I like monkeying with M98, Rem 700, and Ruger No. 1 actions, making "switch-barrels"out of them, and shooting odd-ball cartridges. So I have a bunch of reamers lying around.

Am thinking of getting another one or two, but don't know what to get. Here's what I have, so what would you get to fill in any gaps or try something new?

218 Bee

.221 ICL Improved

.220 Russian (tight neck)

6mm Donaldson Ace

6mm/.284

.25/.223

.250/3000

.257 Roberts, Ackley Improved

6.5 x 53-R

.260 Rem. Match

6.5x57

6.5/.284W

.264 Winchester

7 x 65-R

7 x 61 m/m Sharpe & Hart Magnum (rougher)

7m/m Remington Magnum

.308 Winchester (.330" neck)

.308 x 1.5-degree (3-degree included) throater

,3108 x .45’ (1-1/2-degree included) throater

30 PPC

.30 BR

7.5 x 55 Suisse (AKA .30/.284)

.308 Norma Magnum

.303 Epps Improved

8 x 56 m/m Mannlicher-Schoenauer

8 x 57 Mauser

8m/m/’06

.33 Winchester

.338 Winchester

9.5 x 57-R

.450 Ackley Magnum

.480 Ruger

Thanks,

AC

I didn't see any .17s or .204s!

Alberta Canuck
For your Ruger #1
Anything from .35 cal. to 40 cal.
35 Whelen
9.3x57
9.3x62
9.3X74R
.375 Epps Improved...use your 303 Epps reamer (you will need proper pilot)then follow with .375 neck/throat reamer
38-90 WCF (Idaho Sharpshooter) http://www.shilohrifle.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7328&highlight=3890
400/.395 Nitro Express https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums?a=tpc&f=4711043&m=747101668
.405 Win
I shoot cast bullets mostly and the above cal. are good canidates for that plus they make good hunting rounds with cast...

416 Taylor

LowWall -

Yeh, my reamer collection looks sparse in that .35-45 range. I AM looking at a 9.3x74 Reamer as we write, and already have rifles in a .375 NE rimless and a .375 H&H (in a Mauser and a No. 1) and have a 9.3x62 Mauser and a 9.3x74R double rifle. In the .35's have got rifles in .35 Rem, .358 Win., .356 Win. but no longer have any more powerful .35s that I can think of off the top of my head. Might be real fun to build an old .35 Winchester on a No. 1.

Had considered the .405 Winchester, but have two of those already, one on a Springfield '03, and the other a new Ruger No. 1.

Was also thinking of getting a .500 Jeffery reamer and running it in about half an inch short, to get about a .500x60m/m. Wasn't sure but what that might still be a little stout for my old bones, though.

Don't see a .22 Savage Hi-Power listed. I'll be doing a couple for my Encore and Contender. Got a .33 WCF coming for my Encore.

quote:

Originally posted by McKee Boykin:
Don't see a .22 Savage Hi-Power listed. I'll be doing a couple for my Encore and Contender. Got a .33 WCF coming for my Encore.

Yes, you are right. I probably should have a .22 Hi-Power reamer, though I would be almost as happy with a .219 Zipper. Have had a couple of .22 Hi-Powers in years gone by and they are very nice little rifles, especially with some of the more pointy .228 bullets one used to be able to get.

Sure wish the fella (an AR member) up in B.C. (or Alaska, can'trecall which) who now has my old solid-frame M99 Hi-Power would sell it back to me. It has been in Canada now for over 25 years, so would be no problem getting it into the South 48 'States.

If you want to try unusual things, what about:

270 x 57

270/08

30 x 57

270/284

6mm/3000 (i.e. 250/3000 necked down to 6mm)

6.5/3000

6mm/223

6.5/223

270/300 Savage (i.e. 300 Savage necked down to 270).

416/458 (458 winchester necked down to 416 -- or is that the same as the 416 Taylor?)

quote:

Originally posted by LE270:
If you want to try unusual things, what about:

270 x 57

270/08

30 x 57

270/284

6mm/3000 (i.e. 250/3000 necked down to 6mm)

6.5/3000

6mm/223

6.5/223

270/300 Savage (i.e. 300 Savage necked down to 270).

416/458 (458 winchester necked down to 416 -- or is that the same as the 416 Taylor?)

Lloyd -

The 6mm/250 Savage is essentially the same thing as my 6 m/m Donaldson Ace reamer. Mine is a nice old Red Elliot set, with 7 different throaters to fairly precisely match most bullets a guy might want to use.

The 6mm/223 is about identical (not quite) to my 6 m/m TCU Contender's barrel, though I don't have a reamer for it.

The 6.5/.223 is pretty interesting though. It would enable a guy to do a little experiment where he could chamber for that, test it, then re-chamber and re-test for the 6.5 Ace, then the 6.5x57, and so on, right up through my 6.5x61 S&H, which I forgot to put on my list. I just might order one of those, or better yet, try to find a used one in either conventional form or TCU...they are around from time to time.

So far I haven't commented on the .416 Taylor, though a couple of you guys have mentioned it. I am reluctant, but it is NOT because it isn't a good cartridge....it is a great little round. I just have sorta stuck to either .411 or .423 bullet diameters in my nominally .40 caliber rifles up to now. (Also have a .404 Barnes Supreme (.411") and a .404 Jeffery (.423") which don't show because I don't have the reamers. Have often thought of making a ".411 Taylor", though. That might be neat. That's definitely worth considering without having to get into stocking another diameter of bullets at today's prices (would use the moulds I alredy have, too).

.350 Remington Magnum.

Lo-Wall

Have been re-reading your post. Like that idea of using the .303 Epps reamer and a .375 neck and throat reamer to make a .375 Epps. Being a rimmed case, a guy could even get a .408" barrel and a proper .40 neck & throat reamer, and have some nice shooting probably about the equivalent of a .40-82 (with modern powders). With cast .41 Mag .410 bullets, could have a lot of plinking fun, then move up to cast or jacketed .411 300 gr. bullets for venison and wolf plinking. Ya think? What would your take be on that?

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
I didn't see any .17s or .204s!

Hi,Vapo - missed your post almost all day, but finally spotted it.

Have a couple of .17 rifles (.17 K-Hornet Kimber, and a vanilla 1st year .17 Remington) but don't have any .17 reamers. If I was gonna get one it would probably be a .17 Javelina, out of respect for my old bud, Paul Marquart.

As for the .20 calibers, thanks, but no thanks. If I was gonna go .03 off of .17, it would be to .14 barrels. Used to be some interesting rounds in that persuasion, but I don't know if bullets are still available...or cleaning rods, for that matter.

You haven't commented on the various .270 (.277 bullet) calibers I suggested.

I like that idea because I think the .270 Winchester is such a great cartridge, and I'd like to see what would happen with various other interesting but shorter cartridges necked down to .270

Lloyd -

I haven't commented on the various .270s because, to tell the honest truth, I don't like them. I openly admit I have absolutely no good reason for that. It was many years before I got my first .270, a Remington M 760. It, for some reason kicked the snot out of my cheek (yeh, I didn't know there was snot IN my cheek, either, 'til then). So, I ended up at one point with 11 .30-06's, but no .270s. I had traded the 760 to a carpenter for some house work.

Then, in another trade I got a M/S .270. Didn't like the rifle with a scope on it, so took it to a Calgary gun show and traded it straight across for the same chambering in a pre-'64 Model 70 FW. On the way home dropped by J&G Rifle Ranch in Turner, Montana, and bought a pre-'64 Model 70 Target, also in .270 chambering.

Have killed mule deer, elk, etc. with the FW and still have it. The M70 target is long gone. Have never owned another .270 of any ilk. Just have no interest in them. They don't turn my crank, though I like all kinds of 6.5's, 7's, .30's.

It's not the limited range of bullet weights available; 100 grains through 180 grains is plenty of band-width for that.

Its just, to me, they're like kissing my sisters. They're nice, do their things well, are relatively okay to look at. Just (thank God) don't turn my crank.

Sorry about that, Hell, I KNOW it doesn't make any sense.

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
Lo-Wall

Have been re-reading your post. Like that idea of using the .303 Epps reamer and a .375 neck and throat reamer to make a .375 Epps. Being a rimmed case, a guy could even get a .408" barrel and a proper .40 neck & throat reamer, and have some nice shooting probably about the equivalent of a .40-82 (with modern powders). With cast .41 Mag .410 bullets, could have a lot of plinking fun, then move up to cast or jacketed .411 300 gr. bullets for venison and wolf plinking. Ya think? What would your take be on that?

In Handloader #129 Paul Matthews did a article on the 37 RIMMED which is a 30-40 Krag necked up to .375...It was built on a Ruger #3
Vel. for a 299gr PP bullet was 2180 FPS...A .375 Epps should give the same performance maybe a bit better..

I have little experince with the 40 cal....Just started loading for a 40-90SS (3 1/4") a bit this summer using Nitro for Black loads...What hoot! That experience and RIP's 400NE threads have got me looking at other 40's for a light weight single shot...Both the 40-50 Straight and the 40-60 Maynard use either 303 or 30-40 Krag brass...
I also like your idea of chambering for the 35 Win....
So what is my take???...I think you are going to have fun no matter what you decide and that's what counts!!

If any of you guys have the dimensions of the 303Epps, I'd love to see them to compare to what the Aussie wildcatters were doing.

Just collecting bits and pieces for a 303/35 at the moment. Had the option to go an improved version, but the dies would have cost too much ... so its the standard 303/35 for me.
Cheers...
Con

quote:

Originally posted by Con:
If any of you guys have the dimensions of the 303Epps, I'd love to see them to compare to what the Aussie wildcatters were doing.

Just collecting bits and pieces for a 303/35 at the moment. Had the option to go an improved version, but the dies would have cost too much ... so its the standard 303/35 for me.
Cheers...
Con

Con, I don't recall which case the .35 Winchester was based on, but suspect it would not be too much different than a .35/.303 in performance. One of the nice things about such cartridges, at the moderate pressures I load them to, is that once you get up to .35 or larger bore, I doubt that 100-150 fps velocity has ANY recognizable direct effect on killing things. Cruise a 250-300 gr.bullet through something's shoulders or lungs, and it pretty much decides rather firmly to die the great majority of the time.

I have a .375 on the 8 m/m Rimmed Mauser case (Ruger No. 1), and it is a really sweet cartridge. I wouldn't be afraid to shoot very many things with the cup 'n core .270 gr. Hornady spire point cruising out of it. If I was, I'd load to higher pressure, use a .300 gr. RN solid, aim for both shoulder joints or the spine, and feel pretty well armed. Would think you could maybe do the same with good local bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:


I haven't commented on the various .270s because, to tell the honest truth, I don't like them. I openly admit I have absolutely no good reason for that.

....

Sorry about that, Hell, I KNOW it doesn't make any sense.

Everyone gets to hold his own senseless prejudices.

quote:

Originally posted by LE270:

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:


I haven't commented on the various .270s because, to tell the honest truth, I don't like them. I openly admit I have absolutely no good reason for that.

....

Sorry about that, Hell, I KNOW it doesn't make any sense.

Everyone gets to hold his own senseless prejudices.

True. What one hopes is that all the holders will recognize their biases as just that - biases, whether for or against something.

As the Chinese point out philosophically, every animal pulls the tail of his experiences, real and imagined, around behind him all the time.

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
So far I haven't commented on the .416 Taylor, though a couple of you guys have mentioned it. Have often thought of making a ".411 Taylor", though. That might be neat. That's definitely worth considering without having to get into stocking another diameter of bullets at today's prices (would use the moulds I alredy have, too).

That would be a 411 KDF, but nice round though it would be, it doesn't have the same ring as those magic number 416 have.
No bias where I come from.
I've always fancied the 35 Winchester in either a P14, or a nice single or double, my current pick for a double built on a shotgun action or maybe a rebarreled Rem/Baikal 30-06.
Steve

You ought to consider a 270Ren or similar for subsonic shooting.

Only thing I see missing is a BB gun and a slingshot.

a .338-06 might be nice.

Terry

quote:

Originally posted by TC1:
Only thing I see missing is a BB gun and a slingshot.

a .338-06 might be nice.

Terry

The one really missing is the slingshot. Have had a Feinwerkebau 300S "BB gun" for the last 29 years. Shoot it for offhand practice in my basement range. They are scary-accurate. No trick at all to put 10 shots into one hole offhand at 10 meters when a guy has been practicing 10 minutes daily for a week or so.

Amazing triggers, too. Can adjust for double pull or single pull; both pulls are weight adjustable down to 4 oz; trigger position can be adjusted back, forward, and sideways, overtravel can be completely eliminated, and sear engagement can be adjusted to less than .0001". Makes it almost possible to "think" the shot off.

Everyone who really wants to become a good shot offhand, kneeling, or sitting should have one. (no bias there, huh? )


I admire the .338-06, especially the .338-06 AI. Have long been considering that one but have never had one.

Thought maybe I should clarify my original post a bit. The list in it was the list of reamers currently at hand. There are a passel of differently chambered rifles laying around here which I don't have reamers for.

What I was looking for is ideas about different reamers one might want to add. Yon helpful (and pleasant to talk with) Kiwi, and other good guys replying, said something which kind of woke me up. Maybe instead of adding cartridge reamers, the "adds" should be neck/throat reamers of various diameters. Then a guy could take the chamber reamers already on hand and open them up for various kinds of hybrid cartridges....for instance, if talked into making a .270 of some sort, then I could make a .270 Donaldson Ace by using a .270 neck/throat reamer and the 6 m/m Ace reamer already sitting downstairs.

So, see anything on the list you'd particularly like to see opened up to something else? What, and why?


Edited to add: Looking back, I see it was Low Wall up in the home country who suggested opening the Epps up and started my thinking sgronger along those lines.

How about a: 25 Souper

6.5-06 imp.

7-08 imp.

35 whelen imp.

375 whelen imp.

416 Taylor
416 Express-(416/350 rem mag)
458 Lott
458 x 2"

????

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
Thought maybe I should clarify my original post a bit. The list in it was the list of reamers currently at hand. There are a passel of differently chambered rifles laying around here which I don't have reamers for.

What I was looking for is ideas about different reamers one might want to add. Yon helpful (and pleasant to talk with) Kiwi, and other good guys replying, said something which kind of woke me up. Maybe instead of adding cartridge reamers, the "adds" should be neck/throat reamers of various diameters. Then a guy could take the chamber reamers already on hand and open them up for various kinds of hybrid cartridges....for instance, if talked into making a .270 of some sort, then I could make a .270 Donaldson Ace by using a .270 neck/throat reamer and the 6 m/m Ace reamer already sitting downstairs.

So, see anything on the list you'd particularly like to see opened up to something else? What, and why?


Edited to add: Looking back, I see it was Low Wall up in the home country who suggested opening the Epps up and started my thinking sgronger along those lines.

Thanks for the compliment, undeserved though it was
The idea of having a series of base case reamers with removable pilots & then using neck/throat reamers to finish of the chamber is a really good one, I'm going to be loking at this for my 416 Taylor project, if I can find a smith with the correct reamers, then I only need a 416 neck/thoater. It was how my 338-06 was done. With a few removable pilot reamers, pilots & neck throat reamers, hell, its only a lack of imagination would get in your way. A 375/303 Imp does sound kind of nice too I reckon. Hmmmm.
Steve

quote:

Originally posted by mad_jack02:
How about a: 25 Souper


458 x 2"

????

Now that .25 Souper is a cartridge I haven't thought about in years. Warren Page was a pretty darned good hunter, benchrester, and all around shooter. Wouldn't mind having one of those at all. Anything good enough for him would surely be good enough for me...

The .458 American can be a real fun little cartridge, too. Useful as the devil against Black Bears up close, and doesn't kick ferociously either. Wonder if it would be up to keeping the 'possums out of my little orchard in front of the house?

Those are both rounds I used to lust for and had forgotten all about. Thanks for the ideas.

Have you ever messed with Paper Jacketed Bullets?

Hot Core -

Unfortunately I haven't. Have a couple of paper-patch moulds for the .40 and .45 calibers, so the intent has been there at times. I've just never gotten around to it.

Probably would have but have never really had a good idea of which specific bond paper to buy, and where, to make jackets with. Would also like to figure out some clever way of cutting the patches before I began. Probably would also have to buy a new cigarette roller to do the wrapping with, as I am pretty much a klutz at that sort of thing with my hands.

Would give you more excuses, but can't think of any others on short notice.

Why do you ask?

quote:

Why do you ask?

I can assure you that is not because Paper Jacketed Bullets can be fired over a chronograph and the pressure is seen by the result!

GOOD ONE, VAPO!!!!!!!!

I generally respect his opinions though, so I am sure Hot Core has something up his sleeve that might be fun...that's why I asked what he's leading up to with the question.

quote:

Originally posted by Vapo:
I can assure you that is not because Paper Jacketed Bullets can be fired over a chronograph and the pressure is seen by the result! ...

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
...I generally respect his opinions though,...

You all got somethin' funny to say???


-----

There is a book titled The Paper Jacket by Paul Mathews that I have around here somewhere. It is quite a fine read, but it sounds like you already know what is in it.

Met a guy at the Range who had a Browning Single Shot (B78?) in 45-70 who was shooting Paper Jacketed Bullets. His groups originally caught my attention at 100yds. So I walked down to see what he was shooting.

As a really nice side benefit, each shot "Polished" the Bore with the Paper against it. As I looked through it, I could not see any residue and he had not cleaned it. No idea what Powder he was using, but he obviously had his figured out.

He did mention the weight and velocity and I was thinking that was very close to 458WinMag Power. Walked back down to ask him about it and he said it was darn near the same as the 458WinMag, but with the Lead Bullet. Said he had no trouble Killing Deer with it.

Anyway, one of the 45cals in the Basic Case might be a bit of fun if you want something a bit robust. However your other post about the 22-4-40 indicates you might not be looking for something that large at this time.

Hi HotCore -

Please do not be offended by the use of the word "generally" in my post. There are those folks whom I generally respect, and those whom I generally do not respect. You fall in the good guy camp in my view. I haven't heard all your opinions and beliefs, so I can't say I respect them all...don't know if I would never disagree with any of them or not, but so far they are pretty much a match for my own. 0r at least are just as logical, reasonable and possible as any of mine.

The paper patch idea is a good one, I feel. I just haven't gotten deeply into it beause of the health I've had the last 3-1/2 years. It would require several additional pieces of equipment and so on. The equipment is really no big deal, but getting my thinking organized, following a planned experimental program, and documenting the results so that I actually learned what I was doing, what worked, and what didn't, seems more effort than I care to commit to long term until the health issues are resolved.

I don't think there is any doubt that the very mildly abrasive nature of paper patches does polish bores very effectively over time, though I also know some other shooters who are adamant that that does not occur. They can believe what they wish; I believe what I wish.

I also believe that paper patches act very effectively as "jackets", insulating cast bullets against many of the "bad" effects of heat, friction, etc. Unfortunately, all my beliefs on the subject at this point have been gained vicariously (by reading, watching, and listening), not directly.

Don't see a need to cut special chambers for paper patches, though. I think the trick is more to get special moulds so the bullets in their patched form still correctly fit standard chambers. Oherwise, I wouldn't be interested. I don't want chambers which restrict my component options rather than add to them.

Best wishes,

AC

I know what you mean about agreeing, same with Vapo.
-----

The Paper Jacket has always held my interest, but I've been reluctant to dive into it without someone nearby that I can watch. Or perhaps correct me when I wind the paper the wrong way.

I also agree the Trick is for the Bullet Mold to cast a slightly undersize Slug. I do have a 24" 444Mar which is very tempting to try them out on. But like you mentioned I'm also a bit busy at the moment.

Anyway, it seems like a potentially fun project to me.
-----

By the way, if you meet someone who really believes Paper is not Abrasive, it would perhaps be of interest for them to see paper under a microscope.

In addition, if they could request a tour of their Bank when the guy is there servicing the High Speed Document Processing Equipment, they could ask him if Paper is Abrasive.

And there is always the old Galvanized Bucket Test. Have them polish a spot on the Galvanize with a Soft Toothbrush for 500 strokes and then do the same thing with a sheet of Typing Paper folded up.

I'll go with - Paper is slightly Abrasive based on the above three things.

quote:

I'll go with - Paper is slightly Abrasive based on the above three things.

No question about it....paper is abrasive for sure.

Hi folks!

I looked into paper a while back for patching purposes and what makes it abrasive is the clay added to give it friction and stiffness, so we can write on it. There are papers - cotton papers among them - which do not have clay added. They are supposed to be 'not abrasive'. I read many years ago that clay paper will wear a muzzleloader barrel out.

quote:

... making "switch-barrels" out of them, and shooting odd-ball cartridges.

Would you by any chance have devised a method of switching the barrels using a common chamber? Something like having the shoulder and forward, portion of the barrel detachable?