22 benchrest question??

[golfer2b2000]

This is my first 22 benchrest rifle. I noticed my cartridges being a bit tight upon starting them into the chamber. When I was shooting the rifle for the first time I found it easier to push the back of the bolt upon the cartridge to seat it, then lowering the bolt to lock it in. Upon cleaning the rifle I took a live round and carefully inserted it into the chamber. With just gentle pressure with my finger the cartridge would stick out about a quarter inch to 5/16ths.
Is this normal??

 

[TRSR8]

You have to learn to clean the carbon out of the throat, makes chambering tough after a while. Lots of threads about this.

 

[PNW Skipper]

The carbon ring, as suggested above, is the first place I would look. But if that isn't the problem, there are other things to consider. Match chambers are generally tight & rounds engrave into the rifling when chambered, so some resistance is normal.

Match chamber dimensions also vary among reamers. And case dimensions also vary between manufacturers, with Eley cases shorter than Lapua & RWS. I have one early Baity Falcon RFBR that has a chamber optimized for Eley. ALL other Match ammos are difficult to chamber, much as you describe, except the discontinued RWS R50sc (short case). Round dimensions can also change from lot to lot. I recently switched to a new lot of Lapua Biathlon Xtreme in a Walther KK-500 and found it extremely difficult to chamber, while the previous lot chambered smoothly. Since it was a frigid 28F, I initially attributed it to temperature effects on the gun or ammo lube. However, it was so distracting that for the second card of the match I shifted to Midas+ and it chambered smoothly. So there are a couple of additional things to consider.

 

[Jonnyofalltrades]

The bolt should close easily. Check the neck diameter of a loaded round and then a fired round. The loaded round should be. 002 smaller or more.

This is a rimfire rifle. Centerfire rules don't apply.
If you had a rimfire benchrest gun that allowed cartridges to slip easily into the chamber, well let's just say that you're leaving some accuracy on the table.
They are all tight, with good reason.

 

[Terry]

This is a rimfire rifle. Centerfire rules don't apply.
If you had a rimfire benchrest gun that allowed cartridges to slip easily into the chamber, well let's just say that you're leaving some accuracy on the table.
They are all tight, with good reason.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[whatsupdoc]

You are feeling the lands engraving the bullet, depending on the chamber reamer used it could be a little or a substantial amount of engraving.

One thing to be wary about is the possibility that you may not be able to reliably remove
an unfired round from the chamber due to it being stuck in the lands.

 

[MUP]

First off, what rifle are you shooting, and which brand ammo are you using? It could be a chamber/ammo interaction causing the tight feel upon chambering, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

 

[dhenry132]

Add more cow bell

 

[golfer2b2000]

Thanks all!! Great information. Really don't believe there is an issue with the rifle. It's a new game for me, and it's sure not like centerfire benchrest shooting.
I went out with this rifle for the first time this past Friday with 7 different boxes of ammo and couldn't believe the difference between the ammo. Some shot good, and some terrible. Prices for the ammo went from 8 dollars a box to 26 dollars. You can guess which one shot the best.

 

[golfer2b2000]

Add more cow bell

Just what is a "cow bell"??

 

[ggshoots]

I agree that its just the nature of a tight target chamber. You never did say what rifle you are shooting.
If the Lapua ends up shooting best try CenterX instead of Midas as I have had great luck with it. The good thing is for fun and just plinking SK Standard Plus will shoot relatively close to the Lapua for much cheaper.
Eley really isnt very good in most of my rifles with the exception of Edge. For some reason it has shot fairly good in a few of my rifles but Eley is not on the shelves around me very often.
Rimfire is lots of fun. Cheaper? Not always. Lol

 

[BowChamp]

Thanks all!! Great information. Really don't believe there is an issue with the rifle. It's a new game for me, and it's sure not like centerfire benchrest shooting.
I went out with this rifle for the first time this past Friday with 7 different boxes of ammo and couldn't believe the difference between the ammo. Some shot good, and some terrible. Prices for the ammo went from 8 dollars a box to 26 dollars. You can guess which one shot the best.

The $26.00 a box ammo of course...........Ain't this game great!!! LOL!!

I enjoy see how others do.......Keep us posted on you new hobby.

Thanks,

 

[BowChamp]

First off, what rifle are you shooting, and which brand ammo are you using? It could be a chamber/ammo interaction causing the tight feel upon chambering, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I've found different brands engrave differently in my rifle. Sometimes a different type of the same brand also.

 

[golfer2b2000]

My rifle is a Turbo V-1 action with a Sheilen Rachet barrel.

 

[ggshoots]

Im curious, did you have it built or do you know the previous owner or smith? If so take the short cut and ask what the chamber was cut for and what the reamer was. It will get you close and save a lot of money.

 

[golfer2b2000]

I bought the rifle used, and I have been communicating with the previous owner. He is very educated in the sport of rimfire benchrest shooting. There is a lot of things I do not know about the sport, but I have attended an ARA shoot just to see how it's done.
I don't feel comfortable as of yet by shooting a match, but my plans are to do so once I feel I am comfortable with the rifle.

 

[linekin]

[QUOTE="golfer2b2000, With just gentle pressure with my finger the cartridge would stick out about a quarter inch to 5/16ths.
Is this normal??
[/QUOTE]
No, 1/4 to 5/16th's is WAY too much. Should be .150+/- or less from the BACK of the case. This is with Eley Match/Tenex & Lapua C-X & Midas which pretty much all br guns are chambered for.

 

[PWNolan]

....I don't feel comfortable as of yet by shooting a match, but my plans are to do so once I feel I am comfortable with the rifle.

No better way to learn than by doing. Shoot a few practice targets if you can and then hit the next match. Don't be afraid to ask questions between cards or before/after the match

 

[TRSR8]

Add more cow bell

 

[dhenry132]