Using a 15/64" Drill bit to drill a chamber for 10/22

762shooter said:
I have had 22 rifles with tight chambers that sometimes did not feed easily and had difficult extraction. Sometimes the solution is to find a brand of ammo that will work in the chamber. Not all brands of ammo are identical. For one thing, avoid any with a heavy wax lube. Try and pick a brand and bullet weight and shape with a bullet that doesn't have carry its diameter too far forward.

If you drill out the chamber 4 thous oversize, you will ruin it. Either have the chamber reamed, sell it or trade it.
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What brands of ammo do you usually shoot and recommend?

For this particular gun, I mostly use subsonic ammo because they seem to come out of the muzzle below sound speed and the only sound I literally hear is the bolt "click-clak". Not many subsonics choices out there. The ammunition I usually put through her is the CCI Subsonics 40gr HP Lead. They seem to be quite consistent in powder charge, and have been working well in my semi-auto 22LR. They indeed tend to leave lead everywhere though, even inside the internal feed lips of some of the common 25 round magazines.

I was quite worried about having it oversized too, it seem to function fine in the 9-10 rounds I put through her. I guess I'll have to further confirm by putting at least 500 rounds through her :D
 
t_102 said:
What brands of ammo do you usually shoot and recommend?

For this particular gun, I mostly use subsonic ammo because they seem to come out of the muzzle below sound speed and the only sound I literally hear is the bolt "click-clak". Not many subsonics choices out there. The ammunition I usually put through her is the CCI Subsonics 40gr HP Lead. They seem to be quite consistent in powder charge, and have been working well in my semi-auto 22LR. They indeed tend to leave lead everywhere though, even inside the internal feed lips of some of the common 25 round magazines.

I was quite worried about having it oversized too, it seem to function fine in the 9-10 rounds I put through her. I guess I'll have to further confirm by putting at least 500 rounds through her :D
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I dont use sub sonics so dont know what to recommend. None of the five 22s that i currently own give me any problems with common ammo. I used to own a Remington 541 T that was very finnicky due to a tight chamber. For reliable functioning I had to shoot Remington brand ammo, I used Remington Target.
 
Brutus said:
I predict a ruined leade without a proper finishing reamer. Or a ruined chamber from too deep of free hand drilling.
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That is probably the case. I have yet to test how much has accuracy suffered due to this though. I will try some 100 yards shooting, just to see if I could group and if there are any keyholes.
 
t_102 said:
By the way, why do you think I ruined my barrel? Don't get too "...inclined to make judgments..." so quickly ;) You haven't even seen the barrel yet, have you?
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Even if you didn't ruin your barrel this time, it will be because you got lucky, not because a drill bit is an appropriate chamber finishing tool. Buffdog's post #12 in this thread explains why this is so. If drill bits were suitable for chambering (which includes cutting the throat), gunsmiths would use them and thus save on tooling costs. There are some jobs that can only be done with the right tool.
 
In spite of the humour, sarcasm and entertainment this thread has evoked the OP's home gunsmithing is an activity that should be neither suggested nor encouraged. As it turned out his procedure has not resulted in any serious problem but if taken any steps further and with different cartridges by other unwitting individuals the results could be catastrophic. Regardless of his disclaimer this thread should be locked if not removed because of the potential hazard.
 
dryfire said:
In spite of the humour, sarcasm and entertainment this thread has evoked the OP's home gunsmithing is an activity that should be neither suggested nor encouraged. As it turned out his procedure has not resulted in any serious problem but if taken any steps further and with different cartridges by other unwitting individuals the results could be catastrophic. Regardless of his disclaimer this thread should be locked if not removed because of the potential hazard.
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Moderators please do at your discretion. However, since the thread that I have started explicitly describes an experience/venture that I was willing to undertake, it nonetheless serves as a valuable reference for those home gunsmiths that may find it interesting. (Who doesn't work on their 10/22s? Bolt release mods? ;))

tjhaile said:
Even if you didn't ruin your barrel this time, it will be because you got lucky, not because a drill bit is an appropriate chamber finishing tool. Buffdog's post #12 in this thread explains why this is so. If drill bits were suitable for chambering (which includes cutting the throat), gunsmiths would use them and thus save on tooling costs. There are some jobs that can only be done with the right tool.
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Drilling out 0.025" of the rifling isn't exactly rocket science. Its also non-probability related either. Given another barrel and the same size drill bit, I'll have the same result, first time everytime.

If you don't believe me, I urge you to take a dull pencil of your choice, stick it into the pencil sharpener. It is going to sharpen the same if you do it right.

If I were to take away anything from what you said:
- Please avoid fixing your truck door handle, because a mechanic has better tools
- Avoid fixing the lightbulb, electricians have better experience
- Oh and don't try cooking a steak for the first time either, you might spoil the steak too

I dont quite understand your intention other than pointing out to all of us that a gunsmith indeed have better tools. Point noted and I humbly accept it. But that was all. I'm not going to agree with you and mourn over my barrel because my chamber isn't exactly finished smoothly. :rolleyes:
 
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t_102
The examples you give are hardly comparables to the procedure you followed. An unwitting individual using your procedure with a larger cartridge could end with catastrophic results. In spite of all your attempts to explain that it was an experiment that you were determined(80% sure if I recall) to try even with the consultation here, the procedure is hazardous and a stupid one.
I am all for individuals being self-sufficient but not at the risk of injury. BTW I've never burned myself cooking a steak !
 
t_102 said:
Moderators please do at your discretion. However, since the thread that I have started explicitly describes an experience that I was willing to take, it nonetheless serves as a valuable reference for those home gunsmiths that may find it interesting.



Drilling out the rifling isn't exactly rocket science. Given another barrel and the same size drill bit, I'll have the same result, first time everytime.

I dont quite understand your intention other than pointing out to all of us that a gunsmith indeed have better tools. Point noted.

If I were to take away anything from what you said:
- Please avoid fixing your truck door handle, because a mechanic has better tools
- Avoid fixing the lightbulb, electricians have better experience
- Oh and don't try cooking a steak for the first time either, you might spoil the steak too :rolleyes:
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The difference is that none of those jobs require specialized tools. Reamers (preferably in conjunction with a lathe) aren't simply a "better" tool for chamber work, they're the only correct tool.
 
tjhaile said:
The difference is that none of those jobs require specialized tools. Reamers (preferably in conjunction with a lathe) aren't simply a "better" tool for chamber work, they're the only correct tool.
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Correct by who's standard may I ask?
 
dryfire said:
In spite of the humour, sarcasm and entertainment this thread has evoked the OP's home gunsmithing is an activity that should be neither suggested nor encouraged. As it turned out his procedure has not resulted in any serious problem but if taken any steps further and with different cartridges by other unwitting individuals the results could be catastrophic. Regardless of his disclaimer this thread should be locked if not removed because of the potential hazard.
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Nah. If this is the kind of work we are going to see from an engineer, it may as well be on display for the world to see.

In truth, there is not a lot that you can do to do more than ruin the barrel and chamber, following in this one's footsteps. I will consider it to be along the same lines as those that have to pee on the electric fence themselves to learn, most are going to be smarter than that, and the ones that are not, well, with any luck, the folks making the rules and regs will see them as an exception rather than the rule, when trying to idiot-proof the world.

A $35 chamber reamer is cheap insurance against having to replace a barrel, esp if you don't actually understand the chamber dimensions as provided by the reamer makers.

Making ones own reamer is pretty straightforward lathe work too.

Wear eye protection with that new "chamber" eh!

Cheers
Trev
 
trevj said:
Nah. If this is the kind of work we are going to see from an engineer, it may as well be on display for the world to see.

In truth, there is not a lot that you can do to do more than ruin the barrel and chamber, following in this one's footsteps. I will consider it to be along the same lines as those that have to pee on the electric fence themselves to learn, most are going to be smarter than that, and the ones that are not, well, with any luck, the folks making the rules and regs will see them as an exception rather than the rule, when trying to idiot-proof the world.

A $35 chamber reamer is cheap insurance against having to replace a barrel, esp if you don't actually understand the chamber dimensions as provided by the reamer makers.

Making ones own reamer is pretty straightforward lathe work too.

Wear eye protection with that new "chamber" eh!

Cheers
Trev
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Eye protection? Will do! :)

However, FYI, the chamber diameter is pretty much the same, the only thing that was drilled was the little bit of rifling at the end of the chamber area, where originally, a live round would be stuck and un-extractable.

I just fail to understand what can really ruin a 22lr barrel used for a newbie-intro gun? I do not see how drilling out 0.025" of the rifling will make anything dangerous?
 
Do you have the technology to try and polish(remove some material) the chamber?
Seems like a logical starting point....
A high class bubba polish job would be involve a cordless drill and a bore brush, wrapped in a patch, embeded with a polishing compound.
 
I never thought of using a bore brush, that is an excellent idea. I have a dremel though so I'll see if I could attach that.
Can-down said:
Do you have the technology to try and polish(remove some material) the chamber?
Seems like a logical starting point....
A high class bubba polish job would be involve a cordless drill and a bore brush, wrapped in a patch, embeded with a polishing compound.
Click to expand...
 
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:bsFlag: I think I am going to run up the Flag on this one. In Post #12, I asked the question "Is this guy real or is he a Troll attempting to get a rise out of people" After reading the posts here, I am leaning toward the latter.

In Post #1, the OP asks a question that is guaranteed to cause some spirited answers from the Members of this Forum.

In Post # 4, GRANTMAC asks what type of ammunition the OP is using.

In Post #17, the OP says the ammo sounds like it is suppressed.

After a few more posts, in Post #33, the OP says that he used a drill bit on his barrel.

In Post #39, the OP says the rifle was "built to shoot quietly so his wife and kids doesnt get too scared of the sound."

The above posts lead anyone with experience to conclude that the OP was trying to shoot sub-sonic ammunition through his rifle. Sub-sonic ammunition tends to be loaded a bit lighter so that the velocity does not exceed the speed of sound. This ammunition may, or may not function in semi-automatic rifles. If there is not enough energy to drive the bolt fully back, so that it ejects the empty case and goes back far enough to pick up and chamber the next round in the magazine, it will cause jamming. This is a typical "short stroke" scenario.

In Post #40, RYAN 500 asks "What types of ammo did you try." The OP, in Post # 43 replies, "I tried mostly federals and blazers." Blazers are known for being a bit "dirty" in semi-automatic rifles.

In Post #45, NAVYSHOOTER makes a Satyric Post suggesting really reaming out the barrel and using Ramset cartridges, for which the OP calls him a "Troll," and in Post #46, the OP suggests that the OP is an Engineer and knows what he is doing.

Post # 61 --The OP states "for this particular gun, I use mostly subsonic ammo. Hmmmm! What happened to the Federals and Blazers?


Sorry, but I do not buy the "Engineer" bit. What Engineer would say that a "chamber is too narrow?" Undersized should be the word when dealing with the diameter of a hole. Too many inconsistencies in this thread.

On the other hand, it has many characteristics of a TROLL THREAD. A contraversial subject designed to raise a lot of comments, and one trying to get someone to blow his temper and say something stupid. The OP continues to argue in an attempt to keep this Thread alive, and continues to "Bait" the other Members. And, he is inconsistent in his answers, especially the types of Ammunition he "Mostly" uses.

I think we can all see where this thread is headed. Perhaps the best thing to do is simply ignore this one, and not give the OP the satisfaction or enjoyment of seeing our blood pressures raised. We can go back to giving those worthwhile people who really do have genuine problems some useful and sane advice, and let out little "Engineer" go back to playing with his model trains.H:S:
 
OP - if your main issue is 'failure to extract an unfired round'... there is a simple solution for that. It's called a 'VQ Extractor' and would solve that issue 100% (or very close to it). In fact, my 'match' chambered GM barrel even states 'Unfired rounds may not be extracted' or something to that effect. A simple $20 part (or less) fixes that issue a lot more reliably than 'reaming' the chamber with a drill bit!!!!
 
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