feedback on Manson reamers
- Thread starter coyote
- Start date
Guntech ,
I also have one in 6.5x47 lapua and it cuts and performs perfectly the other one I just received in 6.5 Creedmoor when I cut the chamber it cut like a dream and thought to myself wow I really like these reamers. It left a nice finish with no rings like some of the other guys but when I went to measure the throat for COL I discovered that the bullet would not fit in the throat
I don't really care if reamers cut the body a thou out of spec because there is room there but the throat is the most important grind on a reamer this should have never left the shop imo, I'm glad it didn't end up on somebody's rifle .
When I tried factory hornady match ammo in the barrel it stopped short from headspacing by 175 thous or so.
I also have one in 6.5x47 lapua and it cuts and performs perfectly the other one I just received in 6.5 Creedmoor when I cut the chamber it cut like a dream and thought to myself wow I really like these reamers. It left a nice finish with no rings like some of the other guys but when I went to measure the throat for COL I discovered that the bullet would not fit in the throat
I don't really care if reamers cut the body a thou out of spec because there is room there but the throat is the most important grind on a reamer this should have never left the shop imo, I'm glad it didn't end up on somebody's rifle .
When I tried factory hornady match ammo in the barrel it stopped short from headspacing by 175 thous or so.
Throat diameter on a reamer is fairly easy to measure... usually no more than 1/2 a thou over bullet diameter. Bullets need to be square and concentric in the case... I have seen military 308 ammo that would not seat at all in a normal match chamber that accepted all commercial ammo.
Manson has a warranty... did you order what you needed?
Manson has a warranty... did you order what you needed?
I ordered a saami spec reamer and reviewed the print everything looked good throat was supposed to be .2645 it cut a 2638 hole bullet diameter is .264 and unfortunately I have every other match throater except for a 6.5 .
hopefully they have another one ready to ship
hopefully they have another one ready to ship
Lead should be .2645" not throat. If yo ucan do the math you will find the SAAMI 6.5 Creedmore throat is on a 3° angle to a maximum of .2645" where it ends and the lead [aka freebore] starts. Here is the spec www.saami.org/pubresources/cc_drawings/Rifle/6_5 Creedmoor.pdf
Phrases like short throat, short lead, zero freebore and no throat cause trouble so specifications MUST be in writing when ordered.
SAAMI is Sporting Arms ... You are using the 6.5 for target so the reamer spec should be changed or a throating reamer used. Your 6.5 Creedmore reamer throat, if made correctly, must eventually reach .2645". How are you measuring the .2638" ? My first guess is that the lead is not long enough for the projectile of choice. I know the last .223 Rem I did with my no throat reamer needed .0120" EDIT 0.120" from my throater for the projectile of choice. If your SAAMI spec reamer is cutting to a max of .2638" just in front of the case mouth then your reamer is faulty. You can mic the reamer easily but measuring a hole that small and far inside a chamber is more challenging. I much prefer the 0000 steel wool method when checking the bullet to land contact. Fresh lands will make tiny scratches on the copper that are easily seen and the 0000 steel wool easily removes the scratches for another go. Any runout causes early contact.
I don't have a 6.5 throater either or I would lend it to you.
EDIT I guess I was typing too fast. anyway, 0.120" not .0120"
Phrases like short throat, short lead, zero freebore and no throat cause trouble so specifications MUST be in writing when ordered.
SAAMI is Sporting Arms ... You are using the 6.5 for target so the reamer spec should be changed or a throating reamer used. Your 6.5 Creedmore reamer throat, if made correctly, must eventually reach .2645". How are you measuring the .2638" ? My first guess is that the lead is not long enough for the projectile of choice. I know the last .223 Rem I did with my no throat reamer needed .0120" EDIT 0.120" from my throater for the projectile of choice. If your SAAMI spec reamer is cutting to a max of .2638" just in front of the case mouth then your reamer is faulty. You can mic the reamer easily but measuring a hole that small and far inside a chamber is more challenging. I much prefer the 0000 steel wool method when checking the bullet to land contact. Fresh lands will make tiny scratches on the copper that are easily seen and the 0000 steel wool easily removes the scratches for another go. Any runout causes early contact.
I don't have a 6.5 throater either or I would lend it to you.
EDIT I guess I was typing too fast. anyway, 0.120" not .0120"
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Rob I measured it with a diatest split end probe they are quite accurate and are what I use to measure barrels when I rifle them , when I borescoped it there was still some rifling left where it should be gone , I was referring to freebore diameter rather than throat.
This was a saami spec reamer so a factory round should chamber but the freebore diameter doesn't allow the bullet to advance .
I am going to call tomorrow morning and also order a 6.5 match throater I think
This was a saami spec reamer so a factory round should chamber but the freebore diameter doesn't allow the bullet to advance .
I am going to call tomorrow morning and also order a 6.5 match throater I think
I've got a bunch of Manson reamers and the only "complaint" I have had with a couple is they are almost too sharp nothing a little feed and speed change didn't clear up. I would send it back pretty sure there would be no issues from them getting it cleared up.
When you order a reamer from Manson's or any other reamer maker they will make up a SAAMI chamber reamer to almost maximum specifications, UNLESS, you specify you want something different.
The last reamer I ordered from them was for a 308 Palma Match chamber. This reamer is not for commercial purposes and will likely never do more than a half dozen bbls while I own it. I asked them to make the reamer up to minimum specs over all dimensions. This just barely allows the rifle to chamber factory and surplus ammo made up as 308Win and surplus 7.62x51 Nato. It also requires the use of 308Win small base match dies. Ordinary dies that are good for the average hunting rifle won't size down the bases enough to chamber again.
Commercial smiths will order a standard reamer so it can be used several times, with care, and resharpened. This saves a lot of money for a busy smith. It also ensures there are absolutely no chambering problems unless he screws up in some manner. I find most reamers to be made up in this manner and find them to be on the large side. Not out of spec but large. There are many conditions where this can be a desirable feature. On the other hand you can always just neck resize if you hand load and get similar but not the same configuration of ammo/chamber fit.
I find that my two T3s have extremely close to minimum chamber and neck specs. They will digest just about any ammo and shoot it well. I did have some Federal 223rem that was tight in a T3 chamber but the bolt still closed with only a slight bit of extra force. The ammo wasn't any more accurate than other commercial loads.
The last reamer I ordered from them was for a 308 Palma Match chamber. This reamer is not for commercial purposes and will likely never do more than a half dozen bbls while I own it. I asked them to make the reamer up to minimum specs over all dimensions. This just barely allows the rifle to chamber factory and surplus ammo made up as 308Win and surplus 7.62x51 Nato. It also requires the use of 308Win small base match dies. Ordinary dies that are good for the average hunting rifle won't size down the bases enough to chamber again.
Commercial smiths will order a standard reamer so it can be used several times, with care, and resharpened. This saves a lot of money for a busy smith. It also ensures there are absolutely no chambering problems unless he screws up in some manner. I find most reamers to be made up in this manner and find them to be on the large side. Not out of spec but large. There are many conditions where this can be a desirable feature. On the other hand you can always just neck resize if you hand load and get similar but not the same configuration of ammo/chamber fit.
I find that my two T3s have extremely close to minimum chamber and neck specs. They will digest just about any ammo and shoot it well. I did have some Federal 223rem that was tight in a T3 chamber but the bolt still closed with only a slight bit of extra force. The ammo wasn't any more accurate than other commercial loads.
