That rifle failure at the range flipped my take on chamber finishes

I was at the Pine Ridge shooting range last Saturday. A buddy's rifle jammed because he polished the chamber too much with a hand drill. I used to think a shiny chamber helped with extraction. After seeing his rounds stick, an old timer explained that over-polishing hurts headspace. Now I know chambers need a certain texture, not just a mirror finish. I use a bore guide and mild pastes now. This helps my work be more reliable.

2 comments

2 Comments

anna293d ago

Wait, I'm not convinced by that old timer's story. A mirror smooth chamber has always helped my rounds eject cleanly. I've polished several rifles myself and never had a headspace issue. Maybe your friend just messed up by using a drill instead of doing it by hand. A little common sense goes a long way with gun care. I still say a shiny chamber beats a rough one any day.

maryhunt2d ago

Remember, polishing can alter headspace even by hand if you overdo it lol.