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JS47
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What 22 rf Chamber Reamer to Use?
Apr 13th, 2015 at 10:56pm
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I have a new CPA action in hand as well as a barrel from BRC.  All I have to do is to put them together, which brings up my question.  I have access to a standard, a standard match, and a Bentz, all by Clymer.  I'm thinking I'll use the match reamer but after reading Bill Calfee's new book I'm wondering if any of you have tried his style of reamer, which is straight sided with a 2 degree leade angle, and would I gain anything by using it?  I'd forgotten most of what I read when Calfee was writing for PS so when his book came out I bought it on a whim.  It is pretty interesting reading and at 721 pages I believe I got my money's worth.

JS 
« Last Edit: Apr 13th, 2015 at 11:02pm by JS47 »  
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Re: What 22 rf Chamber Reamer to Use?
Reply #1 - Apr 14th, 2015 at 12:46am
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I have very little experience but I'll throw in my two cents based mostly on reading what others have said on this topic.  If you look at the specs for the dozens of 22 L.R. reamers that are available, you will see that there are are about four variables-base diameter, neck diameter, lead angle, and length.  Since most falling block actions have very little camming action, I believe that length is the one factor that is most important.  With that in mind, when I recently chambered a low wall I used a PTG Match reamer which is rather long as match reamers go...I believe it is .630 as compared to others that may run as short as .590.  It is still tighter in all dimensions than a Bentz reamer which is probably also a good option for a falling block.  I believe that with the Calfee reamers, there is no rim cutting area so you can run it in as far as you want then cut the rim afterwards (or before).

  
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frnkeore
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Re: What 22 rf Chamber Reamer to Use?
Reply #2 - Apr 14th, 2015 at 2:23am
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If your only choises are the three that you listed, by all means go with the standard match reamer. My very first 22rf match rifle is chambered that way and does fairly well.

If you can choose others, go with a neck, no larger than .225 and a lead of no more than 2 deg. Take your pick on chamber length base on the camming action that your breech block has. To be fairly safe, I'd go with a .62 lg + the .043 rim.

I did a 12/15 with a chamber length of only .56 (plus .043) and a 1 deg lead, it chambers hard but, shoots extremely well.

I agree about not putting a rim cutter on the reamer, that's how I had mine made. That way, you can come back and ream deeper if you need it to close the breech or play around with chamber length.

Keep in mind that the shorter the chamber, the higher will be the velocity and pressure.

Frank
  

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Obsidian
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Re: What 22 rf Chamber Reamer to Use?
Reply #3 - Apr 14th, 2015 at 4:08am
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     The Bentz reamer is designed for semi-autos.  It has tighter tolerances than a standard 22lr chamber, but is still loose enough to cycle reliably in a semi-auto.  In my experience (with building semi-autos) a standard reamer will print a 2.5" group at 50 yards with standard ammo, where as a Bentz reamer will print 3/4" groups with the same ammo.
          Match reamers were designed for more accuracy, but the chamber is usually shorter.  Match reamers are usually used in bolt actions, where the camming forces of the bolt can seat the bullet into the rifling.  A match chamber might be too short for rifles other than bolt actions.
         A standard reamer will make a chamber which will accept anything, but with less than stellar accuracy.
  
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uscra112
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Re: What 22 rf Chamber Reamer to Use?
Reply #4 - Apr 14th, 2015 at 4:46am
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The CPA Stevens 44 1/2 action will seat a cartridge nicely into a match chamber.   Match chambers are not limited to bolt actions.

Whatever you do, make sure your pilot fits the bore!  Measure the bore with gage pins; there is no other way.   

FWIW I'm using a Lilja chamber. Reamer bought from PTG, with separate pilot bushings, to help assure a truly concentric chamber. 
  

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JLouis
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Re: What 22 rf Chamber Reamer to Use?
Reply #5 - Apr 14th, 2015 at 11:14am
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Hard to argue with Calfees success and the records set by the rifles he built. A rifle that shoots fairly well might be good for hunting but it won't consistently win you any honors in competition. Rimfire success is very dependent on the ammo used and I would assume Calfee designed his chambers to take advantage of what the best has to offer. Calfees success is legendary in the world of rimfire benchrest shooting and looking beyond his chambers one needs to understand his means and methods for checking and accepting a barrel blank as well as its ultimate length.

If you want to win do as the winners do!

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Re: What 22 rf Chamber Reamer to Use?
Reply #6 - Apr 14th, 2015 at 12:25pm
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I would also second following Calfee's advice.   

I've always thought that the PTG ammo specific reamers are the best, at least in theory. 

In practice, on my own rifles I've built, my Manson Match reamer has been the most accurate.  I cannot hold the tolerances with my equipment to really build match grade .22's, though.  So, I've had customs built by good builders and always chosen the ammo specific reamer by PTG.  My best rifle that I did myself with the Manson reamer shoots competitively with the professional ones with PTG Eley chambers.   

All in all, the common denominator in all these reamers is tight fit, with a push tight fit for the last 1/8" or so.  If you follow and accept Calfee's recommendation, the next most important thing is a low angle, burnished throat.   

Third is barrel diameter consistency/choke, which is not reamer dependent.

dave
  
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frnkeore
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Re: What 22 rf Chamber Reamer to Use?
Reply #7 - Apr 14th, 2015 at 12:51pm
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Sounds like Calfee is using this reamer:

22 FREELAND MATCH   .2242 base, .224 neck .600 length, leade 2°, Rim .288

It's what I design my reamer after but, changed the leade to 1 degree and w/o a rim.

Frank
  

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Re: What 22 rf Chamber Reamer to Use?
Reply #8 - Apr 14th, 2015 at 2:32pm
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Top shooters have been using match reamers (tighter chambers) with short leades with 16:1 barrel twist for many years now.

Newest developments are the use of match reamers with a longer leade and 17.2:1 barrel twist.

Call Ron Smith from RKS barrels and he can tell you about the latest advancements and exact reamer measurements.
  
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Re: What 22 rf Chamber Reamer to Use?
Reply #9 - Apr 14th, 2015 at 8:29pm
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I'm of the opinion that proper chamber design is important,  but it has to fit the ammo.  Other wise you are trying to make the foot fit the boot, rather than buying the boot to fit the foot.
When I had my #1 ruger converted to 22f for the 200 yd "single entry"benchrest 22f ASSRA Match.  Steve Durren asked my what ammo I was using so I gave him a sampling of a couple lots I had on hand.  I do not know which reamer he may have used.  I know he has several on hand. but he matched it for a tight fit. the round has to be pushed in the last couple 10th and when I have carefully pressed one back out with a rod the bullet is almost fully engraved.   I have long since used up that batch and MFG but I have used it pretty well with several other types of quality match ammo with (for me) pretty good success.  I have to use a wood "pusher" to seat the roads before closing the action. 
 at this point I pretty much figure the rifle and ammo are about optimum----the shooter----wellllll Cheesy
  

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JS47
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Re: What 22 rf Chamber Reamer to Use?
Reply #10 - Apr 15th, 2015 at 12:21am
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My dilemma is that while I'd like to build the most accurate match rifle I'm capable of building, the reality is that I won't be shooting in any matches unless I move. All of my shooting will be at my 100 yard gong or some informal shoots with one or two other guys.  I can't see shooting $10 or $15 a box ammo at a silly gong.  What I need is a chamber that will be a reasonably good fit for whatever match ammo I can find, but will also accept the hardware store grade. I should have made this clear in my original post.  The standard match reamer I have access to meets this requirement.  The only thing it won't accept is some old WW high velocity stuff and it does give the owner of the Martini 1/4 - 3-8 " accuracy at 50 yds. with SK Match ammunition.  I appreciate all the input as it will help me decide what to do.

JS
  
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Re: What 22 rf Chamber Reamer to Use?
Reply #11 - Apr 15th, 2015 at 12:04pm
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If memory serves me right Calfee's reamer was of a proprietary design and thus not offered for public use / the reamer makers can not make and sell it to anyone else under those circumstances.

JLouis
  

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