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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Gunsmithing
Thinking of buying a lathe, how hard is it to chamber a rifle?
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<blockquote data-quote="bluegrassdan" data-source="post: 2652501" data-attributes="member: 124040"><p>As a machinist turned gunsmith, I would this..chambering a barrel is not hard to learn. What is more important is understanding the relationship of all the steps as they relate to headspace. You need to understand how to fix problems caused by YOU and sometimes the machine. Cut chamber too deep (happens sometimes), what needs to be done to correct it and not scrap the job? Cut the barrel tennon too short (this shouldn't be a common oops) can you just move the shoulder or will you have to chase threads? The size and type of lathe/headstock length and through hole bore size will determine if you need to chamber with a steady rest or if you can chamber through the headstock. </p><p>Practice, practice, practice. Setup, tear it down and do it again until you can get zero runout between chamber and muzzle consistently. </p><p>As for machines. Mine is a 1959 Rockwell 14" tool room lathe that has had 4 people operating since it was new. It's in pristine condition and I added digital to it. Its a solid machine. You don't need a Mathews Precision, but you do need a quality machine. Nothing that has been abused by the knuckle draggers that seem to inhabit a lot of shops. Stay away from the Chinese junk, nothing is easily fixed and they will eventually break. I say this because the many I have used just don't hold tolerance after a few years of use.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="bluegrassdan, post: 2652501, member: 124040"] As a machinist turned gunsmith, I would this..chambering a barrel is not hard to learn. What is more important is understanding the relationship of all the steps as they relate to headspace. You need to understand how to fix problems caused by YOU and sometimes the machine. Cut chamber too deep (happens sometimes), what needs to be done to correct it and not scrap the job? Cut the barrel tennon too short (this shouldn't be a common oops) can you just move the shoulder or will you have to chase threads? The size and type of lathe/headstock length and through hole bore size will determine if you need to chamber with a steady rest or if you can chamber through the headstock. Practice, practice, practice. Setup, tear it down and do it again until you can get zero runout between chamber and muzzle consistently. As for machines. Mine is a 1959 Rockwell 14" tool room lathe that has had 4 people operating since it was new. It's in pristine condition and I added digital to it. Its a solid machine. You don't need a Mathews Precision, but you do need a quality machine. Nothing that has been abused by the knuckle draggers that seem to inhabit a lot of shops. Stay away from the Chinese junk, nothing is easily fixed and they will eventually break. I say this because the many I have used just don't hold tolerance after a few years of use. [/QUOTE]
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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
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Thinking of buying a lathe, how hard is it to chamber a rifle?
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