Chamber reamer?

Some one will know, can a standard hand reamer be used to chamber .22lr and .22 short or do I need to buy a ruffing and finishing reamer?  Thanks ahead  Mark.

Welcome, glad you joined us.

I have chamber lots of barrels in lots of calibers. For a .22 I have always simply used a Finishing Reamer. The correct reamer for a .22Short is a .22Short Reamer. A .22LR Reamer may be used but the bullet then jumps a long distance to the throat potentially affecting accuracy. This would normally be a theoretical concern, but for a Gatling Gun - not so much I think.

I would buy a .22LR Finish Reamer and use a depth mic to establish headspace and not look back. This is done by measuring the depth of the rim recess cut by the reamer. If I remember correctly the max to min headspace is about .003\". The nominal cartridge rim thickness is 0.040\" and I have seen the chamber rim depth set at 0.0425\" to 0.045\" and 0.043\" to 0.046\" depending upon the source.

Headspace gauges are handy for checking excessive headspace in closed chambers but since our headspace can be adjusted, just be sure that the chamber is not reamed to deep initially.

gary

I find that any tool that has gunsmith in its name will cost many times more than
a standard tool of the same dimension.  I use standard tools and a digital caliper.
But I am not a gunsmith.
For instance I just priced a barrel reamer for $195 plus shipping.
I made one for less than $20.

Steve, I agree.

Sad but true when it becomes a Gunsmith Tool - even a screwdiver - the price does seem to go up. I usually get my \"stuff\" from Brownell\'s and they have quite a range of rimfire chamber reamers. For what we do the Manson Reamers are perfect @ $45USD.

http://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-tools ... d7724.aspx

BTW - I would cut this by hand rather than by power, rimfire reamers don\'t remove much material so they cut pretty fast. Also suggest that you chamber before cutting the muzzle end to length. If you go too deep or have another problem the barrell can be set back to cut a fresh chamber.

gary