The set-tru style 3J chuck that PM sells generally gets good reviews. It's still imported, but that really isn't a deal breaker.
It looks like the pricing is a bit different from what you mention. They list the 6" adjustable 3J as $700 and the 8" adjustable 3J at $1K, but the 8" is D1-5.
Personally (and I'm looking at a 16" PM as my retirement present so I've gone down this comparison path) I would buy an 8" San Ou adjustable structure 3J chuck for about half the money. I say that because I've put four of them on lathes and they're really, really nice chucks. They're actually a touch larger at 210mm/2.26" but that shouldn't be an issue. I've had both the 8" and 6" versions and multiples of each so I'm sure I didn't just get lucky. The 6" version is actually 167mm/6.57".
When I say they San Ou adjustable 3-jaws are "really, really nice chucks" I say that as someone who has four made in U.S. Buck set-tru 3J and 6J chucks, two or three Bison 3J chucks (some adjustable), Bison 4J, Pratt-Burnerd 3J adjustable, PB non-adjustable, Bison 4J, Toolmex 4J, Kalamazoo 4J and probably some I'm forgetting....so a pile of good, quality chucks to compare against. I'm on lathe 16 or 17 now and picking up another next week so I've seen a lot of chucks come and go with most of the U.S. brands represented at one point or another.
I will admit it's easy for me because CME Tools is the original importer for San Ou chucks and I work just a few minutes away from them so I can go pick one up and not pay shipping, but even paying shipping they're still about half of what PM gets. The guys there know me by now and won't say it, but have indicated that maybe the supplier making these chucks is the one making chucks for Buck now. Their quote was that "they're the biggest manufacturer of chucks in China and make chucks for "big names" as well" so I'm thinking they mean Buck.
Equally honest, I tried a San Ou 4-jaw, found issues with cracked teeth on the jaws, returned it for another and have to admit that they are nowhere near as nice as the 3J chucks for some reason. I've actually had both the standard and adjustable 3J and the quality looks identical. The 4J was just on the rough side from casting and finishing standpoints. Other than the fact that a 4J has to be dialed in every time so you'll get the same accuracy with a cheap 4J as an expensive one, I'd still look at something nicer than the San Ou for a 4J.
They sell on both eBay and their website and sometimes one will have a lower price than the other (guy that answers the phone said one takes longer to process updates so pricing can lag a bit there...not sure which).
This is the "6" version with D1-4 adapter plate....$299 shipped. I had one of these (and the 8") for my Logan and it was my favorite chuck to use...easily zeroed well under .001" runout, nice jaws, very repeatable. I'm actually considering getting one for my 16" Victor (D1-6) because they work so well and are light enough I don't dread taking it on/off like I do the bigger chucks (8" isn't bad, 10" and bigger are brutal).
6" - 3 JAWS Self-Centering precision adjustable structure chuck, 6"/167mm w. D1-4, D4 semi-finished adapter plate. TWO PCS TONGUE AND GROOVE REVERSIBLE HARDENED top & bottom JAWS. Back mounting recess dia: 80mm.
www.ebay.com
