70oldsracer
Well-Known Member
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- Apr 16, 2016
- Messages
- 118
Will do.
? about bad barrel blank
- Thread starter 70oldsracer
- Start date
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Expand on this, please. I have always made my own rods, but a buddy told me to try a PTG range rod. Pilot was snug but the rest of the rod felt like it moved too much. I might be doing something wrong though
birdiemc
Well-Known Member
How long are you making them and how much runout do you end up with? Have you dialed in a barrel with one of your homemade rods then checked with a long stem indicator in the bore to see how accurate it is?
I'm asking cuz I've considered doing the same thing but the internet might explode if we dont use precision ground rods from the favorite mfr of the day
bigngreen
Well-Known Member
We are talking tooling that is ground to make specs, we don't get precision tooling at the .0001 level coming of a lathe, you may for a little while but its going to move. I use PTG range rods that are ground and your only going to get about .0015 repeatability, even then you have to been into good bore not in a lapping bell and faced of at crown quality, so the best I've found if I were to use the range rod only was .0015 and it was typically of at the base end not the throat which usually will dial tighter when going back in with a DTI and checking.
So, I've been reading this thread since day one but haven't seen the answer to my question (maybe I missed it?).
How would a person critique a barrel before installing, or in 70Olds' case chambering? I'd rather not spend a bunch of money on a barrel, only to find out when it's too late that it's a dud.
How would a person critique a barrel before installing, or in 70Olds' case chambering? I'd rather not spend a bunch of money on a barrel, only to find out when it's too late that it's a dud.
I make brass rods about 7" long. Turn them on centers. I check my lathe often with a bar test between centers and also a bar in the 4 jaw alone to test the headstock. I don't have a long stem to test. Made some from drill rod also but prefer to put brass in the barrel
I understand how they make them but I thought I had read of better tolerances than 1.5 thou. I misread some of your post, so I edited it. My PTG range rods are not as tight fitting as I would like. Pilot is, of course, but rest is probably moving when the indicator needle touches them
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bigngreen
Well-Known Member
No, .0015 is the average repeatability I see with a ground range rod in use, if you dial in to the tenth and remove the rod then reinstall it and it does not repeat to the tenth then you have tolerances that you need to direct read where they came from.
BG, why do you use a range rod as opposed to pins or long DTI? Speed is the only advantage I see. Again, I am ignorant to the range rods since I've only chambered a couple rifles with them.
bigngreen
Well-Known Member
Really just speed and ease of use, one rod per cal and a bushing, I mainly do 5 land barrels and it really soeeds it up, if i did 4 land mostly it would be faster to only use a long reach DTI. I could use pins but prefer the range rods.
I also can ise the Gordy rods and bushings to reach deeper, ive seen excellent repeatability and accuracy with to get to deep throats.
birdiemc
Well-Known Member
How long are these range rods you speak of? I have a gauge pin set that I tried using to dial off, but ended up scrapping that idea and went back to indicating directly in the bore
bigngreen
Well-Known Member
Six inches.
birdiemc
Well-Known Member
Yeah that would maybe do better than my little gauge pins.
How have you had problems with tight fitting pins?
