Hand reaming a 30-06 to 30-06 AI is it do able?

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7.62Man

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Hi all,

I have several 30-06 and I would like to try my hand at changing chambers. I was wondering if one could hand (no lathe) ream a 30-06 to 30-06 AI?

I am currently working on my firearm repair course (don't laugh!) and trying to build my skills slowly. Is this too advanced of a skill to try? This would be my first try at making a wild cat chamber.

I would be use a old single shot 30-06 that I have just lying around and would not cry if I wrecked it.

I plan on purchasing the reamer and go gauge from brownells along with a t handle. If I go slow and take my time I hope it will work out.

Once again I am looking for the collectives wisdom.
 
The first problem I see is that once you have the chambered reamed out, you will need to face a little off the threaded end of the barrel, and either turn back the body of the barrel, or take a lick off of the recoil lug to return the rifle to proper headspace dimensions.For these operations , a lathe would be the best tool for the job.I'm not saying that you couldn't do it with a file , and a little patience , but it would be easier and turn out better with the proper tools.
Scott
 
I would suggest learning more of the basics rather than jump in and experiment. As the above post stated, to chamber an existing 06 to the A.I. version requires setting the barrel back so you can correctly headspace it.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing...
 
Ok so using a single shot is out, can't shorten it. The local "gunsmith" showed me how he re-chambers stevens 30-06 to 30-06 AI. All he did was unscrew the barrel and cut one thread off, then remount barrel and slowly ream till the go-gauge fit.

This seems a little crude to me, but he has made a few of these and none have blown up yet. I guess this is what you call "ditch gunsmithing"?
 
Sounds as if your gunsmith is going about the conversion to AI in the standard manner.
The whole point of the AI process is that factory ammunition will headspace in the AI chamber. You cannot achieve that if a standard chamber is reamed without the barrel being set back. You could create a wildcat that would require re-establishment of the case shoulder slightly foreward.
Hand reaming a chamber is possible. It is also possible to produce an out of round, oversized chamber. Handreaming something like a .22 rf is one thing, cutting a larger chamber like a .30-06AI is another.
 
There's no need to make any alterations to Stevens/Savages to set them back, due to the lock nut that's used to set headspace.
 
That would depend on the barrel face/boltnose clearance, and whether there are sights on the barrel. Ream the barrel to AI, and it'll have to be turned in for headspace. Might or might not work without being faced off. It would depend on the gap between the barrel and the bolt as set up in the factory. It would also depend on how deep it is necessary to ream the chamber. Might not be sufficient casehead projection for the extractor. If there are sights, the barrel is going to have to be set back one thread, and that will require the barrel being faced. Best not to make any assumptions until the job is at hand.
 
For those following this thread, you can rechamber by hand without worrying about set back IF the new cartridge configuration is longer than the existing and locates headspace the same. One that comes to mind 7MM military to 280 Rem. to get rid of throat erosion. Of course it must de done with head space gages or if you reload you can fire form brass with reduced loads and and just neck resize to maintain headspace. Be sure to restamp barrel IMPROVED HANDLOAD ONLY, I've done a couple of old 98's with bad erosion for friends who wanted cheap moose guns to leave in camps and still have good accuracy out to 200 yds.
 
Not that simple. Any coversion to AI's require slightly less headspace, so barrel face and threads will probably need re-cutting. If done just by hand you will run into headspace and improper case forming.
 
The problems with doing this are less problems of headspace etc. than they are problems with physically accomplishing the task. When rechambering the 30/06 to 30/06 AI (a waste of time under the best of circumstances!) the reamer starts out with the pilot not engaging the bore. The reamer starts cutting before the pilot reaches the bore. Now, I'm a moderately capable person when it comes to precision handwork but I Have trouble doing this and ending up witha finished product that is, to me, satisfactory. Maybe I'm just not as capable as I think I am. Regards, Bill.
 
I have done a couple of rechambers by hand though not to the improved mentioned here. even if you were to set this up in a lathe(I have a nice little SB) the problem would be the same. Reamer holders used in lathes do not hold reamers rigid or in a straight line either, they are made to move as required. As Bill says, your pilot won't yet be in the bore when it starts cutting. With a good taper on the reamer, it will center well but with an AI don't see that happening.
Your issue here doesn't seem to be as much one of doing it by hand which can be done fine in many chamberings just more work than with the lathe. But here you have the issue of a reamer that won't re supported by the pilot in the bore regardless of how you do it.
There are some rechamber jobs that are very easy by hand, some that are well worth putting in the lathe and some where you might be better off avoiding or starting from scratch.
 
By definition, you can't just stuff in a reamer and make a true AI chamber without setting back the chamber.

However, you can ream to an improved profile with a more forward shoulder. ie Gibbs. You can't fire factory ammo and fireform. You need to form a secondary shoulder and fireform first.

I have played with the Gibbs and it is a wonderful wildcat. you will get very close to 300RSAUM performance (just shy of the WSM/Win mag).

If you really want to do this by hand, one alternative is to use a pull through reamer. Instead of applying force by pushing on it, you have a long 'pilot' and pull from the muzzle.

Commonly used to headspace semi autos.

Contact Dave Manson or PTG for options. Brownells will also have some but I have only seen the 308/06 verions. Maybe a normal piloted reamer can be adapted.

Personally, for the cost and potential lack of precision, do the job on a lathe.

Jerry
 
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