Suggestions on choosing a gunsmith

[Hapnin]

I'm looking for someone to true an XR100 action and chamber/ fit a 22BR barrel. Would I be required to purchase my own reamer or is it possible for the gunsmith to use one he/she alreagy owns. What would be the advantage to me owning my own?.Anyone have any recomendations on a smith?

Thanks for any help.

 

[fdshuster]

Steve: The big advantage of buying your own reamer is that you get to choose the exact chamber dimensions you want, not based on the reamer someone may have laying around in their shop. You will also know that it's a new reamer & your chamber will be the first cut. I always spec the chamber neck diameter that I want, usually a tight no-turn, or a tight fitted requiring outside neck turning, whichever I choose. I also specify the amount of freebore that I want, and that's frequently a problem with an unknown reamer: you could get a lot more freebore than you want, depending on the bullet you primarily intend to use. I also specify the chamber length, never more than .010" longer than max case length. If you never intend to have another chamber cut for that ctg. you can always sell the reamer and get back a major portion of it's cost. Just too many advantages to not buy your own. My 22BR chamber has a .251" neck requiring just a light clean-up cut, .024" FB, and O.A.L. is 1.570".

 

[Hapnin]

Thanks. Sounds like the way to go. I never thought about being able to specify the actual neck length. Drives me nuts with factory chambers. Every one I've ever checked has been long enough that I don't think I'd ever have to trim a case. Now I just need to find someone to do the work.

Thanks again.

 

[LHSmith]

Renting a chamber reamer is another option. One smith I use has had very good experience with Shawnee Rentals (aka Elk Mountain). As Frank said above, you are at their mercy of what they have on hand, but in many chamberings they offer various neck sizes and FB. Buying your own can get salty, as you need at least an accompanying Go guage and some smiths prefer a floating pilot reamer (more expensive), then he may also find out your bore requires a different size reamer bushing.
I prefer to use a smith that I can consult face to face. So to advise you of a smith we need your location.

 

[Hapnin]

I'm in south east Illinois about 10 mile from the Indiana state line. I figured the floating pilot would be the preferred way to go anyway. Sounds like there would be less chance for the throat to get scarred up with a floater.

Thanks.

 

[fdshuster]

Steve: Yes to the floating pilot reamers. The only kind I buy, and according to Dave Kiff also the vast majority of what they sell. I've had chambers cut with both floating and fixed, have had reamer marks with the fixed, but also a few cut with a fixed pilot and no reamer marks, so I'd have to say that can depend on the 'smith who is doing the chambering. Floating pilot reamers from Pacific are running $138 + $7 shipping. For chamberings I never intend to do again, I've sold them for approx. 75% of what I paid. It's nice to be able to keep them though and when you have a real winner future chambers can cut. If it's a wildcat you also have the possibility of having a sizing die cut with that same reamer, and when chambering another barrel there is another possibility the "old" brass will fit. PM sent for a suggestion on a 'smith near you.

 

[Bnhpr]

Have a reamer built against a dummy round you made. Its the best way to avoid the typical wildcat issues.

Your reamer, round, die and chamber dimensions must cascade appropriately for the system to work.

 

[tbs]

This is the smith I use since he is real good and close to me. Check out his web site and see if he has what you need.

http://high-precision.com/

 

[Hapnin]

Thanks for all the help. Someone got hold of me and offered to do the work for me so I'm set. I don't know if he wants me to mention who it is so mums the word for now but I couldn't be more pleased by his generosity.