What's needed to cut a chamber in a barrel blank

[andym79]

Hi guys I have a couple of projects in mind, what is needed to cut a chamber in a barrel or liner?

Is this the only chamber specific tool required ( Solid Pilot Chamber Finish Reamer)?

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/420982 ... -40-65-wcf

[Timb0]

Andy,
I have never done this but as a fitter I have been looking into this sort of thing out of interest.
Brownells also sells reamers and more importantly gunsmithing books that cover the subject.
I'm not sure how the reamers come but you may need something to adapt them to the tail stock on a lathe, I don't think you should use a drill chuck. you will also need a head spacing gauge and dial indicator, and of cause the lathe.

[Bennybigbores]

If doing it for the first time. Pay for a smith to do it and ask to watch or pay for training or advice, barrels ain't cheap and precision is a must, if a fitter or machinist by all means. Never even attempted one myself and don't think I will either, keep us posted on how you go got me interested now.

[Gregg]

You need a reamer in whatever chambering you're making.

e.g. a .308 reamer or a 300 reamer. Not a 30 cal reamer to do both so multiple tools required for multiple barrels.

Doing it yourself? Pretty ambitious project given the precision required.

[Hadoku]

.40-65 Winchester hey.

Interesting choice for a project, don't see many of those around.

[oowess]

Guys still use it for silhouette shooting here in the states.

Not an easy one to get ammo for though I hear.

[Fry]

I'm 99% sure you can reform 45-70 brass for it.

You'd just need to buy .40 pills. Assuming your hand loading that is.

[Old Fart]

.40-65 Winchester hey.

*nod*

Going with smokeless powder Andy or keeping it oldschool with black powder?

[andym79]

I am not planning on doing it myself. Just getting an idea of the cost at this stage, I am assuming that as its such a rare cartridge that the smiths won't have the the chamber specifics for it!

You can just reform 45-70 brass, I will probably use smokless, but BP would add to the experience!

Now I just need to figure out what barrel I need to get!

[Old Fart]

I will probably use smokless, but BP would add to the experience!

BP does add a little flavour to it

[Gregg]

I am assuming that as its such a rare cartridge that the smiths won't have the the chamber specifics for it!

Maybe. For $100 though the guy might be willing to buy the Reamer if it's going to land him a decent job.

Otherwise if you end up buying it first maybe you can cut a deal that he can keep the reamer and give you a discount on some stock or something. He might be willing he he thinks he can use for future projects.

Good luck with it.

[1290]

Andy, 22 cal 40 cal?? spell out what you're trying to achieve, maybe a criteria of your objective, and requirements for chambering and your online brothers (& sisters) I'm sure would be more than happy to provide some opinions....

40-65 is obscure. difficult to obtain and load, difficult to chamber (who has a reamer?)

[andym79]

I know it seems like my head is all over the place, but I have a lot of rifles some stock and some projects in mind. The pockets are just not deep enough for them all!

I want a 40-65 because of its rarity. I have some plain vanilla rifles and some more interesting. The 40-65 would be something special. For example I could have a 357 mag lever but I elected for a 38-40, I could have got a 38-55 but to me the 375W was more intresting and it seems with time will be more rare!

Again the 218 bee is much less common than a 32-20.

I will call up a couple of smiths and have a chat with them!

I don't see why the 40-65 should be hard to load for, brass can be formed from 45-70, bullet moulds can be bought from Lyman it needs no unusual powder! Getting a chamber cut in a .408 barrel however will be a challange!

[BBJ]

The 40-65 would be something special.

Good luck with it mate, sounds like a cool project

Keep us updated with your progress.