215,230gr berger hybrid freebore

[Pwhite11798]

any info on what has been working well for freebore for the 215gr and 230gr berger hybrids

 

[mshelton]

well, there are quite a few 30 cal chamberings that are capable of using these bullets, perhaps you can specify which one.



.....or let me guess, a 308 which seems to be the implied default as of late......

 

[dbramley]

well, there are quite a few 30 cal chamberings that are capable of using these bullets, perhaps you can specify which one.



.....or let me guess, a 308 which seems to be the implied default as of late......

Very constructive response. Is freebore in any way chamber specific?

A well respected shooter I know uses .280 freebore for the 230gr hybrids, can't help you on the 215's.

 

[mshelton]

Very constructive response. Is freebore in any way chamber specific?

Glad you found it to be so.

 

[mshelton]

Very constructive response. Is freebore in any way chamber specific?

Glad you found it to be so.

And yes, it is chambering specific, there's something called neck length that comes into consideration.

 

[dbramley]

Please review the dimensions that define freebore and feel free to contact me via private message and we can continue this discussion as I would rather leave this thread to answer the OP's original question.

 

[mshelton]

Please review the dimensions that define freebore and feel free to contact me via private message and we can continue this discussion as I would rather leave this thread to answer the OP's original question.

Please return to snipershide.

 

[dbramley]

And this is what I get for trying to be helpful. ;D

 

[mshelton]

Spitting out a spec without even knowing the chambering isn't exactly helpful. Seems to be a wave of these posts lately on what to use for 30 cal bullet X with no mention of chambering, how about I post Ackley or 30-338 Lapua loads, might not work out too well for some.

Optimal bullet seating in a case has the base of the bullet right at the neck shoulder junction, both the 215 and the 230 have a .215 boat tail and the same nose, the 215 has a bearing surface of .450 while the 230 is .520, difference of .070, not too much to fret about but if you're setting up a reamer you may want to take that into consideration. Next is neck length, a 30-338 Lapua has a neck length of about .350, a 300 Win mag is around .265, 300 WSM close to .295, 308 being .305ish, a 300 Ackley with RWS brass is a nice long .400 about .050 shorter with Nosler brass, etc etc etc. Now these numbers may not be exact but as you can see there is a good deal of variance in just this small sample of chamberings capable of using the 2 dimensionaly mention bullets and if one were going to have work done on a rifle with say a throating reamer or have a reamer made, then they may want to take into account those factors as apposed to a random number that works for a "well respected shooter" using an unknown cartridge.

 

[Joe Salt]

mshelton why does the majority think the bullet in the case has to be at the shoulder junction to shoot well? knot trying to get in an argument just a nice talk about what works and why. You said .295 for a 300 WSM my chamber is .226 and I have to I think I'm going to be alright with it! I know I'm deep in the case with the boat tail but the one time I shot it, and that was just throwing a load together. It was a winner!

Joe Salt

 

[dbramley]

I concede to your well made point, that post was constructive.

 

[mshelton]

I do not know Joe, seems to be one of those things that's stuck around. I've messed with quite a few rifles that wouldn't shoot well with bullets seated deep, especially when they are past the body shoulder junction, could be coincidence or a partial back up of that theory. I'm by no means an internal ballistics expert but it could have something to do with lateral turbulence on the base of the bullet and not getting a clean and uniform exit from the case but that's just from pondering it. One thing is for certain, you do gain more boiler room with the bullets base seated to that neck/shoulder junction.

 

[tclaunch]

I have a 300WSM reamer with zero freebore. I had someone send a barrel and 2 dummy rounds with 215`s seated to his liking. My throater took it out to .225" freebore to match those rounds.

 

[paulT]

My new FTr rifle was originally throated for the 210g berger VLDs with a over all case base to bullet tip measurement of 3.126in Touching the Lands I decided to try the 215g Hybrid with this rifle which has a 32in barrel with 1 in 10 twist and to my supprise it shoots v well in the 0.8-0.15 region off the Lands with an overall case base to bullet tip measurement of 3.158in biggest problem is finding enough varget for this combo as H4350 too slow so will try RE-17 for this combo.

 

[jsthntn247]

My new FTr rifle was originally throated for the 210g berger VLDs with a over all case base to bullet tip measurement of 3.126in Touching the Lands I decided to try the 215g Hybrid with this rifle which has a 32in barrel with 1 in 10 twist and to my supprise it shoots v well in the 0.8-0.15 region off the Lands with an overall case base to bullet tip measurement of 3.158in biggest problem is finding enough varget for this combo as H4350 too slow so will try RE-17 for this combo.

I'd run Palma brass if you use Varget. Bout 43.2grains of it.

 

[Jay Christopherson]

mshelton why does the majority think the bullet in the case has to be at the shoulder junction to shoot well? knot trying to get in an argument just a nice talk about what works and why. You said .295 for a 300 WSM my chamber is .226 and I have to I think I'm going to be alright with it! I know I'm deep in the case with the boat tail but the one time I shot it, and that was just throwing a load together. It was a winner!

Joe Salt

I think a lot are concerned because in cases where you are necking up, if you seat the bullet so that the bullet sits just above the shoulder junction, you avoid potential issues with a "doughnut", where the thicker shoulder brass runs into the neck. I imagine that a lot of people just spec it out that way as a default so they don't have to think about it. Plus, as mshelton points out, more boiler room, which is probably a useful thing to have.

 

[Joe Salt]

More Boiler room? I thought you try and fill that void with powder so if you fill it with the bullet, I don't understand the difference. But I've seen rifles with the bullet seated to where you would think they were shooting like a real small bullets by looking at it. But damn do some of them shoot! I'm not saying its right, but if it works who cares. You can always us a throater to make it longer, but if its already to the limit you can't put it back without starting all over. Its like starting with a load I always tell people start with a jam, that way you only have one way to go. I'll let you know in a few weeks how I do!

Joe Salt

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Different grinders measure differently. Case length changes things as well. I have not got a reamer that I gave a spec for that was right. Your best option is to send a dummy round to the best reamer maker you can find and have them measure the freebore with their methods. Its your best chance of getting it right.

 

[Joe Salt]

I have my own reamers and I could say my own Gunsmith.( Buddy of mine) Who does such good work its scary! He has done about six chamber job for me and if I had to I could take brass from one and put it in the other. Never Had that before. Needed him 20 years ago! HE IS THE DIFFERENT GRINDER. 8)

Joe Salt

 

[barefooter56]

zfastmalibu hit the nail right on the head. Personally I have always seated the bullet into the case till the base of the bullet is about in the middle of the shoulder. The doughnut thing may or may not happen but I always check and use a reamer on a fired unsized case that is same as bullet diameter or .001 smaller to "nip it out. L.E. Wilson makes custom reamers for use in their trimmers for this but I just use them by hand. Its between you and the gunsmith or reamer manufacturer as to how much jump or jam with the dummy round. I try to set it up so I can chase the throat with my sweet spot on or off the lands and just add a very small amount of powder if I have to to keep my velocity sweet spot. Every rifle is a law unto itself. Just my 2 cents.
PS. In a pinch most reamer makers MAY have throating information gleaned from requests for chamber/throat reamers.