The Accurate Reloading Forums
Gunsmiths: your opinion of this chamber job?
15 July 2010, 20:42
Nomo4meGunsmiths: your opinion of this chamber job?
Gun is shooting great, but I had to run the brass through a body die after just 3 neck sizings.
The burnished rings are what concern me, and might explain an odd hitch in secondary extraction.
If this were your work would you want to cut a thread and rechamber? I suspect the guy that did this job for me is going to want to chuck the bbl back in his lathe and apply a bit of sandpaper on a dowel to the front of the chamber.
Thanks
15 July 2010, 20:57
airgun1I am no gunsmith, but I have a chambered a gun or 40 in my life.
If the headspace is excellent and the case not out of round or overly bulged near the head, I would try polishing the chamber with 320 and then 400. This would be spinning the barrel in a lathe and using a dowel rod.
Also is there a chance the die is doing this?
PA Bear Hunter, NRA Benefactor
15 July 2010, 21:07
D HumbargerThe first thing (always use the LESS agressive approch first) is to spin the barrel in the lathe & using 400 grit paper with honing oil see if those rings clean up. Should be able to use a little bright flashlight to look into the chamber & see if any thing was accomplished. I also see three rings on the shoulder. I bet they to the correlate rings on the body. What caliber is that BTW?
Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station
Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.
15 July 2010, 22:16
WestpacIf it would have been my work it would have been perfect.

Why not consult your gunsmith and see what he would do if it were his.
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This is my rifle, there are many like it but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend, it is my life.
15 July 2010, 23:56
Nomo4meIt's a 6 x 47 Lapua.
Bbl has already been back to the guy once for chamber smoothing. At that time he remarked that he "probably needed to send his reamer off for sharpening".
It should have been your job Guy.
quote:
Originally posted by Westpac:
If it would have been my work it would have been perfect.

Why not consult your gunsmith and see what he would do if it were his.
16 July 2010, 01:08
butchlambertIt looks like trash got on top of a flute and cut some grooves in the chamber. Polishing won't help.
Butch
16 July 2010, 01:39
Bill LeeperThe problem with the really straight walled cases, like the 6.5x47, is that they have to be set back quite a bit to clean up a flaw in the chamber.
When chambering, I run my fingernail down each cutting edge bewteen cuts. If there are any bits of metal stuck to the cutting edge, I rub the face of the flute with a piece of ceramic stone. Prior to the last cut (this will amount to .020" or a bit less) I clean the reamer up as described then feed very slowly for the last cut.
A reamer with barrel material stuck on the edges can't cut smoothly.
I agree it is unlikely this one can be polished out. Regards, Bill.
16 July 2010, 04:37
J.D.SteeleHave another smith set it back an inch and rechamber.
The operative word in the preceding sentence is 'another'.
Regards, Joe
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16 July 2010, 05:23
CraftsmanNomo
I concur with Butch. The chamber is not going to clean up with just polishing. It needs to be set back and rechambered. I would definately shop for a skilled gunsmith whose vocabulary does not include "good enough".
In addition the minimum taper of this cartridge will require you to set the barrel back at least the distance of the chamber rings.
Craftsman
16 July 2010, 05:29
Nomo4meThanks for the replies, they are much appreciated.
The gun has shot some 5/8" groups at 200 yards so accuracy isn't the issue. What is bothering me is that I had to hit the cases with a body die after only 3 firings.
Maybe the straightness of the case, coupled with the fugly rings in the chamber has something to do with that.
If I ask the guy he will get his reamer sharpened and do it over at no charge. But I'm thinking that ship has sailed.
Thanks again
16 July 2010, 05:55
kcstottCast the chamber and see where it's at. Then go from there.
www.KLStottlemyer.comDeport the Homeless and Give the Illegals citizenship. AT LEAST THE ILLEGALS WILL WORK
16 July 2010, 05:59
butchlambertNomo4me,
I can't speak for the others, but I have done just that on one of my chambers. You can't wish it away. If you can put up with the extraction problems, well go ahead, I couldn't.
Butch
16 July 2010, 08:56
D HumbargerBeing a 6.5x47L I am assuming that is Lapua brass. That stuff is very tough & can take a lot of pressure. How hot are your loads? You might try backing of the load a bit & see what different that makes with the extraction problem. Since that seems to be your main concern.
Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station
Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.
16 July 2010, 10:49
Nomo4meExtraction isn't a *problem*, it's just that I notice a hitch as I start to pull the bolt rearward.
That's an unfortunate reminder of poor workmanship on a high ticket gun every time I work the action.
16 July 2010, 17:58
D Humbargerquote:
That's an unfortunate reminder of poor workmanship
Yep I agree.
Doug Humbarger
NRA Life member
Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club 72'73.
Yankee Station
Try to look unimportant. Your enemy might be low on ammo.
17 July 2010, 01:28
Nomo4meI called the guy today. He's sending his reamer out Monday and will have the chamber recut ASAP.
I knew he'd be good for that. We'll see if version two comes out any better. This will be the 3rd time he's chucked this bbl in his lathe so I think he's getting a good lesson on the cost of imperfection.