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https://mansonreamers.com/

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Call Fred Zeglin at 4D Reamer Rentals http://www.4-dproducts.com/, discount for GCA members and he’s one of the AGI instructors.

If you’re going to buy, Dave Manson https://mansonreamers.com/ is one of the best. Call either one and they will get you set up with exactly what you need. Jeff

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I purchased a Dave Manson floating reamer holder after renting one from Fred at 4D Rentals. If you order it from Manson Reamers and tell him you are a AGI Gunsmith he will give you a discount. Brownell’s sell them a good price as well if you have an account and use their free shipping service. There are a couple others but as posted above, I like the way the Manson one works. A word of caution, play with it on a used or worn barrel, it is not as easy as Darrel or Ken makes it work. Not hard mind you, but like so much of what we do, you need to develop a feel and an approach. The first one I did the chamber came out a bit oval and chattered. Lynn Ryle

Question Follow Up

Thanks guys! I am looking at the Manson reamer, but I am wondering if anyone has looked at Pacific Tool and Gauge. The one that has flow thru coolant. It is a little pricey, but may be worth it?? Actually, I’m asking for opinions. Thinking out loud, the flow thru feature is nice, but are there enough options for flow thru reamers. I would think they would be a bit more costly than the regular reamers. Do they do a better job? Is the chamber cut smoother, better, etc. Can the ‘regular’ reamer do just as well? Opinions? The flow thru reamer would be less labor intensive? I know Fred Z has talked about requests for flow thru reamers, but I don’t know if he is supplying them yet. Would the extra expense be worth it? Discussion, please. Thanks guys!

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Point of “flow-thru” reamers, usually carbide, is production speed. The high pressure coolant (you DO need the coolant connector and hose to the nozzle) carries the chips out the breech end as the reaming process continues. You don’t have to stop continually and remove chips. Jack

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I looked at flow through reamers and holders but came to the conclusion I don’t do enough chambering to make the extra cost and hassle of using them, (they are messy) worth the extra price. Keep in mind I am not building bench rest rifles here. At least not yet. Millions of chambers have been done with standard reamers being flooded with a good lube or coolant. Then there is the option of getting the holder now in case you want to use it later, they should work fine with non-flow-thru reamers. As you point out, I don’t see as many options of flow through reamers as I do standard. Thinking about it, I would bet the big boys use flow through for tool life more than anything.

In one of the hands on classes with Ken we had this conversation. The floating reamer tool he uses is one that he or Bob made, it was an 18 or 24 inch long rod about 1/4 or maybe 3/8 in diameter with a machined collar on the end of it. The rod flexes as it is being pushed into the pilot hole of the chamber thereby evening out the forces and keeping the chamber round. I think I remember seeing it in one of the rifle videos he made, not a 100% sure of that. The Manson works on the same principle, it floats on shoulder screws.

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PTG has a reputation for sometimes producing reamers and gauges that don’t match SAAMI specs, but there are others who swear by them as being the best available. The only other complaint I hear is that the live pilot is held on by a screw and not a clip, though I have no idea why either, as long as they stay together, would be better or worse than the other.

I’ve never used one of their reamers, but the other things I have gotten from them have been, for me, worth the money. The one exception was a GO/NO-GO set in 5.56 that wouldn’t fit the chamber. PTG replaced it next day air from just a phone call. New set worked perfectly. That alone gets my undying admiration. Jeff

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The reamer holder described by 07Star was one of the home made versions we used for years. I use a JGS floating reamer holder now. They are nice. Haven’t used any of the others out there so I don’t have an opinion on them. Ken

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I use the Bald Eagle holder from Grizzly, works fine. DC