Throat Reaming

[Eraser]

I want to lengthen the throat on a 223 rem. I ordered a Clymore reamer with the t-handle to do the job.
But after searching the forum on the subject, I'm not sure doing the reaming by hand is going to be as easy as I had thought.
Who has done this, and do you have any advice on the subject?

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Nope, not with that throater! PTG makes what they call a Uni-throater, that has adjustment means for depth of cut. And it can still fool ya!!
But the stop and pilot combination does make hand reaming plausible with their tool, where it's just not without it....imo. Both the pilot and the stop serve as alignment aids on a Uni-throater. It gives alignment at both ends of the reamer as well as controlling depth. I don't know of another throater than offers this. I use your style of throater, only in a lathe and it can still be tricky, determining precisely when it starts to cut. Once you establish a good starting point, it's pretty easy, but you have to be very careful not to overcut it.

 

[AckleymanII]

Eraser, I am afraid you are about to Make a really bad mistake.

 

[B23]

Never done it myself but after talking to the people I know that have go very slow because everyone is always surprised how little it takes to cut a lot.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I would also suggest obtaining the PTG .223 Rem Uni-throater. However, before you do that I would call and ask them to be sure the freebore diameter cut by their Uni-throater is compatible with the existing (shorter) freebore. You don't want a seam in the middle of the freebore. As long as the PTG Uni-throater cuts a freebore diameter equal to, or larger than the existing freebore, it will work perfectly. The second thing to be aware of is that the Uni-throater is taking out only the very tiniest thickness of metal around the outside of the bore. It takes almost nothing to cut well beyond where you had intended to cut. Be uber-conservative when you start using it so that you don't end up with a freebore much longer than intended.

 

[Stumpy1]

Eraser, Where are you located -perhaps someone near you has a Uni-throater and can hook you up.

Frank

 

[SmokinJoe]

I have done it myself, but what Ned said in spades. Be careful determining your start point and make sure that you understand how the adjustments work on the Uni-throater plus use a good cutting lube.

 

[Eraser]

I looked at the uni-throater. It will cost $159.00 with straight fluting and $184.00
with spiral fluting. This seems like alot of money for what may turn out to be a one time job.
How much might a gun smith charge to do this on a lathe?

 

[Twdmar]

Go to 4D reamer rentals website. https://4drentals.com/products/precthroat/

 

[NorCalMikie]

I want to lengthen the throat on a 223 rem.

IMHO, that will be your FIRST mistake. Throats will wear, sometimes faster that you would like.
Me? I prefer ZERO FREE BORE no matter what caliber I'am working with. I want my lightest bullets just at or into the lands. As the throat wears, go to heavier bullets.
Once you cut that throat, you can't go back without a re chamber.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I looked at the uni-throater. It will cost $159.00 with straight fluting and $184.00
with spiral fluting. This seems like alot of money for what may turn out to be a one time job.
How much might a gun smith charge to do this on a lathe?

If I have to take the rifle apart, set it up in the lathe, cut the fussy throat, and put it all back together, figure 3 to 4 hours or 150 to 200 bucks. I have shot everything from 52 to 80 grains in a SAAMI 223 chamber with no problem. Why do you want to mess with it?

 

[std7mag]

About the only reason to throat your chamber longer is to use heavier bullets.
But first, you need to know the twist rate of your barrel.
As in know, not what it's advertized as.
Will your twist rate even shoot a heavier bullet?

Ok, the other reason is an oldtimers trick to help keep pressures in check.
Weatherby magnums, lever, semi autos, and others will use a long throat.

If your using a 223 Rem chamber and want to use 5.56 Nato rounds, you might want to check out the 223 Wylde chamber.

 

[Eraser]

Go to 4D reamer rentals website. https://4drentals.com/products/precthroat/

I just took a look, great rental price. Thanks.

 

[Eraser]

IMHO, that will be your FIRST mistake. Throats will wear, sometimes faster that you would like.
Me? I prefer ZERO FREE BORE no matter what caliber I'am working with. I want my lightest bullets just at or into the lands. As the throat wears, go to heavier bullets.
Once you cut that throat, you can't go back without a re chamber.

I want to shoot 77 SMKs. As it stands now, that bullet sits way down in the case, nowhere near the neck/shoulder junction which would be optimal.

 

[L.Sherm]

You sure you have the twist in your barrel to stabilize them as stated above?

 

[Eraser]

You sure you have the twist in your barrel to stabilize them as stated above?

I do. It's an 8 twist.

 

[Eraser]

If I have to take the rifle apart, set it up in the lathe, cut the fussy throat, and put it all back together, figure 3 to 4 hours or 150 to 200 bucks. I have shot everything from 52 to 80 grains in a SAAMI 223 chamber with no problem. Why do you want to mess with it?

Sorry Walt, I meant to respond to you post.
You shot 80grn bullets in a SAAMI chamber? Your fps must have been low.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Load 77s to 2.250. Mag length in an AR, and they will shoot just fine. Load 80s to 2.480 and single load.

 

[Eraser]

Load 77s to 2.250. Mag length in an AR, and they will shoot just fine. Load 80s to 2.480 and single load.

I could load to the 2.250 but not the 2.480. My BTO for the 77 SMK is 1.927. At an OAL of 2.480 the BTO is 2.020. That's .093 longer than the throat, but about where I would like to be. The 80s would be longer yet. Did I mention this is a bolt gun?