lar45
03-28-2008, 04:20 PM
Hi all, I rechambered a SMLE in 308 win a few weeks ago and I just got it back. The chamber was too fat and too long, I set it back a thread and used a reamer and gauges from reamerrentals.com. I turned the reamer by hand and went until it would just close on a factory round. When it closed on the go gauge, it would not close on a factory round. I thought it turned out pretty good and the test fired cases looked good.
But I didn't notice a light line near the shoulder. That's why it's back.
I hope these pics are clear enough.
http://www.lsstuff.com/temp/308-chamber-01.jpg
http://www.lsstuff.com/temp/308-chamber-02.jpg
The ring is only on one side and is smaller than the rest of the case.
If I measure the ringed side, it's .455" and 90 deg from that it is almost to .456" on my dial caliper.
I haven't pulled the barrel yet to get a closer look, but I think it's on the bottom of the chamber.
I'm guessing that the rechamber didn't clean up all of the old chamber, so the smaller step near the shoulder is what the reamer cut and the fatter part just behind it is what's left from the oversized factory chamber.
So what do I do to fix it? Any suggestions?
I already sent the reamer back, but I guess I could set the barrel back another thread and recut it again? Or would 2 threads be too much and cause an unsightly gap between the barrel and stock?
I'm thinking about turning a brass rod to fit the chamber and put lapping compound on one side to try and polish out the step. Maybe cut a case in half to insert and protect the good side, then just try to hone out the step?
I'm open to suggestions.
TIA.
But I didn't notice a light line near the shoulder. That's why it's back.
I hope these pics are clear enough.
http://www.lsstuff.com/temp/308-chamber-01.jpg
http://www.lsstuff.com/temp/308-chamber-02.jpg
The ring is only on one side and is smaller than the rest of the case.
If I measure the ringed side, it's .455" and 90 deg from that it is almost to .456" on my dial caliper.
I haven't pulled the barrel yet to get a closer look, but I think it's on the bottom of the chamber.
I'm guessing that the rechamber didn't clean up all of the old chamber, so the smaller step near the shoulder is what the reamer cut and the fatter part just behind it is what's left from the oversized factory chamber.
So what do I do to fix it? Any suggestions?
I already sent the reamer back, but I guess I could set the barrel back another thread and recut it again? Or would 2 threads be too much and cause an unsightly gap between the barrel and stock?
I'm thinking about turning a brass rod to fit the chamber and put lapping compound on one side to try and polish out the step. Maybe cut a case in half to insert and protect the good side, then just try to hone out the step?
I'm open to suggestions.
TIA.