Smoothing a chamber

09 June 2001, 07:58

<Mick>

Smoothing a chamber

Does anyone have any ideas on smoothing out the chamber on my .416? It would be my guess that the reamer was getting a little dull at the factory. Occasionally, when I shoot a hotter load, the case will stick a little bit. When you look at the ejected case, there are small scratches where it gets hung up. I don't have the equipment to run a finish reamer. I was thinking that I could some how smooth it by hand. Any ideas?

09 June 2001, 08:09

<Powderman>

What kind of scratches are you seeing in your cases? You might want to check, and make sure that your chamber is clean. Sometimes unburnt propellant granules will remain in the chamber upon firing, which can make extraction difficult.

Are you seeing any other signs of high pressure? Cases sized right, and down to the proper dimensions? Sometimes, problems can be solved simply.

As far as smoothing the chamber, there are a number of ways to remove burrs from metal--but none that I know of are safe to do by hand in a rifle chamber. At best, your chamber might end up over sized. At worst, you might end up with a chamber out of round, a "jugged" chamber, increased headspace, and all other types of problems.

Bottom line--I recommend taking the gun to a good cunsmith, and having them inspect your chamber. It might be time for a new barrel.

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Happiness is a 200 yard bughole.

09 June 2001, 08:54

<PowderBurns>

Varmint Al's page talks about polishing chambers.

http://www.cctrap.com/~varmint/arelo.htm#Polish_Chamber

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PowderBurns Black Powder / Muzzle Loading Forum:

www.hotboards.com/plus/plus.mirage?who=powderburns

11 June 2001, 18:28

DB Bill

I had a Model 7 with a chamber cut by a reamer that must have had a chip in it because all my cases came out with a ring scored around them. When I talked to Remington about this their first reaction was "So what, we don't suggest you reload for any of out rifles...that's what factory ammo is for." Not being satisfied with that answer I sent the rifle back with a letter from my attorney (my son). Received a new rifle in approximatley 6 weeks. I wouldn't try to polish or modify it in any way...have your 'smith check it and if he doesn't like the way it looks I would send it back!

13 June 2001, 07:47

Atkinson

The problem is your load is too hot!! Thats causeing the "sticky", otherwise you would have the same scratches with the milder loads...

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

13 June 2001, 12:24

<Don G>

I'd just shoot it more, using loads just a step milder. It sounds like your chamber might benefit from a little polishing, but that will happen after 500 rounds or so any way.

What's a "hotter load"? What case?

Don

13 June 2001, 15:16

358Mark

My guess is the rings you see are from your dies and they are only showing up after firing.If the problem was in the chamber it would occur all the time as Ray says. Mark

13 June 2001, 19:14

Craftsman

Mick,

Ray is correct, your handloads are too hot. That's one of the red flags for high pressure is difficult extraction or heavy bolt lift.

You can verify by inspecting the case heads very carefully and you will probably see a bright shiny mark or two where the brass tried to flow into the ejector slot or ejector plunger hole, which ever type you have.

If you do indeed have a rough chamber you can do a home shop job by taking a fired case from your rifle, de-prime it, epoxy a rod into the primer pocket so that it will extend out the back of the action. Then smear some J B Bore compound on the case and carefully rotate the case back and forth by hand. Don't get too aggressive as J B Bore compound is quite aggressive when lapped between two pieces of metal, even though it is safe as a bore cleaner when used with a patch. Clean the chamber and test fire.

Having said all that it would still be better to pull the barrel and polish the chamber lightly with 400 grit paper in the lathe.

14 June 2001, 00:44

Nitroman

Look on web for lapidary supplies. Get yourself some 1000 grit silicon carbide powder used for the rock grinding. Use some ATF to make a thin paste, put some on a chamber mop that is screwed into the el-cheapo sectioned cleaning rod, chuck in drill and put in chamber. Depress drill motor trigger. Spin for 15 seconds or so full blast. Your chamber will look like a mirror. I do this with my dies.
Do this while metal is not in stock, when done use spray type bore cleaner. I like BrakeClean or LLC electronic component spray. These products are 1,1,1 trichloroethane. Dry-cleaning fluid. Liberally douche the bore and action with your favorite cleaning liquids and oil well.
Do not inhale this powder, it is not good for you.

15 June 2001, 12:41

Atkinson

After listening to some of the given advise on polishing a chamber I sure would take the gun to a competent gunsmith before you end up with a scratched or lopsided chamber or a buggered throat....

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

15 June 2001, 22:14

1894

Roger Rothschild,

Don't very shiny chambers massively increase bolt thrust?

16 June 2001, 08:53

Terry Blauwkamp

Instead of going thru all the trouble "making" a paste mix, just get some FLITZ at the hardware store.

I use it on a mop or patch in the electric drill all the time. It really cleans up "tired" and dirty dies very nicely.