Rechambering to a Shorter Cartridge

[skeeljc]

How would you rechamber to a similar but shorter cartridge? Example: Going from a .222 Remington Magnum to a .222 Remington.

 

[hoz53]

How would you rechamber to a similar but shorter cartridge? Example: Going from a .222 Remington Magnum to a .222 Remington.

you have to cut some of the tenon off

 

[skeeljc]

I know the tennon must be cut off and recut. My real question is how to deal with the chamber. If the old chamber is aligned with the bore 2" ahead of it then I can ream the new chamber and the reamer will follow the bore and the old chamber. Easy to do.

What if the old chamber is not perfectly aligned with the first 2" of the bore? How do you cut the new chamber in alignment without completely removing all of the old chamber?

 

[jackieschmidt]

If there is enough stock, re-indicate and single point bore what is left of the old chamber true to that.

A lot depends on how much taper the old bore had. IMHO, you would be best served by cutting the majority of the old chamber’s body off. You simply don’t have a lot to play with.

 

[Ggmac]

How would you rechamber to a similar but shorter cartridge? Example: Going from a .222 Remington Magnum to a .222 Remington.

Use a negative space adapter . They use to be real popular for auto wheel adapters , ( when the wheel stuck out to far you would go to the parts store and ask for a Negative space wheel adapter ) . Im sure someone could advertise such an item and many would investigate.
Just a goofy phrase we would use on a new counter person.
Seriously, you would need to cut the tenon . It’s usually easier to cut the entire chamber off instead od catching the old thread .

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Only two FEASIBLE ways are either let the reamer follow what's left or start from scratch. You can jack with possibilities way beyond feasibility. Sometimes it'll work and sometimes it won't. For example..what if your existing chamber is a few tenths bigger somewhere, even after setback, than your new reamer? Ya can't bore it smaller.

 

[DaveTooley]

Good mental exercise but is seldom worth the effort/risk. The reamer will follow the hole. As Jackie pointed out you can true the existing chamber but that's iffy. Then there's chasing the threads. If I can't cut the threads off I wouldn't do it.

 

[skeeljc]

Good mental exercise but is seldom worth the effort/risk. The reamer will follow the hole. As Jackie pointed out you can true the existing chamber but that's iffy. Then there's chasing the threads. If I can't cut the threads off I wouldn't do it.

I can cut the old tennon off completely. Then taper bore to remove the remaining chamber body, shoulder and neck. The only question I have is the type of reamer holder to use.

 

[STS]

Use the same reamer holder that you would use on any other barrel. When you remove all of the existing chamber you are essentially working on a "new" blank.

 

[LVLAaron]

Chop it off and start fresh.

 

[DaveTooley]

I can cut the old tennon off completely. Then taper bore to remove the remaining chamber body, shoulder and neck. The only question I have is the type of reamer holder to use.

A reamer holder won't save you. Setting up the barrel with a concentric hole for the reamer to follow is the key to every chamber job. Any will work with a concentric hole.

 

[Will Henry]

If I was doing this, I would cut the barrel enough that the exist shoulder would be in the right place to headspace the 222- .010" I would dial in the existing neck and finish the chamber with the 222 reamer. Use a pusher which allows the reamer to float. If the original is visibly misaligned, cut enough off to allow you to bore and straighten it. Often, rechambering is more difficult than starting fresh. WH