njc110381 Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 I'm a little confused. Just tried to find the lands on my .223 and I'm seating 55gr Berger Varmint bullets at 2.380! They're barely in the case! I used to seat my 52gr A-Max at 2.200" in my old CZ. What's the score with this new rifle? The rounds seem too long?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Excessive freebore. Not uncommon on "budget" yet modern rifles :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Fair enough. It seems to shoot ok at 2.200 with 40gr V-Max so I'll just seat these the same and see how it goes. It's a bit slack though isn't it. Isn't there a spec the manufacturers have to work to? The rounds only just fit in the mag loaded like this (I made a dummy to set the dies with). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ackley Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 I'm a little confused. Just tried to find the lands on my .223 and I'm seating 55gr Berger Varmint bullets at 2.380! They're barely in the case! I used to seat my 52gr A-Max at 2.200" in my old CZ. What's the score with this new rifle? The rounds seem too long?! no need to be confused at all novice reloaders ask the same question. the answer is all rifles all different especially factory ones,take two identical rifles and both will have different throat measurments,this is so ANY factory ammo will chamber and fire safely if you have found the lands and hardly any bullet is in the case,push it in so theres at least the dia of the bullet in the case this will ensure the bullet is seated square into the case neck and not tipped to one side failing that load them to magazine length as what ever they measure you going to have to load them in the mag unless you single feed,so you may as well start at that measurement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Berger Varmint is the reason. I find that bergers are almost falling out of my 6,5 cases when V-max SP`s etc. can be set nicely in the case. All to do with the ogive I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 That's interesting, I wonder if I could use a heavier bullet in that case? They must be (well they are actually) quite short for their weight. I get the whole needing 5.5mm in the case thing. I was just worried that it would mean that the gun didn't shoot well? I should know better, I fired a couple of rounds at 100 yards yesterday that were touching and the others weren't far away. My god GaryB's comment has got me into a silent rage...Excessive freebore in modern budget rifles! This built to a price lark really stinks when they cut corners that badly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Factory rifles these days are built to accommodate various weights of bullets (and thereby lengths) along with using the same action for as many different cartridge types as possible. Some are better than others. The howa / weatherby rifles are notorious for freebore! I've not had a problem with my T3 or my Parker hale. Both shoot best at -5thou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 I had the same issue with a well known Austrian 22.250 that I used to own. The barrel twist was a 1 in 14 yet at normal OAL I was miles away from the lands, accuracy was only improved when I got into reloading and was able to load the bullets significantly closer to the lands. I sold it and never looked back. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 I can accept that cheaper guns these days are made cheaply but to throat a slow twist barrel like you would a target barrel is just daft. You'd think if that was the best way to go then they would just provide one twist rate accordingly? Like a 1-9? I'm not going to worry about it too much as the gun shoots as well as I need it to, in fact still better than I can really! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeroy Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 I had the same thing with a sako 243 in the end I sent it in to have a smidge taken off the chamber end so I could keep my bullet in the case a bit more , it worked well end of problem . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Manufacturers do this to prevent the foolish jambing bullets and raising pressures. If it shoots it shoots regardless of Jump or Jamb dont fret just find what shoots, talk of budget rifles like its cut that way by a mistake is just BS In the field the last thing you want is a turned neck gun with a bullet seated smack onto the lands IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 I can see where you're coming from kent, but there are dozens of ways to blow yourself up with a home load. I can't see why they'd try to make the rifle so as an experienced loader can't make the most of it? Just seems silly to me? I guess that's the way of the world these days?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 28, 2011 Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 I can see where you're coming from kent, but there are dozens of ways to blow yourself up with a home load. I can't see why they'd try to make the rifle so as an experienced loader can't make the most of it? Just seems silly to me? I guess that's the way of the world these days?! Actually they are making the most of it for the shooters it allows a wider choice of bullets provided the twist rate suits they will chamber and fire without being jambed. cut one without sufficient clearance shooter chambers a factory round and gets issues and you have a potential legal issue to face. For those who want to specify the bullet they wish to use there is the full custom or re-barreling option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Logic Posted September 28, 2011 Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 I do think it's just manufacturer tolerances - my T3 in .308 has a massive freebore - seating to mag length almost always means a big jump. Not all Bergers are bad for jump tolerance - just the VLDs. The BTs can be OK - my 223 doesn't care with the 90 BT, but the 90 VLD is a nightmare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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