Palma chamber reamer for 185 Bergers

[hoverp]

chambering a .308 Palma rifle barrel, plan on shooting the 185 class of bullets.

Is there a reamer out there that you guys have found to be a good one that I could locate?

plan on Lapua brass, and berger 185 BTLR or the Hybrid. all single loading. I want to ensure I get the free bore correct so I dont load the bullet into the neck shoulder junction at all with either of these bullets.

Thanks

Patrick

 

[ThunderDownUnder]

You can use a 308W 'Palma' or 'Match' reamer and then get it throated with a throat reamer to suit the 185gr projectiles you plan to use. Basically a Palma or Match reamer will provide around 40-60 thou freebore but you will need 100-120 thou for the longer and heavier 185gr bullets.

Ian

 

[hoverp]

Thank you very much!

 

[OldManTA]

I have a chamber reamer I bought from PTG recommended by German Salazar for use with the 185 Juggernauts. The design was a collaboration between him and Chuck(?) Fay, deceased. You can call PTG and ask about it/order it or I can see if I can find it if you are interested. It was used to chamber one barrel.
I decided that the added recoil from the 185's does not make the ballistic advantage over the 155's worth the effort so as soon as I am out of those bullets I won't be buying more.
Tom Alves

 

[mgdietrich]

308 Gap, direct from PTG. .096 freebore. I have one, works well for Jugs that was why I bought it.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Any proven .308 Win Match reamer will work, you just need to have it made to cut the appropriate freebore. I have .308 reamers made for a similar purpose that cut .085", .110", and .180" freebore on an otherwise identical chamber. In my hands, the .085" is really much to short for the 185s. It works, but pressure is much higher than it needs to be because the bullet boattail/bearing surface junction is seated right down to the neck/shoulder in a tuned load. I'd estimate you really want a freebore of at least 0.120" with 185s, to as long as 0.180" or more (I load the 185 Hybrids in the 0.180" fb rifles and they work perfectly.

PTG has some reamers they sell off the shelf that might do what you want. The US F-TR reamer cuts 0.170 fb, which should work just fine with the 185s, but may cut just a hair longer freebore than you actually need. There might be others available that cut a freebore something more like in the .150" to .160" range, but you'd have to check with PTG.

http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/30-c...16021-308-winchester-f-tr-chamber-reamer.html

 

[dannyjbiggs]

After a time, I finally picked up some savey on the initial purchases of my reamers, relative to possible future chambering contingencies? My style became to order a new reamer with a shorter freebore (from PT&G) than actually envisioned along with a compatible throat reamer, simultaneously. Thereafter, with a little cutting oil, a good reamer stop (free gift from my gunsmith), reamer handle, and a set of feeler gauges, I became quite adept at adjusting my freebore outward for any of the many bullets that might came along. Of course, once set, you can't adjust back to a shorter freebore; anyway I could not; but, I did not have to run to my gunsmith for every little outward adjustment that might need to be done.

Dan

 

[XTR]

I know more than a few who shot 185s use the USFTR reamer with a .168 or .170 freebore. That reamer was designed for the 185 Berger.

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have a 95 Palma chamber that I am going to extend the freebore for the Gold Medal Berger ammo with the 185. This rifle uses Accurate mags. I'm selling the rifle and the buyer is not a reloader, yet. If I knew the oal of this particular ammo I'd build a dummy round and throat it with a little jump. This is a PRS type rifle.

 

[D-4297]

@Dgd6mm ; Get a cartoon ( blueprint ) of the 2013 FTR Reamer . It will have the info your looking for . PTG or Dave Manson Reamers should have one to e-mail you , if you ask nice .

 

[Dgd6mm]

Thank you everyone for the replies, I've been giving the information I need.

Don Dunlap