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Industry Insights

Cut A Test Throat With Your New Reamer

Published November 14, 2017

How do you know the throat cut by your new reamer is what you ordered? You don’t, unless you take the time to cut a “test throat”–something we strongly recommend.

We take pains to ensure the throat on your custom reamer is exactly as you ordered.  Rarely however, because of mis-communication or a mistake in the shop, the throat will be off sufficiently that it has to be re-cut, the barrel set back or even replaced.  This isn’t good for either of us as it wastes time and money.  The situation can be avoided by simply cutting a test throat (short chamber) and checking the fit of your dummy round to it before fitting the barrel and test firing.

The test throat can be cut in the barrel you intend to use on the rifle, or a barrel drop of the same caliber.  Run the reamer into the barrel (or drop) to the point the shoulder has been cut–but no further.  Make up a dummy round with just enough neck tension to keep the bullet from being easily pushed back into the case.  The bullet should protrude a bit further from the neck than where you plan to shoot it.

Insert the dummy round into the short chamber and push it forward so the shoulder of the case contacts the chamber shoulder.  Withdraw the dummy and compare the bullet’s location to where you want it to be.  If it’s within what you consider reasonable limits to where you’d planned, finish chambering your barrel.

If the bullet is not where you want it to be and its location is unacceptable, do not complete the chambering process and return the reamer to us for correction.

Because they apply to the suggestion to cut a short throat, our Warranty terms are re-printed below:

“Dave Manson Precision Reamers’ products are guaranteed against defects in material and workmanship.  If you feel one of our tools does not perform as it should, please call for suggestions as to its use.  We emphasize customer service above all else and strive to provide the best possible tooling.  If a tool is not right, it will be repaired or replaced, at our option. In all cases, our liability is limited to replacement of the defective tool.”

This simply means that we stand behind our products and will repair or replace them when indicated.  We will not, however, reimburse for a ruined component if a customer has not taken reasonable steps–as described above–to ensure that our tooling meets his requirements.