Reamer question...For Garand...Should I rent or buy ?

[Dale Alan]

I am putting a new barrel on my Garand . I will need a pull through reamer to headspace it . My question is would you recommend renting a reamer or just buy a new one ? This will be a one time deal , I do not plan to ever do another . Was thinking buying new would be wiser so I know I have a new sharp reamer and could sell it after to get some of my money back . Would like to hear your thoughts please . Thanks

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

My advice: Purchase with the corresponding gage from PTG.

Then after your single use - sell them off.

PTG is great in that you or any following owner can send them in to be confirmed for dimension making them a very long-term, worthwhile tool.

I've found suspect and differently interpreted gages to be far more problematic with my customers than most any other not-ammunition/magazine related issue.

Todd.

 

[Dale Alan]

My advice: Purchase with the corresponding gage from PTG.

Then after your single use - sell them off.

PTG is great in that you or any following owner can send them in to be confirmed for dimension making them a very long-term, worthwhile tool.

I've found suspect and differently interpreted gages to be far more problematic with my customers than most any other not-ammunition/magazine related issue.

Todd.

Thanks Todd,

I will take your advice . I was leaning towards buying new, you convinced me .

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Thanks Todd,

I will take your advice . I was leaning towards buying new, you convinced me .

I've never been anything but 100% satisfied with PTG.

There are some complaints floating around but it turns out those gages were ChiCom knock-offs. Actually easy to tell apart when holding a true PTG item at the same time.

In fact, most of the better known gages have been copied - poorly - by ChiCom companies.

Never buy but from the manufacturer themselves. One National distributor was selling fakes of the best known company (I won't name it to keep internet rumors from starting here) and *apparently* did not know it.

Todd.

 

[Dale Alan]

I've never been anything but 100% satisfied with PTG.

There are some complaints floating around but it turns out the gages were ChiCom knock-offs.

Todd.

I have been very satisfied with PTG gauges also , had no clue people were making knock-offs . That's scary to think about .

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I have been very satisfied with PTG gauges also , had no clue people were making knock-offs . That's scary to think about .

Being used to PTG - the fakes will be glaringly obvious to you. Or at least, they were.

Todd.

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

Pacific Tool & Gage gets my vote also. They are very good at what they do, and even offer some "specific" types and styles of chamber reamers the others don't. Renting a chamber reamer comes with no history, or number count involving useage or times it was re-sharpened.

 

[Dale Alan]

Pacific Tool & Gage gets my vote also. They are very good at what they do, and even offer some "specific" types and styles of chamber reamers the others don't. Renting a chamber reamer comes with no history, or number count involving useage or times it was re-sharpened.

That was my concern , I read a few comments about the condition of rental reamers and it scared me . I would much rather spend the extra money and know exactly what I have .

 

[HankC]

I rented reamers and always received sharp ones. I thought about buying the reamer and sell when I'm done but I would not buy one from others myself since I never know how it was used before so I decided just rent. I heard reamers need sharpening after used 4 times, I rented 308 and 7.62x39 reamers more than 4 times already, I should have bought the reamers if I knew I would cut so many barrels! I almost bought one when it was on sale last time, but figured I'm not going to cut more barrels and decided not to! Now I have two more 308 barrels to cut!

 

[SGW Gunsmith]

For the last 20, or so, years, I've only been doing barrel stuff for .22's. The "liability insurance" for doing things, like barrel chamber work has gone through the roof. I do use PTG .22 R&F reamers for relining older, rotted out, .22 rimfire barrels, but that's it. PT&G will sharpen their reamers when those get dull, but cutting life does last longer if a rougher is used first and then the finish reamer. And, I don't think the .22 liners are as hard as a 4140 chrome moly or stainless centerfire barrel is.