Gunsmithing 95 Palma Reamer/Go Gage question

[Ratbert]

Unable to find a print, I am wondering if anyone can comment on if there is any difference between a 95 Palma reamer and/or a Go Gage labeled "308 Palma" and a standard Forester 1.630" 308 Go gage? I ask because I've got 2 different chambers cut by two different smiths using 2 different 95 Palma reamers and both show to be about 1.636" or so according to my Forester match reamer set (11 gages running from 1.630 to 1.640). One of these was cut by myself using a buddy's reamer and PTG (I believe) gage which was labeled "308 Palma" and I certainly could have believed that I just cut it too deep except that when I then checked to see another experienced professional smith's 95 Palma chamber felt like his ALSO read long by the same amount. Unfortunately I don't have access to that original PTG "308 Palma" gage to measure against, but the new Forester gages do match up against my existing go/nogo set according to my Redding Instant Indicator.

So I'm left wondering, did both of us happen to cut these chambers excessively deep or is there something about the 95 Palma chamber or go gage that provides more headspace than a standard 308 gage might? I could understand if perhaps the 95 Palma ammo was known to be excessively long or something, but that's purely conjecture.

 

[Turk]

Re: 95 Palma Reamer/Go Gage question

Call Al Warner; he invented it!
http://www.warner-tool.com/

 

[Alan Warner]

Re: 95 Palma Reamer/Go Gage question

Ratberth
Your chambers are cut deep. The head space is the same. 1.630 is the zero maesurement.
I would suggest taking a little more care when cutting and measuring.
Alan

 

[Ratbert]

Re: 95 Palma Reamer/Go Gage question

That is what I suspected, but of course at the I time attempted to cut it correctly using the equipment that was made available and then to coincidentally have the next 95 palma chamber I came across also end up having been cut the same amount too deep just made the ol' imagination start to run wild.

It's funny how if I make a mistake it doesn't really surprise me but if someone else makes the same mistake I assume there must be a larger reason.

 

[Turk]

Re: 95 Palma Reamer/Go Gage question

It doesn't get any better then that; straight from the "Gods"!

 

[Ratbert]

Re: 95 Palma Reamer/Go Gage question

Hopefully at some point I'll get the chance to get ahold of the PTG "308 Palma" Go gage it was originally measured against and I can toss it in the Instant Indicator and see how it compares to my Forester gages. Regardless I've upped the steps in my technique considerably since this was cut so hopefully it won't happen again. From the mumblings it's owner, it sounds like that other 308 is going back to the original smith for a tune-up, though.

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: 95 Palma Reamer/Go Gage question

I have an incremental set of 308 gauges from JGS that run from 1.630" to 1.636", 1.636" being the max go and 1.630" being the no go. My PTG go gauge is the same as my JGS 1.632" and is where I try to end up at for all the 308 based cartridges. Like Mr. Warner said, if your at 1.636" your too deep, at least by .004" as far as I‘m concerned.

The fix is to put the barrel back into the lathe, dial it back in and just touch the shoulder to remove approx. .003" to .004", this will let the barrel screw on the receiver further thus reducing your chamber/headspace. Don’t forget to cut the bolt nose recess and breech face an equal amount.


Good luck.

 

[Ratbert]

Re: 95 Palma Reamer/Go Gage question

yeah, I fixed it on mine; this was just a question brought on by finding two rifles from two different people with apparently the same mistake and wondering if maybe there was a reason beyond "fuckup."

It's really nice having the micrometer reamer holder now, not to mention a set of "doughnuts" cut from shim stock when measuring how much farther I need to cut. Back when I originally cut this chamber all I had was a feeler gage to wedge in somewhere and a wild guess as to how much more I just took out of the chamber when I shoved it in there the last time.

 

[wnroscoe]

Re: 95 Palma Reamer/Go Gage question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ratbert</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> wondering if maybe there was a reason beyond "fuckup." </div></div>

Some gunsmiths should inquire as to whether or not they can get their old burger flipping/fry machine job back.

They probably sucked at that as well.

 

[Keith Johns]

Re: 95 Palma Reamer/Go Gage question

Feeler gauge works pretty damn well...