Any Gunsmiths That Can Weigh In On Pm Vs Grizzly?

I've spent the past two months looking at multiple options including some larger (used) LeBlond and Clausing lathes in the area. While promising in their own ways and carrying a good name all had various issues and all were overkill for the work I do. The last Clausing I looked at was a 70", the last LeBlond was a 54", both had seen decades of solid industrial use. Difficulty shifting between some gears, broken or missing small parts, slop and so on. In any case, I keep coming back to PM for the warranty and support from Matt everyone seems to rave about. One conclusion I've reached after researching this extensively (and I can agree with the advice offered here on the forum): The PM lathes cannot be matched by other import machines of the type, including the Kent/Grizzly/Baileigh/Jet/Enco models I originally looked at. So, I plan to call up Matt no later than Friday and based on his recommendation and pricing, pick out either the PM-1440E-LB or the PM-1340GT.

I really prefer the DRO, QCTP, gear box, additional features and free shipping on the 1440E-LB package, but want the 5 year warranty, better bearings and overall quality of the Taiwanese 1340GT. Might end up springing for the the 1340GT w/ QCTP and DRO add-ons depending on what sort of deal may be had. Thanks for the input on the PM machines.
 
That is big jump up in size from where you started with. At this price level, the 1340GT overall is a far nicer machine in my onion, and you can get it well equipped with the items mentioned. I am not saying that they all can't do the same thing at the end of the day, machinest do wonderful things with far less. But I think you won't be kicking yourself for not getting a Taiwanese (or similar) quality lathe at the end of the day. If you wanted to take it up a notch, then you are in the 1440GT, 1440TS and 1440TV range which are all made in Taiwan. The latter two are a lot heavier machine. QMT does spec. their version differently, and may have different QC as to tolerances, etc. Eisen sells similar versions which are the 1440GE and 1440EV, and there is also the Grizzly South Bend lathes that are 50% off at this time. http://www.grizzly.com/products/14-x-40-16-Speed-Lathe-220V/SB1039?utm_campaign=zPage

The 1440E-LB will have a few more change gears for threading, but in comparison to the 1340GT it is a matter of preferences. Many individuals install their own DRO, I have the Easson ES-12 which works well, a number of individuals have gone with the DRO Pro magnetic scales and EL400 lathe specific DRO. I would spring for a higher end wedge QCTP, Phase II and Aloris are available through Enco when they have their sales. Dorian's are nice also, I have one on on lathe and works very smoothly. QMT tools can also source these and put together a package for you, so worth talking to Matt.
 

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I have a 1340gt and love it. I went with the VFD for the variable speed and as I was already spending the money for a quality lathe, I popped for the Dorian QCTP, Pratt Burnerd 8" set-tru and the DroPros EL400. I couldn't see it making any sense to start skimping on the accessories. :)

As I seldom thread metric, the single gear change to go back and forth hasn't been much of an issue for me.
 
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Update from my previous answer:
I am building my third custom rifle on the PM1340GT, and have no regrets.

1.) I drilled my own "spider" on the outboard end. I can therefore thread/chamber a 20" barrel through the headstock with still 2" stick out of the 4J. I don't know of another machine out there of this quality that will do that.
2.) The tailstock appears to be nearly a perfect alignment vert/horiz to the spindle. = I don't even use a floating reamer holder. I use GTR holder. Awesome.
3.) If you are doing the most tedious task of seating a threading bit inside a Rem700 action to single-point recut/true the threads, the VFD is awesome. You can literally slow the speed infinitely to zero as you rotate the chuck to assess whether your bit is starting to cut. Awesome.
4.) The VFD stops the chuck FAST. A great feature with a lathe with no foot brake.
5.) The upgraded QMT "preferred package" chucks work great.
6.) I had Matt ship the lathe with DRO already installed. Works great for tedious work like taking .0005" off a shoulder to perfectly set headspace. Only trade off is the cross-slide lock is hidden by the DRO and inaccessible. Hasn't been an issue.
7.) I have an Aloris BXA, and couldn't imagine anything else.
8.) I ordered the coolant pump for an extra $200 and really don't need it. I keep it full of cutting oil and fill my can with it. Yay, right. The main problem is the flat chip pan doesn't funnel the fluid back to the drain well, and problem #2 is that the drain is on the tail stock end, instead of under the chuck. I realize the coolant system is not designed for oil at all, Matt was very clear about that. So it would probably drain better with coolant as designed.

Summary: I love this lathe, and can't wait to get to the shop to work on it. So glad I ran into Mike's youtube video right as I was about to order a grizzly, which would have probably worked fine, but would not have been NEAR as much fun to use as such a nice machine as the PM.

Matt is working on an upgraded stand which will make it even better. I have spent a lot of energy on the path you are on, and my personal absolute opinion is I would go back and buy the PM1340GT again, unless you want a bigger spindle bore and a heavier machine, order the PM1440GT. The VFD is awesome. Take some time and research our threads from this year. MKSJ and ZMOTORSPORTS are the two guys that helped me the most (among others too).
I don't ever change gears or even change the belt for what I do.

Matt from QMT is the best for personal support I could ever imagine.
I am planning to do a video review to compliment Mike's youtube video soon, just don't have time to do it right at this time.

Bottom line: I would get either a PM1340GT or PM1440GT

RIO
 
RIO said:
Update from my previous answer:
I am building my third custom rifle on the PM1340GT, and have no regrets.

1.) I drilled my own "spider" on the outboard end. I can therefore thread/chamber a 20" barrel through the headstock with still 2" stick out of the 4J. I don't know of another machine out there of this quality that will do that.
2.) The tailstock appears to be nearly a perfect alignment vert/horiz to the spindle. = I don't even use a floating reamer holder. I use GTR holder. Awesome.
3.) If you are doing the most tedious task of seating a threading bit inside a Rem700 action to single-point recut/true the threads, the VFD is awesome. You can literally slow the speed infinitely to zero as you rotate the chuck to assess whether your bit is starting to cut. Awesome.
4.) The VFD stops the chuck FAST. A great feature with a lathe with no foot brake.
5.) The upgraded QMT "preferred package" chucks work great.
6.) I had Matt ship the lathe with DRO already installed. Works great for tedious work like taking .0005" off a shoulder to perfectly set headspace. Only trade off is the cross-slide lock is hidden by the DRO and inaccessible. Hasn't been an issue.
7.) I have an Aloris BXA, and couldn't imagine anything else.
8.) I ordered the coolant pump for an extra $200 and really don't need it. I keep it full of cutting oil and fill my can with it. Yay, right. The main problem is the flat chip pan doesn't funnel the fluid back to the drain well, and problem #2 is that the drain is on the tail stock end, instead of under the chuck. I realize the coolant system is not designed for oil at all, Matt was very clear about that. So it would probably drain better with coolant as designed.

Summary: I love this lathe, and can't wait to get to the shop to work on it. So glad I ran into Mike's youtube video right as I was about to order a grizzly, which would have probably worked fine, but would not have been NEAR as much fun to use as such a nice machine as the PM.

Matt is working on an upgraded stand which will make it even better. I have spent a lot of energy on the path you are on, and my personal absolute opinion is I would go back and buy the PM1340GT again, unless you want a bigger spindle bore and a heavier machine, order the PM1440GT. The VFD is awesome. Take some time and research our threads from this year. MKSJ and ZMOTORSPORTS are the two guys that helped me the most (among others too).
I don't ever change gears or even change the belt for what I do.

Matt from QMT is the best for personal support I could ever imagine.
I am planning to do a video review to compliment Mike's youtube video soon, just don't have time to do it right at this time.

Bottom line: I would get either a PM1340GT or PM1440GT

RIO
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I really need to stop reading these post. But when i do i find my self brainstorming of ways to get rid of my G4003G and buy the PM1340GT...
 
Dman1114 said:
I really need to stop reading these post. But when i do i find my self brainstorming of ways to get rid of my G4003G and buy the PM1340GT...
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Dman, it is not our intent to create any discontent with Grizzly owners . I hear that although the China vs. Taiwan quality cannot be denied, the China machines can still do good work. What you should do if you haven't already is actually get your hands on someone's PM machine and watch it run so your imagination doesn't keep working on you. Might not be as big a difference as you think. I could be wrong too, because I've never run a Grizzly. Either way, I pray you find contentment and a happy groove to ride in life, as we all are continually seeking.
RIO
 
Pulled the trigger on the PM1340GT w/ QCTP and DRO last week. Thanks for the input and appreciate the insight from other owners. I'm looking forward to getting it in August. (Matt at PM had one left which the salesperson informed me was available, but turned out it was spoken for so I have to wait on the next shipment which will not arrive for 6 weeks.) I'll be sure to provide my insight and feedback once it's up and running at our shop. I am very anxious to chop, crown and thread some AKM SBR projects in M14x1LH once I get it setup and broken in.
 
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