Chamber Reamers-Live Pilot or Solid Pilot

Grits

Stainless

Joined

Dec 14, 2004

Location

Little Rock, Arkansaw

• Oct 15, 2006

• #1

With accuracy as my goal, how advantageous is it to use reamers with a live pilot instead of reamers with a solid pilot? I understand why a live pilot that is bushed to fit the bore exactly should be the most accurate; however, from a practical standpoint, how much difference does it make?

Here are a couple of examples. I plan on building a 7x57 on a M70 action with a #3 taper barrel. I will use a Hart or Shilen Select Match grade blank. I want the rifle accurate but in reality, it will be a two hundred yard deer rifle. A few hundredths in the group does not matter but a half inch does.

The second will be a 6.5 STW bean field rifle. I will use either a 70 or 700 action with a #5 or #6 taper. I will use the same quality of barrel mentioned above. I want this rifle to be as accurate as practically possible.

How close would you match the rotating bushing? Is it worth buying the nine bushing set for one caliber for $90 to get it within a tenth or two of the bore size?

Even though this is my hobby, I strive to build my projects as accurate as possible. To me, time is not a factor, perfection is. that is why I do it.

To make all this simple, do piloted reamers make a noticeable difference in cutting a rifle chamber in a sporter (non benchrest rifle)?

Thank you for your advise.

Grits

 

C

Claude Wright

Cast Iron

Joined

Oct 18, 2003

Location

Fern Creek, Kentucky, USA

• Oct 15, 2006

• #2

The closer the pilot to the center of the bore the more accurate chambering job. That's why a live pilots used by bench rest gunsmiths.
Both work just as well for sporting rifles.
I have both live center and solid chamber reamers in my shop.
In fact the first time I used a live pilot reamer was to chamber a 98 with a Paker-Hale bull barrel that the bore was .309
CEW

 

R

rws

Cast Iron

Joined

Jul 14, 2003

Location

VA

• Oct 16, 2006

• #3

My vote is for piloted reamers, but I'm one of those BR guys. You might consider renting the reamer and pilots. Or, you can probably borrow pilots from someone to do a "one time" job.

It also greatly reduces the chance of chatter with the proper fit. The bushing sets come it .0002" incriments from the nominal bore. Select one the is snug, but doesn't bind.

 

R

Rustystud

Guest

• Oct 16, 2006

• #4

Hey Grits:

If you are using a low presure heavy oil lubrication system and cuting at low RPMs a solid pilot will do just find if it fits the bore within .0005. If you are going to cut in the headstock at high RPMs then use a high- pressure flush system and a piloted reamer fitted to .0002. I cut all my chamers now with piloted reamers. You can send any make or model solid piloted 22 cal or larger reamer to PT&G and they will convert it to a piloted model for about $35.00.
Rustystud

 

Grits

Stainless

Joined

Dec 14, 2004

Location

Little Rock, Arkansaw

• Oct 16, 2006

• #5

In Ya'lls opinion, who makes the best reamers and gives the best service. Everything I do is for me or my friends. I plan on putting together a collection. When I need a particular caliber, I will buy it. I hope my children and grandchildren (if I have any) like gun stuff.

Is it important to stick with one manufacturer? Do the pilots interchange between any manufactures?

Grits

 

R

Rustystud

Guest

• Oct 16, 2006

• #6

Grits:

Dave Kiff at PT&G gives me great reamers and great service. Dave Manson does a good job as well. Donald at Clymer does a good job.

Rustystud

 

D

doc

Hot Rolled

Joined

Mar 12, 2001

Location

alvaton,ky

• Oct 17, 2006

• #7

hope my children and grandchildren (if I have any) like gun stuff.

GRITS...HOPE U HAVE NETTER LUCK THAN I did ....9 g/children & all they care abt is sports ,TV & looking "cool" ..no one to leave the shop to that cares ...& several of them have "good hands" & plenty spatial .mech. abilities ....sad!.... big auction coming some day ..........

best wishes
docn8as

 

K

Kurt Westfall

Stainless

Joined

Oct 14, 2001

Location

Montrose Iowa

• Oct 17, 2006

• #8

Thats it. I,am moveing to Alvaton KY. Maybe I can get adopted by doc. PT&G, Masion and JGS pilots will enterchange, Clymer used to use a longer pilot (at least they did on there center reamer)
don't know if they still do as have not order from them in a wile.

 

M

MDSpencer

Aluminum

Joined

Apr 17, 2005

Location

Standish, MI

• Oct 17, 2006

• #9

My vote is for Hugh Hendricksen. I don't care for the cost of a Clymer pilots. They are around $24.00 a piece. Second would be Dave Kiff his pilots are at least half that price

 

Grits

Stainless

Joined

Dec 14, 2004

Location

Little Rock, Arkansaw

• Oct 17, 2006

• #10

No one mentioned JGS. How do they rate in price, quality, and service?

Does PT&G have a website?

Grits

 

J

jwatts

Hot Rolled

Joined

Apr 19, 2006

Location

Missouri, USA

• Oct 18, 2006

• #11

Dave Manson is tops in my book.

 

R

Rustystud

Guest

• Oct 18, 2006

• #12

Gritts:

They all have web sites. They all make good reamers, they all give good service. The reamer makers are a great bunch of guys. I am sorry that I can't give them all my business.I wish all gun related tooling shops were as good as the reamer makers.

Rustystud

 

M

MDSpencer

Aluminum

Joined

Apr 17, 2005

Location

Standish, MI

• Oct 18, 2006

• #13

JGS makes Real good reamers. A little bit more dollar wise than Kiff's. Also, Hugh doesn't have a website. Hugh worked for Keith Francis for years, before Kieth close-up shop.

 

M

MDSpencer

Aluminum

Joined

Apr 17, 2005

Location

Standish, MI

• Oct 18, 2006

• #14

Did you ever wonder why you see so many Clymer reamers on Ebay? IMHO is because we keep the ones that are good and discard the junk.

 

R

rws

Cast Iron

Joined

Jul 14, 2003

Location

VA

• Oct 18, 2006

• #15

The reason I use PT&G, is that he grinds a reamer to your specs, no extra charge. Try going to JGS and order a reamer, that you want a specific neck diameter, throat length, etc. They will charge you extra for each modification you make, something like 25 bucks each change. Did I mention that he delivers within a couple weeks? Try that with JGS.

 

W

willbird

Banned

Joined

Jul 19, 2005

Location

North(very) West(very) Ohio...near exit 13 on OH t

• Nov 8, 2006

• #16

I really like Dave Kiffs's work, for all the reasons already mentioned.

Bill

 

Q

quasi

Stainless

Joined

Dec 18, 2003

Location

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

• Nov 9, 2006

• #17

I am tolf Ferris Pindell (co inventor of the ppc) prefered solid pilot reamers, but he was in the minority.

 

M

MDSpencer

Aluminum

Joined

Apr 17, 2005

Location

Standish, MI

• Nov 9, 2006

• #18

That would make sense to me. Nobody ever checks the runout of their reamers. It's seem to me that not to many no how or even want to. If you look at a Solid Pilot reamer, the runout tolerance is almost Zero. Put a removable pilot on and instant runout. So if you need to check one put it between two dead centers and spin it with a needle on it. Your solid pilot won't move. Why is that?? It's ground between centers. Most of them are. Some are held in collets and ground with a dead center in the end. That removable pilot has to be ground separate from the reamer and has to slip onto the reduced pilot of your reamer. Just add it up! You want that reamer to slip into the barrel. Not press fit.