muzzle relief cut?

M

Martin64

Guest
I have a 31.5" unfinished palma barrel that I want to chamber in 308win and keep as long as possible. I plan to hold the muzzle end in chuck and the breech in a steady rest. I'm reading Hinnant's book, and he recommends cutting a relief cut on the muzzle, the length of the jaws of the chuck, to prevent the barrel moving laterally. I don't want to lose that length of barrel.

Is it unadvisable to simply hold the slightly tapered barrel by the muzzle in the jaws of the chuck while I do the work at the chamber end? Should I use soft shims or a brass or copper ring at the contact point to aid the process?

One more question, can I hold the piloted 60 degree centre cutter in an eagle style floating reamer holder when I (re)cut the centre hole on the barrel ends?
 
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Typically you want to cut an inch off the muzzle end anyway as it is not as consistent from both the rifling and lapping process. When you bore scope a new tube typically there will be a rough section of bore where the lapping compound rolls over the lap before embedding. For best accuracy most every barrel maker will tell you to cut off one inch. I would turn a straight section one inch long and chuck on that.
 
Martin,

You can use a wrap of copper wire around the barrel, but since you should be cutting off the last inch or so of the barrel as mentioned above, mine as well turn that inch parallel and grab it with your chuck. I used Hinnant's method on my first chambering job and it worked out great.

Yes, you can use the piloted center cutter in a Bald Eagle type holder.

Justin
 
Here's what I do to get an accurate centers on each end. Run the barrel in a steady rest so you can let the lathe turn the barrel while you hold the reamer in your hand. About 75-100 RPMS. Insert the center reamer until you just cut a fresh center then gently pull it to one side. Run it until it stops cutting. That lets one flute finish the cut with all the slack taken up in the system. Best way I've found yet to get an accurate center. Have to give credit to George Kelbly for this tip.

Dave
 
Very clever idea, takes out any slack in the pilot in the bore. Kelbly's not your average dummy gunsmith!
 
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