or 2 degree leade and it takes less engraving on the bullet to equal the same amount or force to push the bullet into the lands. So far I’ve been pleased with the accuracy of this chamber. It also doesn’t have a rim cutter so you can play with the depth of the chamber and how much it’ll engrave the bullet.

Keep in mind that there are so many different things that go into a great shooting rimfire. (chamber dimensions, how it’s cut, how the bores lapped, finishing the leade/post chamber lap, where it’s crowned, etc,etc,etc...) 10/22 are a different animal compared to bolt guns too.

 

[High Noon]

zeke06,

Thanks for sharing your print with us! Interesting....... it is almost the same as what Jerry Stiller does ( see above) with his chambers!! That’s good enough for me......

High Noon