Thread: Turning a chamber reamer into a live pilot

I just thought this might be a project that might help someone else out.

I re barreled one of my vintage rifles recently.
Had it dialed up in the lathe to cut the chamber and realised it's bore was a bit tight for my chamber reamer pilot !
Groove is correct for 303.

So I tried to find a live pilot 303 or 30-303 with no luck.

So i went on with some other restorations because these problems usually sort themselves out over time and asking around.

In the end I had to bite the bullet and do it myself.

So my solid pilot reamer went in the Elliot tool and cutter grinder.
Locked in a canter and dialed up accurately.
The grinding wheel face and side are dressed to get a sharp corner.
Quite a few light cuts and a couple of re dressing the grinding wheel flat again to keep the corner sharp.

And I ground it down very nicely.
Added a circlip groove with a dremel wheel while it's still turning on the Elliot.




So now i grind a silver steel rod to bore diameter.
Then drill and ream it to a close fit to the pilot stub diameter.



Fit is perfect and this is now perfect for any bore I come across with custom pilots.
I just need a properly fitting circlip. Tried a tiny O-ring but it was a fraction over bore diameter. Tried a single coil of a spring but it has a slight twist and binds on the Bush



So I know not everyone has an Elliot. But there are plenty of handy ( non gun guys ) guys out there and tool makers who could do this for you if you have a funky bore.

Yes I could have taken 1 thou off the pilot and cut this chamber.
But then it would have been undersized for a standard or worn bore

Hope this helps someone

Love reading about this type of thing. Can you get a small enough c clip?

Originally Posted by blip

Love reading about this type of thing. Can you get a small enough c clip?

I hope so
A friend locally says he has thousands in stock, so I will go rat through them.
Otherwise there is an O-ring place in CHCH that will have something that will work just fine.


The live pilot is just a passenger anyway.
Forces back and forward will be very minor.

Clever fellow you are.... with a good head for thinking through the hurdle. Nice job.