Roughing reamers.

[Alpha1]

What is the difference between a roughing reamer and a finishing reamer.

[The Gun Pimp]

Use a carbide roughing reamer to cut most of the chamber then finish off with a finishing reamer - saves wear on your finisher. Roughers speed up the process as well so most pro gunsmiths will use them for popular chambers.

Because I don't do a lot of work I just use finishing reamers. Very few of my reamers have done more than half a dozen chambers so little point buying a roughing reamer as well.

The most used is my 6PPC but that did about 12 chambers before it lost its edge - but I have three or four 6PPC reamers anyway.

You can get a carbide finisher so you have the best of both worlds but they are more expensive of course.

[Alpha1]

So are the dimensions of the roughing reamer slightly smaller than the finisher or is it the same size.

[The Gun Pimp]

To be honest, I've never ordered a roughing reamer. I would guess they are typically smaller than a finisher. Their use is to remove 90% of the metal to save wear on the finisher.

Although I've not used one I've seen them in use - it's a great time saver for the pro gunsmith. However I would think many 'smiths are now speccing a carbide finisher from the word go for popular chambers - I certainly would if I was starting over.

[andrew375]

An option some reamer makers offer is to make the roughing reamer to the dimensions of a resizing die. Saving the need for a third reamer.

[Ovenpaa]

I have a couple of solid carbide roughing reamers, mostly because they were a sensibly price at the time. The rougher cuts just under size, plus the finish is not as good as the finish reamer, therefore I would probably not consider the ones I use (PTG) as a viable option for sizing dies, even if they were correctly sized, if that makes sense! I can post some pictures of mine if anyone is interested.

[Alpha1]

Yes please.

[Andy]

Never used a roughing reamer but it's not bad practice to run a 4 or 3 flute core drill down before reaming as a drilled hole tends to wander a bit.

[Ovenpaa]

Apologies for being late with the image. Bottom is a PTG solid carbide rougher in .223Rem and top is a BBT HSS 6,5x47 Lapua, both are brand new and unused although they look about the same as my used ones.

I Usually rough out chambers with carbide stub drills. I developed a list now in a spreadsheet that gives the chamber size and the stub drill size along with my CAD drawing and shows how deep I can drill and still pick up the bore with the reamer. Again, it saves a little bit of time and reamer life.

[Alpha1]

Thanks
I don't seem to be able to see any pictures.