Teaching somebody to chamber a barrel
- Thread starter tbaxl
- Start date
Tbaxl go to the machine shop at the university that you mentioned above if you can. You dont have to do "gun stuff". Learn how to operate a lathe, basic tasks like drilling, reaming, turning, threading and boring. there really is no shortcut around learning how to run the lathe. Read through the thread Butch posted. Once you have done that you can practice the techniques on scrap metal and find a mentor to walk you through a chamber job. I have traveled the road you are about to embark on.I had some help from lots of people along the way.The shooting community is full of great people that are willing share the knowledge and experience the have acquired.
Best of luck to you
This is right on the nut!! I learned how to chamber fairly well before going to school and taking a class on fundamentals of lathe operation and mill operation. This class made me way better at running a lathe than I ever would have been if I hadn't taken the class, thinking you can get good at running a lathe by watching somebody else for a few days is absurd. TAKE A CLASS!! You will learn about metalurgy, and tooling, until you know a bit about these things all you'll do is fumble around in the dark. After a class you can watch Gordy's video and do a good job.
Best of luck to you
This is right on the nut!! I learned how to chamber fairly well before going to school and taking a class on fundamentals of lathe operation and mill operation. This class made me way better at running a lathe than I ever would have been if I hadn't taken the class, thinking you can get good at running a lathe by watching somebody else for a few days is absurd. TAKE A CLASS!! You will learn about metalurgy, and tooling, until you know a bit about these things all you'll do is fumble around in the dark. After a class you can watch Gordy's video and do a good job.
For the record, I’m construction engineering. But yes, I am required to take multiple fine arts classes but a machine shop class isn’t even offered and if it was it probably wouldn’t count towards my degree. The school doesn’t even like students using the machine shop really either, they only let ME students use it for their senior design project.
Bully
Silver $$ Contributor
@tbaxl
First off, good on you for coming on here and asking for help. Secondly, another pat on the back for taking the heat that inevitably comes with asking. I will tell you, don't take it personally.
About a year and a half ago or so, I was on here asking similar questions. I got a PM from a person a 3 hour flight away that offered to help me. He's a machinist for a medical device company and a hell of a gunsmith. I took the flight and essentially drank from a fire hose for a weekend with all the knowledge he imparted to me. It was an awesome learning experience. Coupled with a basic machining class at the local CC, I purchased a used lathe in an appropriate size and have chambered several rifles. I'm far from an expert but my first rifle shoots sub-half MOA with no load development. That works for me. I do plan on getting an FFL once my skill set develops a bit more and I can find the time.
Keep plugging away. You'll get it. It's really not that hard. It takes some relatively basic skills and practice. You'll also want to pay attention every minute the machine is running. You probably won't get threads that look like the guys on here get but that's ok. Mine are not great but getting better. Keep asking questions and ignore the naysayers. It'll all be ok.
Oh, get you some "Voodoo Chicken Bones" for your first chamber job.
Just as a FWIW, my first rifle got chambered 5 times on the same barrel(I kept screwing the pooch). Thank GOD for the M24 tenon length.
First off, good on you for coming on here and asking for help. Secondly, another pat on the back for taking the heat that inevitably comes with asking. I will tell you, don't take it personally.
About a year and a half ago or so, I was on here asking similar questions. I got a PM from a person a 3 hour flight away that offered to help me. He's a machinist for a medical device company and a hell of a gunsmith. I took the flight and essentially drank from a fire hose for a weekend with all the knowledge he imparted to me. It was an awesome learning experience. Coupled with a basic machining class at the local CC, I purchased a used lathe in an appropriate size and have chambered several rifles. I'm far from an expert but my first rifle shoots sub-half MOA with no load development. That works for me. I do plan on getting an FFL once my skill set develops a bit more and I can find the time.
Keep plugging away. You'll get it. It's really not that hard. It takes some relatively basic skills and practice. You'll also want to pay attention every minute the machine is running. You probably won't get threads that look like the guys on here get but that's ok. Mine are not great but getting better. Keep asking questions and ignore the naysayers. It'll all be ok.
Oh, get you some "Voodoo Chicken Bones" for your first chamber job.
Just as a FWIW, my first rifle got chambered 5 times on the same barrel(I kept screwing the pooch). Thank GOD for the M24 tenon length.
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