Honing & Polishing a Chamber

[Unckebob]

My X-Bolt was having problems extracting fired cases. Since they fed perfectly, I assumed something was wrong with the extractor. Browning told me to take it to an authorized repair center for a warranty repair.

When I got it back, they told me a couple of things:
1) some gunk and debris had gotten into the extractor (not surprised); and
2) They had honed and polished my chamber

I have a rough idea of what they did based upon the context of reloading dies. I have never heard of anyone doing it to a chamber.

Was what they did good/bad/unimportant?

 

[mt100gr.]

My X-Bolt was having problems extracting fired cases. Since they fed perfectly, I assumed something was wrong with the extractor. Browning told me to take it to an authorized repair center for a warranty repair.

When I got it back, they told me a couple of things:
1) some gunk and debris had gotten into the extractor (not surprised); and
2) They had honed and polished my chamber

I have a rough idea of what they did based upon the context of reloading dies. I have never heard of anyone doing it to a chamber.

Was what they did good/bad/unimportant?

Is it fixed? I had to polish a rough chamber on a McGowen barrel once. Function improved measurably so I said it was "good".

 

[Unckebob]

Is it fixed? I had to polish a rough chamber on a McGowen barrel once. Function improved measurably so I said it was "good".

It functioned in my garage, but I haven't gotten out to shoot it yet.

 

[Firestone]

Yeah a rough chamber can make it hard to impossible to extract cases sometimes. Their reamer they used for your barrel was probably on it ls last leg

 

[Castle Rock]

Chamber polishing is only good up to a certain level
If a chamber is highly polished extraction becomes more difficult
About 400 grit is said to be the sweet spot

 

[gbflyer]

Usually it’s because they are undersized a half a thou or so at the base. A little rough is not a bad thing as long as it isnt leaving rings in the brass. Kinda like when an engine builder cross hatches the bore of a cylinder. In the case of a chamber, it helps reduce bolt thrust.