Thinking of buying a lathe, how hard is it to chamber a rifle?

If you like machining in general, I say go for it. So many uses for a lathe in addition to rifle-related tasks. Might keep an eye out for a good deal on a used machine too. Lots of tooling and accessories and indicators and micrometers to have fun shopping for as well. 😃
 
I have chambered on (4) lathes.... I chambered Tokarevs for 9x23mmWin on a mini lathe.

I chambered rifles on a 12x36 Atlas that I can pick up..... takes twice as long a with a big heavy 3 hp lathe.
 

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Those Old green "Jet" Lathes are actually very good little machines if you take care of them.

I agree, very capable.

Though I have the 1440 and 1236, for fun I decided to use it to do a couple of M14 barrels from 1.25 blanks. One 308 and the other 338 Fed. Just have to be creative in sequencing and workholding.

To cut the correct breech reliefs for the bolt, I mounted an old Moroso timing plate on the outboard side of the spindle and a pointer. For cutting, I mounted a pencil grinder on the compound tool post at the correct angle and went to town.
 
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Yeah I have 2 lathes and one is pretty much the same machine as your Jet but branded as "Shenwai" and its a Taiwan 12x36 Lathe and has been a great lathe that makes accurate parts, I used to chamber on it but I use my 13x40 Kent USA most of the time now. Anyway I am going to be buying this tool to use a compact router to do light milling on barrels like mod 70's and 03's and such here is a link to it. It can also be used as a tool post grinder.

 
Yeah I have 2 lathes and one is pretty much the same machine as your Jet but branded as "Shenwai" and its a Taiwan 12x36 Lathe and has been a great lathe that makes accurate parts, I used to chamber on it but I use my 13x40 Kent USA most of the time now. Anyway I am going to be buying this tool to use a compact router to do light milling on barrels like mod 70's and 03's and such here is a link to it. It can also be used as a tool post grinder.


I like that tool post grinder set up.

Kent 1340s are the stoutest in the 13 inch class lathes. One of my mentors, Mike Bryant, owns one.
 
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Save yourself a lot of grief and learn how to do it right. Take Gordy Gritters classes.
There is another guy very well known for chambering his name is "Bob Pastor" also known as the "Viper" He is putting on classes right now for $150.00 a day which is cheap. You would need to fly to Michigan, And he is a very nice guy too!
 
There is another guy very well known for chambering his name is "Bob Pastor" also known as the "Viper" He is putting on classes right now for $150.00 a day which is cheap. You would need to fly to Michigan, And he is a very nice guy too!
Bob is a good friend of ours. He sold his business last year and then purchased a new Lathe and Mill for around $50k and started putting on "Chambering Classes" for $165 two day class. The "Viper" also has many instructional videos on UTube. Here is his website and contact info:
If you contact him, tell him Jill & Len said hi!
 
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