Reamer, Straight or Spiral Flutes?

MilGunsmith

MilGunsmith

Member
I see on the PTG web sight that there are both straight and spiral fluted chamber reamers available. Does anyone have any experiance with one over the other? I need to do multiple chambers in 5.56mm Nato, 7.62mm Nato, and .50 BMG. I also see a carbide reamer is available, any thoughts on them?
 
My understanding is spiral flutted reamers can be run at much higher speed without chatter. They also unload the chips better. But I believe they are more expensive because they must be more difficult to make.

I have a few spiral reamers that I bought of folks on this forum. They cut nice chambers, but no better thsan the straight flute reamers.

I never cut chambers at over 200RPM, so the flutes have no real benefit for me.
 
I "think" the best reamers I own are all right hand cut, left hand spiral reamers. These are pin reamers and seem to make a hole as close to size as any reamers I own. I think this is due to the way the reamer clears the shavings from the hole. All my chamber reamers, neckers and throaters are straight flutes. I am set up to front flush these reamers and clearing the shavings is less of a problem.

Mike Swartz
 
Straight vs Spiral..

Both work just fine. Spiral spreads out the chip load as the reamer deepens in the chamber. As you know I use a flush system so feed and speed are much higher than the old ream and clean method. Your MARS will work with either equally well.
The carbide reamers need high speed, and high presure flush to be effective and not load up. They chip very easily and also require very careful handling.

Rustystud
 
I don't have many reamers but I don't want any spiral reamers because I feel they would be too difficult to resharpen or stone , for me anyway.
 
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