.45-70 Handi Throaters - Buy From Which Manufacturer?

[fernie]

Suddenly I have 3 45-70 Handi barrels to throat and several future projects that are currently being ordered by friends.  Since this will be spread out over the next year I thought I might want to purchase a throating reamer.  There's quite a spread in price...Clymer @ $50, Pacific Tool with repeatable depth @ $99, Manson @ $100.  Does anyone have experience with these, or others with repeated uses? 
Should I ask for people to PM me if you have experienced a negative side to any of them?  Of course, tell the up side here...

Thanks

Doc

[Tennessee.Traveler]

Doc,

Share the bad with me, I have to buy an 8MM mauser and two 45-70's.  I need the same advice.   4-D reamer rental is $20.00 with a $75.00 deposit and that looks good on a one time shot.  3 or more to do and I too will be in the market!

Tennessee.Traveler

[fernie]

Tennessee.Traveler,

So far nothing PMed. 

Here's what I know.  For .45-70: Clymer has a $50 throater - you may attach a tap handle to it and hand ream.  Manson has a $100 chamber/throater and a $35 throater - handle same as Clymer.  Pacific Tool has a $66 throater and a $145 chamber/throater - their's are hand-tooled, and the handle is set up with set-nuts so that you can produce the exact same depth of throat or chamber/throat in chamber after chamber.  What I don't know is for how many jobs these tools will last, nor their relative quality of their end-product?  I've rented before...but now with the cost of shipping, why should I rent?  Should I just get a Shiloh-Shaps 45-70 chamber/throater and 'clean up' the Handi chamber while opening up the throat to accept larger cast bullets?  I have a project planned this spring where I'd need a chamber-reamer anyway?


Doc

[Tennessee.Traveler]

Doc,

Correct me if I'm wrong, our 45-70s don't have necks so that combo tool is not needed.  How many you do is important  with the tool quality aspect but the advantage of exact repeatability depends on how many rifles you are going to feed with the same reloads.

Fred at 4-D has a good reputation and is a forum sponsor but you scared me when you mentioned shipping costs.  How bad will that be?

Just a thought!

Keep me posted!

Dick

[quickdtoo]

Shipping back to Fred isn't all that expensive when you just do it once in a while, but repeated $6+ hits will mount up. Shipping the same way he ships in a priority flat rate envelope, with $100 insurance will cost $6.65 each time, delivery confirmation is free if you use Click-n-ship, or another 65 cents if you don't.

Tim

[Graybeard]

Have you guys asked Fred if he will sell or only rent? I honestly don't know the answer. I had a discussion with him on the phone today as he is upgrading his sponsor status to include a banner this year and we were talking. I could have asked then if I'd seen this first but didn't. It is possible he will sell them but I'm not even sure if they make their own or buy from one of the folks already mentioned. I guess that's something I should ask next time we talk.

[quickdtoo]

I've been after him for a 460S&W reamer, he didn't get one when he got his last order in, he said he wouldn't be ordering any more until he sold off a bunch of unneeded tools, so he apparently does sell them.

Tim

[mattparliament]

FWIW, I just ordered his 458 throater this week, the $75 deposit is waived if using a credit card online, it took $27 and hopefully I'll get it by the weekend.  My #1 is going to be a bit deeper.....