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Reamer rentals

DShortt said:
The 300AAC reamer I rented was one I had trouble with. Not sure exactly what happened but I *think* it must have been a 300 Whisper reamer. My advice would be to check fit with factory ammo because it wouldn't chamber in my barrel even though headspace was fine.

Also - carefully inspect the reamer before you use it. The other issue I had was the .223 Rem reamer was sent damaged and left a ring in the middle of the shoulder which screwed up the headspace measurement. I suppose I should have known better than to presume it wasn't damaged but apparently that was a HUGE mistake.

Both times their offer of restitution was a free reamer rental but I pay shipping.

I declined because I figured getting a bad/incorrect reamer once was bad enough. Why take a chance on having more problems?

As I said, no more renting reamers for me. Done with that.
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Years ago I rented one from them and the reamer looked like it had been used a couple hundred times, Grind marks all over the shank, Hand stoning marks on every inch of it, It just looked like turd, Shame on me for even using it, It also ruined my chamber, For my complaints they rewarded me with a charge on my card to buy them a new reamer. I swore to never rent a reamer again from anybody, That was my first and last time.

If you are only going to use the reamer once or twice, Buy it new and sell it when you are done. In the end, It will cost you around the same as renting one and the quality of the work you get from a new reamer will be your reward. Don't let your impatience of waiting on a new one bite you in the Arse.

I have told this story a few times, But never mentioned the company because I don't like dragging people through the mud. But since their name is already out there, Well I don't have a problem with it.
 
Have used them many times because they had the item needed. They seem to have an uppity attitude towards the customer. Any attempt at contacting them is futile. You get a boiler plate "don't call us, we'll call you" response. When you get a little shitty with them they usually respond with something like "we have replied many times, the problem must be with your email" or something like that. Only use them if I have to. Buying the tool and reselling sounds like good advice.
 
DShortt said:
The 300AAC reamer I rented was one I had trouble with. Not sure exactly what happened but I *think* it must have been a 300 Whisper reamer. My advice would be to check fit with factory ammo because it wouldn't chamber in my barrel even though headspace was fine.
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I rented a 300AAC BLK reamer from one of the "big two," I don't remember which right now. It was years ago, when the cartridge was newly SAAMI approved. I did two barrels. The reamer left a sharp edge where indicated in the attached image, where it should be a 45 degree chamfer. The chamber would actually scrape copper off a jacketed bullet which would build up and prevent chambering a round. Forget about lead bullets.

I verified this with a bore scope. No question about it. It appeared to be like a 90 degree shoulder, not a chamfer. Of course I was told I was nuts, that I was misinterpreting what was obviously a headspace or ammo problem. I know others had complained of the same issue, scraping lead or copper.

I fixed both of mine with a special made 45 degree chamfer tool. Not cheap but cheaper than scrapping two barrels.300fuchamber.jpg
 
My chambering reamers (and my other tooling, tools and machine tools) have paid for themselves many times over. And, as mentioned, if ya' get a tool that won't, someone else wants it,,,,,,,, sell it.... The bonus is, I know the condition of the tool, I don't wonder if the last use was in a B&D battery powered drill @ 3600rpm.
 
shortgrass said:
My chambering reamers (and my other tooling, tools and machine tools) have paid for themselves many times over. And, as mentioned, if ya' get a tool that won't, someone else wants it,,,,,,,, sell it.... The bonus is, I know the condition of the tool, I don't wonder if the last use was in a B&D battery powered drill @ 3600rpm.
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I wouldn't have thought of that, But now that you mention it, I'm sure their reamers have been in cordless drills! That's freakin hilarious!
 
For those people that don't like to rent, you can buy them. It really is as simple as that.

I've been upset with PTG in the past but they have the best selection and will do custom reamers. I had contacted Manson a while back but he doesn't do any custom reamers and only produces SAAMI.

PTG will do C.I.P. reamers.

I have pondered renting reamers in the past, but for me it takes me mostly time to do anything...I have 2 new reamers I haven't used yet, and it's gonna be at least a couple more months to get my machines setup to do the action and chambering. It just seems to make sense to own the reamers to me. You can always cut down and/or re-chamber a barrel if you have the reamer on hand. But the funny thing is I'm not above buying used reamers. Even in that case, I'd like to own the reamer I chamber my rifles in. Call me old fashioned...;)
 
AccelR8 said:
I rented a 300AAC BLK reamer from one of the "big two," I don't remember which right now. It was years ago, when the cartridge was newly SAAMI approved. I did two barrels. The reamer left a sharp edge where indicated in the attached image, where it should be a 45 degree chamfer. The chamber would actually scrape copper off a jacketed bullet which would build up and prevent chambering a round. Forget about lead bullets.

I verified this with a bore scope. No question about it. It appeared to be like a 90 degree shoulder, not a chamfer. Of course I was told I was nuts, that I was misinterpreting what was obviously a headspace or ammo problem. I know others had complained of the same issue, scraping lead or copper.

I fixed both of mine with a special made 45 degree chamfer tool. Not cheap but cheaper than scrapping two barrels.View attachment 1487185
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So they said you were nuts? That's unacceptable if it was truly ground that way. Did you take a pic? I'm curious how this turned out. Fred has been a respected gunsmith and expert in the trade for several decades. I'm not saying you were wrong or that they didn't screw the pooch somehow but someone else made that reamer or shapened it and they are wo caused the issue, even if it should never have gone out of 4d that way. I'm just curious because my experience with them has always been at the least, satisfactory. I do think that if you want to know the condition of the reamer, owning it is the best way and I've rented a couple that needed sharpened but they got the job done. Fred himself has always been responsive to any issues like that. I guess I lean toward understanding his side to a point because, as mentioned, no telling how the reamer was used by someone that knows little or nothing at all about bbl chambering. And yes, I'd say it's very likely that some have been abused to the point of having been chucked into a dewalt. All that said, they should be inspected and the idiot that screwed it up billed outlandishly for proper repairs. He offers a service that is nice to have when needed and he certainly knows how it SHOULD be but it may not always go as it should either. Nonetheless, they should all be inspected under magnification for any damage upon return and never sent out in poor condition. This should absolutely go without saying in that business. I would assume the worst until inspected, in his shoes.

Still, I think he would absolutely want to know of an issue like you had and have it remedied asap.

This is the owner
 
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According to the Manson new, on-line catalog; Specials and wildcats,, we can make it all". From page 12 Web catalog says they do SAAMI and C.I.P. as well as sizing die reamers. "Calibers not listed by SAAMI or C.I.P. are made to the designers or most common specifications".
 
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It has been quite a while since I bought a chambering reamer (years), but I'd not order a reamer until I had a job booked for it. The maker mentioned in post #26 I won't use. I own 4 made by them and every one had to be re-ground, Dave Manson Precision Reamers was good enough to do that, even though not their tools (I was charged, of course,,, I expected to be). Got no help from the maker out in OR. I've not had any problems with JGS or Manson, or for that matter, Clymer.
 
gunsandgunsmithing said:
So they said you were nuts? That's unacceptable if it was truly ground that way. Did you take a pic? I'm curious how this turned out. Fred has been a respected gunsmith and expert in the trade for several decades. I'm not saying you were wrong or that they didn't screw the pooch somehow but someone else made that reamer or shapened it and they are wo caused the issue, even if it should never have gone out of 4d that way. I'm just curious because my experience with them has always been at the least, satisfactory. I do think that if you want to know the condition of the reamer, owning it is the best way and I've rented a couple that needed sharpened but they got the job done. Fred himself has always been responsive to any issues like that. I guess I lean toward understanding his side to a point because, as mentioned, no telling how the reamer was used by someone that knows little or nothing at all about bbl chambering. And yes, I'd say it's very likely that some have been abused to the point of having been chucked into a dewalt. All that said, they should be inspected and the idiot that screwed it up billed outlandishly for proper repairs. He offers a service that is nice to have when needed and he certainly knows how it SHOULD be but it may not always go as it should either. Nonetheless, they should all be inspected under magnification for any damage upon return and never sent out in poor condition. This should absolutely go without saying in that business. I would assume the worst until inspected, in his shoes.

Still, I think he would absolutely want to know of an issue like you had and have it remedied asap.

This is the owner
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Well they didn't SAY I was nuts but it was implied I didn't know what I was talking about. Specifically what I was describing was "impossible." And I can't say it was 4D. It may well have been the other guys. I honestly do not remember, it's been so long. I have rented from both multiple times. The exchange took place via e-mail months AFTER I had used the reamer and returned it. It was actually my second chambering job(s), although I'm an experienced machinist. I'm not a gunsmith. The problem appeared after I began shooting the barrels.

I had contacted the firm more to alert them to a problem and never asked for any recompense. The end result was they insisted I was shaving lead or copper when seating bullets in the case. This was certainly not so. They asked if I was handloading. When I said yes, it was off to the races.

Anyway, learning experience. Water under the bridge. I just shared because I thought it may help the guy wo stated a similar problem here (not chambering rounds). I've rented again a few times from both places and always gotten good reamers (as far as I know :) ) in a timely manner. My issues have been with communications. Since the last one, I have decided no more renting and I buy them. it's just easier.
 
Unless I'm looking at old information, Fred Zeglin is in Kalispel Montana. 4D Reamer Rentals is in Casper Wyoming.

During the aforementioned e-mail exchange I had the impression I was talking with someone who had little to no knowledge and was just relaying information. A helper or intern maybe? But again I want to stress, don't remember who the outfit was.
 
AccelR8 said:
Well they didn't SAY I was nuts but it was implied I didn't know what I was talking about. Specifically what I was describing was "impossible." And I can't say it was 4D. It may well have been the other guys. I honestly do not remember, it's been so long. I have rented from both multiple times. The exchange took place via e-mail months AFTER I had used the reamer and returned it. It was actually my second chambering job(s), although I'm an experienced machinist. I'm not a gunsmith. The problem appeared after I began shooting the barrels.

I had contacted the firm more to alert them to a problem and never asked for any recompense. The end result was they insisted I was shaving lead or copper when seating bullets in the case. This was certainly not so. They asked if I was handloading. When I said yes, it was off to the races.

Anyway, learning experience. Water under the bridge. I just shared because I thought it may help the guy wo stated a similar problem here (not chambering rounds). I've rented again a few times from both places and always gotten good reamers (as far as I know :) ) in a timely manner. My issues have been with communications. Since the last one, I have decided no more renting and I buy them. it's just easier.
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Either way sucks. He's a knowledgeable guy but that doesn't mean things went as planned either...or that his employees knew what they were talking about. No idea really. Just surprised at some of the replies here because I've not had any of what I'd call bad experiences with them. Granted, my expectations are not the same for a rental chambering reamer as a custom match reamer either. Really shouldn't matter as far as quality, but realistically, it does.
 
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