So...I have a nice rife that usually shoots ~.75 MOA with the loads that it likes. The problem is is that I want to seat bullets out a little further. I hate having to ship my rifles off to a gunsmith and have to worry about theft/damage.

How easy to use are the hand driven throating reamers? I have discussed this before with a gunsmith in the past who felt that the barrel should be pulled and this work should be done on a lathe. I am not a machinist, but I am careful and patient. Is this something I should give a shot or should I send it to the pros. I don't want to cause any sig. decrease in accuracy.

Also, how firmly do you usually push the reamer into the throat durring this procedure? Does it use a soft touch with much turning, or a harder push with less turning?

Wes

So long as you don't mind possible screwing up the rifles accuracy, you can do it. You shouldn't do it, and the tools to do it will cost as much as having it done right, but don't let this dissuade you.

If it shoots fine, why on earth you want to seat the bullets further out? Just be happy.

The throat is probably one of the most critical areas of the barrel with regards to accuracy. Think of the throat as the birth canal, where accuracy begins. It is the launching point. If the throat is such that the bullet enters the bore slightly off center, then a false axis developes around the bullets natural axis, and the bullet will struggle with itself all the way to the target. My professional recommendation would be to hire this aspec of the job done by someone who is knowledgeable and accomplished at throating barrels using the precision of the lathe.

Westpac,
Thanks for the reply. Kind of what I was thinking anyway, I was just somewhat hopeful that a well fitting pilot would provide me enough alignment to do the job right.

Off to a gunsmith it is.

By the way, anyone know of any great gunsmiths that are willing to take on small jobs in the southern Missouri area?

Just curious as to why you are wanting the throat a little longer, and exactly how much longer? Just not something I hear every day and was curious

Marc,
A full 0.13 inches longer! I have a 6.5mm which is very short throated. I like using the 140-160 grain bullets. Those 140 grain match bullets and the 160 grain hunting bullets are nearly 1.5 inches long. Bottom line is I have plenty of magazine space, an appropriate twist barrel and bullet shoved way back into the powder space. Any wisdom or tips on gunsmiths is appreciated.

The value of throating and precision requirements have been overstated here. Babies are not born in a barrel!

If you can get an extended throater and a Black and Decker battery operated drill (or any make) just install a stop on the throater and under slow RPM and a lot of cutting oil just cut the throat to the stop that you have set.

It's not at all easy to pick up the start of the old throat but if you can you then can set a stop and do it yourself.

Make sure the barrel is completely cleaned of metal shavings.

Again, you need a throater, an extension, a stop collar, a method of driving it slowly, culling oil and a method of measuring where you are and where you are going.

If you have this you can do it. However it's probably less costly to have someone do it that has the tools already.

quote:

Originally posted by duikerman:
The value of throating and precision requirements have been overstated here. .....

Again, you need a throater, an extension, a stop collar, a method of driving it slowly, culling oil and a method of measuring where you are and where you are going.

And just how do you propose that the ass end of the throater be kept concentric with the bore using an extension, and ultra precision B&D cordless drill?

Sounds pretty hokey to me.

At the risk of sounding too critical, why not just try a Dremel, they are much more accurate than a B&D drill. Garage mechanic?

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:
At the risk of sounding too critical, why not just try a Dremel, they are much more accurate than a B&D drill. Garage mechanic?

Jim....where can I get a Dremel extension?

Call Dave Kiff(Pacific tool and Guage) and ask him about his Uni-throater. Opinions are like...but Dave Kiff KNOWS what he is talking about.

I know the tool and I know Dave Kiff but I don't think he would advise using a B&D with it.

quote:

Originally posted by duikerman:
The value of throating and precision requirements have been overstated here. Babies are not born in a barrel!

If you can get an extended throater and a Black and Decker battery operated drill (or any make) just install a stop on the throater and under slow RPM and a lot of cutting oil just cut the throat to the stop that you have set.

That type of throat adjustment might work for your potato launcher, but for real folks with real guns, wanting real accuracy, they will need a method much more precise than yours.

WESR

Extending a throat to accomodate longer bullets is certainly not rocket science but it's not a handy-man project either. With the correct tools and knowledge it's about a 15 minute job, whether by hand or in a lathe.

Tools you can buy. Knowledge is the othe 99% of getting it done. That's what a gunsmith charges you for.

Ray

I'll admit right at the git-go that I don't know everything about gunsmithing. I do know a pretty fair bunch about target shooting and accurate rifles, though.

I think you'd best listen to WestPac and Cheechako (sp?).

My experience in both high power and bench rest competition tells me that without a GO0D, PRECISION, throat and crown, you're leaving a lot of accuracy on the table. A lot of my fellow bench-resters would re-throat their rifles more often than they re-crowned them...often several times a season.

Two of them, who between them still hold a number of national records, would re-throat teensie bits at a time, until they could "feel" the bolt close just right on a dummy loaded round. And they would rather be buried alive than have that job done by hand without a precision lathe. Then they still did the work themselves, because they knew exactly the "feel" they were trying to achieve.

quote:

Originally posted by duikerman:
The value of throating and precision requirements have been overstated here. Babies are not born in a barrel!

If you can get an extended throater and a Black and Decker battery operated drill (or any make) just install a stop on the throater and under slow RPM and a lot of cutting oil just cut the throat to the stop that you have set.

It's not at all easy to pick up the start of the old throat but if you can you then can set a stop and do it yourself.

Make sure the barrel is completely cleaned of metal shavings.

Again, you need a throater, an extension, a stop collar, a method of driving it slowly, culling oil(EDIT IN: Maybe cutting oil?) and a method of measuring where you are and where you are going.

If you have this you can do it. However it's probably less costly to have someone do it that has the tools already.

Hey Duikerman, How many have you done this way and what were the results?
-----

Hey WESR, If you go with the above recommendation, just use a Rat Tail File in the B&D. It is Tapered and will self-center(maybe) and is long enough you won't need to waste extra money on the Extension for the Dremel that Vapo suggested.

And if you do go forward with this exercise, you will learn a lot about "duikerman's Gun Smithing knowledge and recommendations".

quote:

duikerman was right on the nose with:
However it's probably less costly to have someone do it that has the tools already.

The reason this is correct, is because if you do follow his B&D routine, then the cost of the new barrel tends to over-shadow the "minor cost" of having the throat lengthened by someone with the proper tools.(aka their own B&D and Rat Tail File ).
-----

On the other hand...., if your rifle is a M70 or some M"o"user variant, then..., the B&D / Rat Tail "might" help it.

As I stated before, I am now planning on taking/sending it to a smith. Cost was never an issue. I was only interested in trying this myself, because I like to not send my nicer firearms through the mail for obvious reasons. I've dealt with one to may lightweights at UPS. Thanks to those that gave serious advice.

Wes

WESR:

You can use Dave Kiffs UNI Throater, a boltrace bushing and a Lambeth/Kiff Micrometer Adjustable Reamer Stop and a throating reamer. With this combination you can cut the throat to any exact depth you want. It can even be done with the barrel still on the action. Call Kiff and he will tell you about the tools. An of Smiths who already have them and will do this service very inexpensively.
Longshot

Because SAAMI is way to sloppy if the is no tapered shoulder to center the cartridge when pushed forward by the firing pin....

I like to separately throat straight wall cartridges.

The body can be done with a boring bar or straight fluted .001" increment reamer.


I make the chamber body fit what comes out of the sizing die.
I make the throat fit the bullet as I want to seat it.

What does it all mean?
It can be more accurate [and costs less money for reamers] to throat separately for straight wall chambers.

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
you won't need to waste extra money on the Extension for the Dremel that Vapo suggested.

Vapo suggested nothing of the kind Hot Core.

Please get your quotes right if you insist on making quotes!

quote:

The body can be done with a boring bar.

I make the chamber body fit what comes out of the sizing die.

Nothing like having complete control over ALL dimensions.