Browning 71 SHORT THROAT issues (factory defect)

[348win]

Lots of input and confirmation the Browning 348's shipped w short throats.

Now the only remedy to ream up is.....

• Remove bolt and run a piloted reamer, but risk chatter?
• Or is it off w the barrel, and into the lathe, when this service is performed.

I doubt I will be modifying my rifle, but it surely handicaps bullets selection by a large margin!
Id guess bout half the offerings in 348 are NOT compatible w factory BROWNING CHAMBER DIMENSIONS

*The Winchester guns must have no such issues, I never read one complaint.

[Tycer]

What do you mean by chatter? I’ve reamed several rifles from the bolt end and don’t understand.

[GunnyMack]

Reamed by hand there shouldn't be any chatter, just be sure to use lots of oil and don't stop in the same spot with each turn.

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Is PTG the best source for such a reamer? Not sure who's got them in this day and age.

[348win]

What do you mean by chatter? I’ve reamed several rifles from the bolt end and don’t understand.

good to know

I figured not having barrel and reamer mounted in a rigid and square machine (lathe) would surely leave tool chatter marks.

I admit I have no experience reaming any chamber up.

You've performed the service to a lever action w barrel mounted?

Did reamer have some type of self stop....how did you cut to correct depth without taking too much meat out

[348win]

Reamed by hand there shouldn't be any chatter, just be sure to use lots of oil and don't stop in the same spot with each turn.

Reamed by HAND?!?!


Now I'm confused

[hfcable]

the browning 1886s also had the same problem. i used a reamer by hand and easily fixed this problem on mine and a buddy's 1886.

you are only removing a small amount of metal and it doesnt take very long. there is a handle to use for turning the reamer.

[GunnyMack]

If a reamer is sharp you can cut a chamber by hand.
The amount of material being removed for a throat is minimal and would be easy to do.
Chatter will occur with dull cutters, too heavy of a cut and lack of lubrication.
You'll also need to polish the throat after it is recut. Or at least you should polish it.

When lathe chambering you use slow rpm and very low feed rate. It's not difficult to do either way, just have to know when to STOP!

[Tycer]

Leverguns. What they said.

[JFE]

Lots of input and confirmation the Browning 348's shipped w short throats.

Now the only remedy to ream up is.....

• Remove bolt and run a piloted reamer, but risk chatter?
• Or is it off w the barrel, and into the lathe, when this service is performed.

I doubt I will be modifying my rifle, but it surely handicaps bullets selection by a large margin!
Id guess bout half the offerings in 348 are NOT compatible w factory BROWNING CHAMBER DIMENSIONS

*The Winchester guns must have no such issues, I never read one complaint.

quote=348win post_id=1010288 time=1742829368 user_id=136155]
Lots of input and confirmation the Browning 348's shipped w short throats.

Now the only remedy to ream up is.....

• Remove bolt and run a piloted reamer, but risk chatter?
• Or is it off w the barrel, and into the lathe, when this service is performed.

I doubt I will be modifying my rifle, but it surely handicaps bullets selection by a large margin!
Id guess bout half the offerings in 348 are NOT compatible w factory BROWNING CHAMBER DIMENSIONS

*The Winchester guns must have no such issues, I never read one complaint.
[/quote]


Actually, excluding pistol cal chamberings, most levergun rifle SAAMi spec chambers have no throat at all. There are a few exceptions like the 375 Win and 450 Marlin. Chamberings with no throat include common cartridges like 30/30, 35 Rem, 444 and 45/70. It was sometime around the 70’s or 80’s that this changed. Some earlier rifles had modest throats.

I’ve found that bullets available are a two diameter, bore-riding style, ie the diameter ahead of the crimp groove is bore diameter. In the case of the 348, bullets such as Barnes originals and Woodleigh bullets are made this way.

I’ve had issues with cast designs that have a front driving band. I use a Lee FCD to crimp the cast pills in position so that they dont foul and still chamber and cycle properly. Apart from the 348 I also have to do this with my 35 Rem.