I am trying to decide between letting my gunsmith rent a reamer (.308 Win w/ .335" neck) @ $50 or just go ahead and buy a new on at about $150. Anyone haveing any expirance or knowledge on this kinda thing please respond I only have a few days to decide. I am not concerned with saving money or even not having a use for the reamer afterwards. I am just concerned with this project being a success, and I guess it would not be a loss if anyone ever needed a reamer I would have it

What a dilema... Flip a coin, heads you buy, tails you rent. Works for me.

FWIW, the rental reamer has more experience than the new one would have. I would go with the more experienced reamer were I you.

Buy a reamer, then you KNOW it will be sharp and you can specify whatever dimensions you like. If you don't think you will use it again, sell it on ebay. It will end up costing you about $20 more than renting most likely.

I'd go with the rented. If you go with a good renter they are always sharp, in fact some rental only allow you to cut one chamber, unless you tell them you're cutting more then one. I have rented for $35 including shipping and they paid shipping back. Can't tell me that you can buy a reamer for $55, especially a special ground one. It's a hassle to sell on Ebay if you don't already have an account set up. I'm not fond of having a checking or credit card account with them.

I've rented from 4D several times now. The reamers and service are top notch - no complaints. If it's something you may use again or can work out a deal with your smith (since he's actually doing it) maybe buying would be worthwhile but for a one-time deal I wouldn't hesitate to rent again.

quote:

Originally posted by malm:
What a dilema... Flip a coin, heads you buy, tails you rent. Works for me.

FWIW, the rental reamer has more experience than the new one would have. I would go with the more experienced reamer were I you.

ROFLMAO

Not really a dilema. Just looking for educated answers on which reamer would be better for the job. Myself I would throw them both up in the air and use the first on that sticks in the ground.

But then I do not know if a new sharp reamer is better than one that I do not know how many times it has been used or abused. The differance is $100 dollars to find out. That eqauls 4 hrs work for me after uncle Sam gets his. Thanks in advance for any answers that can help me out.

quote:

Originally posted by CORNERSTONE:
But then I do not know if a new sharp reamer is better than one that I do not know how many times it has been used or abused.

First of all, a reamer rental company wouldn't get very far renting garbage reamers.

At the beginning of this thread you said: "I am trying to decide between letting my gunsmith rent a reamer (.308 Win w/ .335" neck) @ $50 or just go ahead and buy a new on at about $150". If you trust your gunsmith enough to let him work on your gun, then place a little trust in your gunsmiths opinion. If he feels comfortable in using a rental reamer, then what's the concern? Make your decision based on the experience of the person you've hired to do the job. That's what I expect from my customers.

I have used rented reamer from Keith Rice of White Rock Tool & Dies. He is very careful about the reamers he sends out. Simmons Gun Repair have rent for him. He live on North Brighton, Kansas City, MO.

Yes White Rock tool and die is a very good place to rent from I've been renting from them for 15 years.

I know a gunsmith that owns the reamer, but charges the reamer rental when he chambers, as if he didn't have it.

He bought a jig for sharpening reamers.
Some of them are getting smaller.

I have used White Rock tool and Die reamers for years and never had a complaint. Top notch outfit. Have your smitty rent one from White Rock, you'll be sooooo happy.

I have used White

I won't use SAAMI dimension reamers for MY bolt action or single shot rifles any more [They are fine for semi auto or pump action].

I call Dave Manson and order a custom reamer with the neck size and throat length I want.

It is a no BS operation:
http://www.mansonreamers.com/

I have an Obermeyer .308 with a .332 neck that you can have very reasonably if you care to. It is a JGS live pilot that I used once and lost all faith in a .308. Email me if interested, no big deal on my part one way or another.
Fairly short freebore, I think about .030 with a .3085 F.B. diameter.