In a 6br, would I have a choice of neck diameter with short chambered barrel? I assume I would have to beg, borrow or steal a reamer with the same ND? That el-cheapo way could easily turn into a full gunsmith chamber job, cost wise? Thanks.
Short chamber barrel question
- Thread starter WyoWindage
- Start date
If the shop doing the pre-fit does not have the chamber neck diameter you may want, there would be an extra charge, they then having to buy a reamer with your dimension. A new PTG floating pilot reamer costs $138 + $7 priority shipping, could be cut to your dimensions, including freebore & chamber O.A.L.
To me, freebore is every bit as important as chamber neck diameter.
There is always the option of selling the reamer, if you never intend to use it again, and you can recover about 70% of your costs. I keep my reamers for future chamberings.
I just could never accept the idea of spending $300+ for a barrel blank + the cost of machining, and having the all important chamber cut with whatever reamer the maker happened to have available.
To me, freebore is every bit as important as chamber neck diameter.
There is always the option of selling the reamer, if you never intend to use it again, and you can recover about 70% of your costs. I keep my reamers for future chamberings.
I just could never accept the idea of spending $300+ for a barrel blank + the cost of machining, and having the all important chamber cut with whatever reamer the maker happened to have available.
Thanks for the input. I have decided the short chamber route is not one I want. As you say, chamber specs are important, I was thinking about .271 no turn neck, but had not put much thought into the freebore. That would depend on barrel twist and bullet, right? I don't have a proper action for this project. Am leaning toward a Savage M12B, for it's stock and ability to switch barrels. I also want a 30BR barrel for short range. Finding this model is probably very problematic.
WyoWindage: A .271" chamber neck diameter would work fine for a no-turn with the new blue box Lapua. My loaded rounds are approx. .267", for my .269" chambers, but I do a very light cleanup outside turn to .012" neck wall thickness. Probably no real difference between .269" and .271", whatever you're comfortable with. If you ever want to use Norma brass, it is a little thicker than the new Lapua (about the same as the "old" gold cardboard box Lapua), so with anything less than .271" it would require some turning, maybe something you don't want to get involved in.
At some point you may be wishing you had a better trigger (like a Jewell?) than what are available with the Savage, both factory & after-market. I know that's what happened to me. My Remington 700's and a few customs are all equipped with Jewells & I would never want to go back to the Savages. One has been sold, (a mdl 12BVSS), and the other is kept for informal use only.
Really no big deal switching barrels on a Remington 700, Panda, Bat, etc. without the barrel nut. Takes me about 20 minutes & get the exact same headspace each and every time.
If you do decide to buy your own reamer, decide on the primary bullet (your first choice) you'll be using, contact Dave Kiff & explain how you want it seated ( I always specify touching the lands with the base of the bullet about .030" in front of the neck/shoulder junction) and Dave can load the info into his bullet comparator data to find the exact freebore dimension required. Loading a dummy round is another way of doing the same job.
Nice to have a fresh, never used reamer to cut your chamber, something you have no control over if using a rental or one the shop has been using ?????? times?
When that barrel is ready for setback & rechambering or a complate new barrel, you'll be able to have the second (and third) chamber done with your reamer, and in every one of my experiences the brass has been usable in newer cuts, for a while until the reamer starts to wear from usage, then the dimensions will change to something smaller. You'll still get multiple cuts from the same reamer.
If getting your own reamer be sure to request a reamer print drawing & keep it in your records.
At some point you may be wishing you had a better trigger (like a Jewell?) than what are available with the Savage, both factory & after-market. I know that's what happened to me. My Remington 700's and a few customs are all equipped with Jewells & I would never want to go back to the Savages. One has been sold, (a mdl 12BVSS), and the other is kept for informal use only.
Really no big deal switching barrels on a Remington 700, Panda, Bat, etc. without the barrel nut. Takes me about 20 minutes & get the exact same headspace each and every time.
If you do decide to buy your own reamer, decide on the primary bullet (your first choice) you'll be using, contact Dave Kiff & explain how you want it seated ( I always specify touching the lands with the base of the bullet about .030" in front of the neck/shoulder junction) and Dave can load the info into his bullet comparator data to find the exact freebore dimension required. Loading a dummy round is another way of doing the same job.
Nice to have a fresh, never used reamer to cut your chamber, something you have no control over if using a rental or one the shop has been using ?????? times?
When that barrel is ready for setback & rechambering or a complate new barrel, you'll be able to have the second (and third) chamber done with your reamer, and in every one of my experiences the brass has been usable in newer cuts, for a while until the reamer starts to wear from usage, then the dimensions will change to something smaller. You'll still get multiple cuts from the same reamer.
If getting your own reamer be sure to request a reamer print drawing & keep it in your records.
Great advise from all. Thanks much. I took some of it 
and bought a Rem 700 243W today, at WM. It's not custom, but beats Marlin and Savage for what I want, IMO. I had two 700's but both long action. It took me about 3 hours to buy it, slow service, needed to find proof of post office, residency, etc.
I will find a gunsmith, discuss my needs, and go from there. Thanks again, as Arnold said, "I'll be back", or was that McCarther?
and bought a Rem 700 243W today, at WM. It's not custom, but beats Marlin and Savage for what I want, IMO. I had two 700's but both long action. It took me about 3 hours to buy it, slow service, needed to find proof of post office, residency, etc.I will find a gunsmith, discuss my needs, and go from there. Thanks again, as Arnold said, "I'll be back", or was that McCarther?
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