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Gunsmithing Which 308 reamer does Surgeon use?

drjjl

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 27, 2013
103
0
Ohio
A search came up with nothing...does anyone know what reamer surgeon uses in their 308 scalpel for the factory rifles they sell? I realize that I can call them, but I've been swamped during business hours. Thanks in advance.
 
I have noclue what they use but reasoning tells me unless they specify different in the literature and on the side of the barrel, liability dictates standard Saami spec 308 Winchester. It works fine. The last thing you want in a tactical rifle is a tight or altered chamber. I build rifles for LE and they require Saami spec for legal reasons.
 
I called Surgeon to ask them about the reamer they use. The guy I spoke to said they use their spec'd 308 reamer. I asked him if that was similar to a match reamer, and he said it was similar to a '94 Palma reamer with a modified lead. Unfortunately, I don't really know what that means. I wanted to ask more questions, but got called away for work. I'm mostly just trying to find some information to help me with reloading for the rifle. I did a search for 94 Palma but the only thing I could find was 95 Palma, but I'm almost certain he said 94 Palma?

I would like to call back when I have time, but I'm also not sure what specific questions to ask. Can you guys think of anything I should ask as far as specs? I don't know if it's one of those situations where they don't want to give too many specifics. Do certain gunsmiths keep their chamber specs a "secret?"


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I'm in agreement with the other respond Post (xringaccuracy) . Call PTG and ask .
I was in the same mode of indecision when looking for a specific Reamer for 155's / VLD's . Talked to Dave and he personally recommended a specific Palma reamer for 155's that was to my Bullet & Magazine needs . Sent me a Mid Tompkins Chamber Ream and it worked like a charm .
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I'm in agreement with the other respond Post (xringaccuracy) . Call PTG and ask .
I was in the same mode of indecision when looking for a specific Reamer for 155's / VLD's . Talked to Dave and he personally recommended a specific Palma reamer for 155's that was to my Bullet & Magazine needs . Sent me a Mid Tompkins Chamber Ream and it worked like a charm .
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The rifle I have is already built, chamber already cut...by Surgeon. Do you still recommend that I call PTG?
 
Your Post sounded like you wanted to knowledge to possibly mimic a .308 Chamber ream of Surgeon .
You did not state that you already owned the finished Surgeon rifle .

BUT I still say ... " call dave kiff @ PTG " . that guy has seen or built about any Reamer out there .
( If ) you can get the info from Surgeon itself , it might be proprietary info on the exact Spec. Reamer they buy .
 
Your Post sounded like you wanted to knowledge to possibly mimic a .308 Chamber ream of Surgeon .
You did not state that you already owned the finished Surgeon rifle .

BUT I still say ... " call dave kiff @ PTG " . that guy has seen or built about any Reamer out there .
( If ) you can get the info from Surgeon itself , it might be proprietary info on the exact Spec. Reamer they buy .

It does sound like that. Sorry for the confusion!


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How is calling Dave Kiff going to get specs for a chamber when you have no idea what version reamer was used?

Kiff does not do reamers for all of the shops and I know for sure Surgeon uses a ton of JGS reamers. There are many "off the shelf" versions of .308 Match reamers available and probably 100 more that individual shops spec for their own needs.

If the reamer was custom spec'd by a shop or other customer, the reamer manufacturer will not share the info unless the owner of the print gives permission. So, your only reliable way of getting any info is from Surgeon.

Many "match" reamers out there like 95' Palma and Bisley have some inherent dimensions that can and do cause issues on duty or heavy use field rifles. Accordingly, many shops like Surgeon and KMW that have figured this out the hard way, have gone back and drawn up hybrid dimensions that give the best of both worlds.

Knowing how the typical Surgeon Scalpel shoots, I would load to factory length and go work on your shooting skills because the rifle is going to shoot small anyway.

TC
 
Simple...do a chamber cast

I had considered this before for another rifle. I was wondering if I could use some of the impression material we use at work...polyvinyl siloxane (PVS), inject some in to the chamber and extract it after it sets up. Might be interesting to try, but don't know how useful it will be, unless I had someone invest it and cast it afterward.

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How is calling Dave Kiff going to get specs for a chamber when you have no idea what version reamer was used?

Kiff does not do reamers for all of the shops and I know for sure Surgeon uses a ton of JGS reamers. There are many "off the shelf" versions of .308 Match reamers available and probably 100 more that individual shops spec for their own needs.

If the reamer was custom spec'd by a shop or other customer, the reamer manufacturer will not share the info unless the owner of the print gives permission. So, your only reliable way of getting any info is from Surgeon.

Many "match" reamers out there like 95' Palma and Bisley have some inherent dimensions that can and do cause issues on duty or heavy use field rifles. Accordingly, many shops like Surgeon and KMW that have figured this out the hard way, have gone back and drawn up hybrid dimensions that give the best of both worlds.

Knowing how the typical Surgeon Scalpel shoots, I would load to factory length and go work on your shooting skills because the rifle is going to shoot small anyway.

TC

Thanks so much for the reply Terry. Very useful information. I was pretty much thinking that the only way to get the information was from Surgeon. The gun does shoot well, I just like to have as much information as I can!
 
Surgeon,and their out side contractor's and sister companies have been purchasing reamers from me for a long while . They do have a lot of JGS Carbide reamers on the shelf and every 35 to 85 chambers they toss other JGS carbide reamer back on the shelf . Like Robert Gradous say's you can pay $260 for a JGS Carbide reamer and get 35 chambers that are the some what correct or a buy a PTG carbide reamer for $176 and run all week . We also make Surgeon's Bottom Metal , So I am no stranger to their process and reasoning . All that bullish,it aside . I have the print of there chamber and its GREAT, BUT I have one that I guarantee will out shoot any chamber out there used with a internal Remington or detachable AI magazine. I always say you build a rifle with GREAT chamber for the masses or you build a ASS KICKER Rifle for yourself or your one at a time customers that want that little extra for there hard earned Money . Thanks Dave Kiff , oh and if anyone would like the skinny on a great 308 reamer or an ASS KICKER just call 541-826-5808 and and I will set you up .......
 
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