What's your favorite way to dial in a barrel?

[boltfluter]

Just curious is all. Between centers, long indicator, range rod, indicate both ends? I have seen every way produce very accurate rifles. Let me know what works for you. Also, why you prefer your chosen method. Let the games begin!
Paul

 

[SKWERLZ]

I’m a barrel cutting noob but I use a Long stem indicator as my barrel mentor didn’t like range rods.

 

[STOMP442]

Indicating on both ends seems to work best for me.

 

[JLDavid]

I am not a seasoned veteran but I have done a few. I have only chambered through the headstock with spiders and range rods so that is how I do it. If I had a wider selection of indicators I might do it different but I am limited to what I have on hand.

 

[LVLAaron]

There's a couple of 19 page threads of popcorn on the topic.


I'm staunchly in the "dial the throat and in front of the throat" camp. After doing this and seeing how far out 30 inch barrels can be, I'm dug in even deeper on why it's the right method, for me of course.

 

[LVLAaron]

+ Interapid 312B-15 with 2.75" stylus. I do not like the super long 5.5" stylus.

 

[SKWERLZ]

+ Interapid 312B-15 with 2.75" stylus. I do not like the super long 5.5" stylus.

 

[LVLAaron]

Yep. I have very similar marks on mine.

 

[msalm]

I dial the muzzle end and the throat. Drill out the chamber, dial in the throat/reamer pilot area, and bore the chamber out .015” or so under reamer diameter and ream from there. Throats end up centered and the barrels shoot very well.

 

[JPB3]

I dial the muzzle end and the throat. Drill out the chamber, dial in the throat/reamer pilot area, and bore the chamber out .015” or so under reamer diameter and ream from there. Throats end up centered and the barrels shoot very well.

yes.. Works for me.

 

[linebaugh]

Indicate both ends OD.
Chanve to long reach and dial at chamber mouth and just in front of neck using sliders.
Pre chamber with drill bit to .1 ish short
Clean up with boring bar to within .010 to .020 max
Hit it with scotch brite after chambering.

 

[LVLAaron]

Here's why I like my method.

 

[ELR LVR]

Just curious is all. Between centers, long indicator, range rod, indicate both ends? I have seen every way produce very accurate rifles. Let me know what works for you. Also, why you prefer your chosen method. Let the games begin!
Paul

Indicate both ends in the bore
I'm not worried about possibly nicking the lands with the paltry amount of spring pressure the stylus applies
as that part will be cut out/off anyway when reaming or crowning
All the way through the spindle - back end upported in a 4 bolt spider with brass tips
front end in the 4 jaw with heavy gauge copper ring protector
this is my "Favorite" way if i have 22" of barrel
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if both ends are dialed, it cannot be anything but concentric to the bore

 

[LVLAaron]

if both ends are dialed, it cannot be anything but concentric to the bore

 

[WSnyder]

As Jackie S has often said "you can pick any two points". Anything outside of those two points in a barrel bore can go any which way.

 

[ELR LVR]

View attachment 1648826

On my model of lathe Yes
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However as an alternate scenario...if both ends of the barrel were mounted in a Gymbal
and the barrel were offset, the barrel itself could spin and still look concentric
But the barrel would have to be spinning inside the spindle mounted gymbals for this scenario to show both ends concentric even if the barrel were tilted
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The barrel does not spin inside the spindle, the spindle spins the barrel
Any 2 points in space in between the ends of the spindle if dead center, will show no runout
What we are doing is lining up the bore with those 2 points in space
So if either end were offset, when the spindle is spun this would show up on the indicator as being off center
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Now if the spindle were offset in any way within its bearings, doing a cut on a test bar will reveal this
or chuck something long and run the carriage and measure

 

[tobnpr]

"dial the throat and in front of the throat" camp

So...
To do that with a 2-3/4" stylus (I use the same indicator), I'm guessing you indicate as far as you can reach to get "close", drill/bore deep enough to get the end of the indicator into the breech, dial your two points, then skim again with a boring bar to true the hole to re-positioned barrel?

 

[LVLAaron]

So...
To do that with a 2-3/4" stylus (I use the same indicator), I'm guessing you indicate as far as you can reach to get "close", drill/bore deep enough to get the end of the indicator into the breech, dial your two points, then skim again with a boring bar to true the hole to re-positioned barrel?

Depends a little bit on the length of the cartridge, but yes.

 

[LVLAaron]

On my model of lathe Yes

Dial a 30 inch Krieger in with your method, then check it in front of the throat. *(Disclaimer; Krieger is my preferred choice, but they can wander a bit)


If you're not checkin' you're guessin'

 

[ELR LVR]

Dial a 30 inch Krieger in with your method, then check it in front of the throat. *(Disclaimer; Krieger is my preferred choice, but they can wander a bit)

Well, I have chucked a 30 inch Krieger and let it hang out and measured the runout on the OD
it was only .008" way out at the end, they are very straight.
So yeah, another reaon I like Krieger
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I have also dialed in Bartlein ID , then measured the OD for a comparison to see how close the OD was to the ID
It was within .0003" - That was a Carbon Wrapped as well
concentric enough for me to even dial in on the OD if a guy wanted to
(Way better than guys that are chambering with a 3 jaw, which just, I've seen it on you tube and just NO)
I mean I like to get things to that .0001" but in a pinch, such as a varmint or hunting rifle
.0003" is plenty accurate.
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But are you suggesting the bore will wander much just within cartridge length on a Krieger??
Even if both ends are dialed in?
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BTW, I push the reamer and let it guide itself to keep itself centered as it cuts