Reamer-floating pilot bushings

[DickE]

Solid pilot or replaceable pilot advantage? So, if one orders a chamber reamer with a replaceable pilot bushing, is that bushing the one that fits your barrel the best? What size is it? Or do you need another 3,4,5 extra bushings in different sizes to test which one fits best?
A reamer is said to follow the hole. So, does it really matter as to the perfect fit, as in a solid pilot reamer? I have used both and really can't tell the difference. The solid pilot reamer always fits.

 

[carlsbad]

solid pilots have to be undersized, so they don't do much. You trust your reamer to follow the bore--which generally works.

Floating bushings are fitted to within .0002" or so and every barrel is different so you need a set of them and you choose the one to fit the barrel you are chambering. If you don't fit your floating bushing tight, you're wasting your time. I've been known to make a special bushing to fit a barrel.

 

[hogpatrol]

Solid pilot or floating pilot advantage? So, if one orders a chamber reamer with a floating pilot bushing, is that bushing the one that fits your barrel the best? What size is it? Or do you need another 3,4,5 extra bushings in different sizes to test which one fits best?
A reamer is said to follow the hole. So, does it really matter as to the perfect fit, as in a solid pilot reamer? I have used both and really can't tell the difference. The solid pilot reamer always fits.

If you're going to use a piloted reamer and don't know the bore size, good idea to get a set of bushings. I've had reamers where the supplied bushing was larger than the bore.

 

[tobnpr]

I don't even know why they make solid pilot reamers anymore...
Often recommended to have a clearance of .0004 (2 tenths each side) from what I have been told (and what i practice). With a correctly fit, snug pilot the reamer will follow the bore correctly and without wandering.

 

[DaveTooley]

I used to be in the camp of a better fit meant a better chamber. If the barrel is setup properly and the chamber roughed in correctly, in theory you don't need a bushing. All my reamers carry a bushing that's .0005" under nominal bore dimensions. I inspect most chambered barrels. The way I do it it's very easy to see even a few tenths misalignment.

 

[tobnpr]

^^
I assume you're referring to pre-boring, when you say "roughed-in"?

 

[DaveTooley]

^^
I assume you're referring to pre-boring, when you say "roughed-in"?

correct