Reamer question for rifle project

[PhotonSD]

I will be buying a short reamed barrel from Midway USA for a sporterizing project and have found that two types of reamers are available for rent. The solid pilot and the floating pilot. Is there a great deal of difference when the amount of reaming will be only .05 inches of material? Any effect on the final accuracy? Anybody have any experience in this area? Thanks for the help.

 

[creeper1956]

Hmmmm. You'll probably get answers that justify either. If you get a solid ream that is SAAMI spec, and a barrel that is a bit small or large, you'll have problemos. I've always used solid reamers with custom sized, interchangeable pilots to provide a .0002" clearance fit.
Depending on the caliber, many of the ream renters will have these reams available. Pacific Tool and Gauge as well as Clymer make this type of ream.

Dave Kiff at PTG is one of the smartest chamber reamer guys I know... contact him and see what he has to say.

C

 

[PhotonSD]

Thanks creeper. Will give him a call.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Are you going to hand ream or use a lathe?

 

[PhotonSD]

I will be hand reaming a 7x57mm Mauser Adams & Bennet barrel from MidwayUSA.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Completely missed the "pilot" part.

Gotta go floating pilot unless particular dimensions present (unlikely) restrict ones use.

 

[Howard Roark]

I would use a floating reamer. Because it is the only way that you can assure that the portion of the reamer that is IN the rifling cannot cause radial gouges on the lands.

Even if you use an undersized pilot you will still be assured that if it does come in contact with the lands it will let the reamer rotate within the pilot and not mess up the lands.

 

[PhotonSD]

Thanks for the word. Will use the "floating" reamer to be safe. Also thanks to the moderators for moving my thread. Sorry for the misplacement.

 

[HankC]

I have hand reamed 4 or 5 barrels with short chambers with solid pilot so far. No problem yet. Floating pilot should work better in theory to ream a short champer.