Tale of a Cursed Action.

[46and2]

Two years ago I bought a Savage donor barreled action with a factory 6.5 Needmoor for a 6.5wsm build. Knowing full well that Savage barrels have potential for accuracy I did load development for a couple of hundred rounds and just was not impressed at all. So I had a smith ream it to 6.5wsm. I'm not sure what happened to the chamber but the lands were very smeared at the lands, so much so that no amount of barrel break-in would remove the burrs. So I cut my losses knowing that the 6.5 CM barrel didn't shoot well to begin with.
Had a prefit made from a reputable barrel manufacturer. After 500 rounds of development it never consistently shot under .7 moa.
Heard about Prefered Barrel prefit barrels. Received the 6.5wsm barrel yesterday and the reamer had .6" of NECK not throat but Neck!!!. I've never seen a reamer like this. It has 0" freebore like a wsm should but .6 neck...wtf! I really don't see this barrel ever having potential with that kind of bullet jump a .035" freebore diameter!



After 4 barrels should I throw the action in the garage?

Should I give the 4th barrel a chance or go round and around arguing with Preferred about how they have a retarded reamer?

I GET SCREWED A VAST MAJORITY OF THE TIME! Why me!

 

[Nightraider]

The 6.5prc is what the WSM wanted to be. I fought the WSM battle myself, just go 6.5prc.

 

[hogpatrol]

Just curious, how did you measure the neck length in the chamber?

 

[46and2]

Just curious, how did you measure the neck length in the chamber?

I have a chamber length guage.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

So you reamed a factory barrel, and have been buying pre-fits, cant get any of them to shoot and blame the action? Send it to get a good barrel fit by a good gunsmith and your luck will change. If not you can at least sell it and give somebody else a chance at it. Sometimes once its in your head its cursed- its cursed for you from then on

 

[46and2]

Just curious, how did you measure the neck length in the chamber?

I verified that with my borescope. The 140 eldm only has about. 030" bearing surface in the case neck when touching the lands.

 

[joshb]

It seems to me that it’s not the action. It’s your choice of gun smiths. Buy yourself a Krieger or Bartlien and send it to a good “known” Smith and you will experience the joy you’re looking for!

 

[46and2]

It seems to me that it’s not the action. It’s your choice of gun smiths. Buy yourself a Krieger or Bartlien and send it to a good “known” Smith and you will experience the joy you’re looking for!

Yeah, I have been using PacNor but thought I would take a chance on a different manufacturer.

Mind you the rest of the bore/lands look good throughout the barrel. The OD and thread tolerance and Fit and finish is good too.

 

[46and2]

I took pics of the oal and max chamber length guage but cant load pics anymore on this site for some reason.

 

[msalm]

Preferred Barrel has a good rep with their contender/encore barrels (MGM), i’d Set that barrel back as needed and rechamber .300”? And shoot it. See if they’ll fix it with a proper reamer.

 

[D Coots]

Do you have your own reamer?

 

[46and2]

Do you have your own reamer?

No but all the money I've spent I could have bought a few of them.

 

[joshb]

When I started into this shooting thing, years ago, I did a few “cheap” builds. I collected a bunch of factory and old military rifles. A couple of those shoot reasonably. Then I bought a couple custom actions with used barrels. They shot better. Then, sadly, I bought Some lightly used barrels for those actions. Wasted my money. I finally saw the light when I bought my first Bartlien and had Bob Green chamber it. Wow! What a difference!
Now, I’ll advise anybody to save thier money and go full custom with a good Smith!.......unless you want a nice collection of average shooters, which isn’t all bad.

 

[Uthink Uknow]

Cut your losses immediately or sooner. Get a good barrel, your own reamer cut to your specs, and an excellent gunsmith. Yes, that’s all more than a few bucks but it’s cheaper than a psychiatrist.

 

[D Coots]

Cut your losses immediately or sooner. Get a good barrel, your own reamer cut to your specs, and an excellent gunsmith. Yes, that’s all more than a few bucks but it’s cheaper than a psychiatrist.

What this old sage says......

 

[46and2]

So I will ask Preferred if they'll refund me for the barrel.

 

[butchlambert]

I verified that with my borescope. The 140 eldm only has about. 030" bearing surface in the case neck when touching the lands.

Verified with a borescope?

 

[46and2]

Verified with a borescope?

Yes

 

[natdscott]

Can you shoot?

 

[dsculley]

Was gonna suggest you get a CBI barrel, but I checked and it doesn't look like they offer a 6.5 wsm. Too bad, I have a 6.5x47 that I put on my Savage action that shoots well. Find a good Savage prefit maker that does produce a 6.5 wsm and spin it on yourself. I would also suggest getting the firing pin bushed as well.

If you decide you just don't trust/want the action let me know.