Gunsmithing Why not cut chambers with a single point cutter?

[persistant7500]

I am sitting here looking at reamer options for a rifle I am planning when the though hit me "why not single point cut chambers on the CNC lathe instead of buying different reamers for everything I want to do". I know most smiths do not have cnc lathes but is there a reason that this wont work or might not be recommended? I program for internally bored parts all day for work but I'm still doing my chambers old school, but maybe there is something that I am not thinking about. Thank you for any thoughts Jeff...........

 

[Bill Larson]

it`s been done...and is done today...... but you said it rite..... most of us do not own CNC lathes......

 

[persistant7500]

that's what I was thinking, Thank you Bill

 

[Gene Poole]

Check out this thread:

http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...ensive-package-switzerland-arrived-today.html

 

[Geno C.]

That's the thread that comes to my mind too^^^

 

[cal50]

If you have a rigid cnc machine with good ball screws & the right tooling it's doable. Boring bar / tool deflection and getting a good finish would be two advantages of a reamer but not having to buy every reamer give advantage to the high performance tooling.

 

[300sniper]

I am sitting here looking at reamer options for a rifle I am planning when the though hit me "why not single point cut chambers on the CNC lathe instead of buying different reamers for everything I want to do". I know most smiths do not have cnc lathes but is there a reason that this wont work or might not be recommended? I program for internally bored parts all day for work but I'm still doing my chambers old school, but maybe there is something that I am not thinking about. Thank you for any thoughts Jeff...........

Tool deflection: very small diameter, very deep. Also the interrupted cut in the lead may result in some surface finish issues.

 

[persistant7500]

The tool deflection issue is a consideration but if you pre-drill like most do anyway I can fit a much stouter bar into the bore. We grind our own solid carbide boring bars at work, I think I will have to draw one up and trade a couple cases of beer for one and see how it works out.

 

[skeetlee]

reamers are cheap compared to a lot of other things we buy! lee

 

[Aeon1]

It's been done in both long and short range benchrest. A 1K competitor who I believe no longer shoots did a lot of things outside the norm including CNC single point chambering. He won a lot so I think it can be done quite successfully.

 

[LRI]

Better have your cutter comp Jonny on the spot!

 

[J-Ham]

^^^What Chad said!!!^^^