223 Wylde freebore length on Shilen barrel - need help

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I just received a Shilen Select Match barrel chambered in 223 Wylde and when I measure seating depths (using a Hornday comparator tool) I am getting what I believe to be very short OALs for a 223 Wylde chamber.

Examples:
80gr Sierra Match King
Length to ogive using comparator - 1.858
OAL when jammed to lands - 2.360

69gr Nosler Custom Competition
Length to ogive using comparator - 1.843
OAL when jammed to lands - 2.222

The numbers above are when jammed to the lands, no jump at all.

Can this really be right? Those lengths seem short even for a regular 223 chamber do they not? Or am I misunderstanding the concept of a 223 Wylde? I thought one of the main differences was the longer freebore / neck length to allow for longer OALs.

I contacted Shilen and they said the freebore length on their Wyldes is 0.0691 and the throat length is .291.

 

[AckleymanII]

You hit the jack pot and don't even know it!

VLD's often like a jam.

consider yourself very lucky

 

[gotcha]

I'm a little confused...... Generally, throat & free bore describe the distance from end of chamber to beginning of rifling and these words can be used interchangeably. Leade being described as the distance from the beginning of the rifling to the full height of the lands ???? Maybe I'm wrong but your measurements quoted from Shilen don't seem to add up correctly.

 

[bulletdrop]

I am *done* with the Hornady OAL tool...

Did the measurement again with the 80 SMK, this time really jamming the bullet, very hard to the point where the plastic rod would almost break, then measured the length. It went from 1.858 to 1.930... wow, quite a bit longer.

Created a dummy round, bullet seated to 1.930 to the ogive and painted the bullet with a sharpie. The round chambered without stickyness, no marks on the bullet.

Seated the round to 1.950, no stickyness, no marks on the bullet. What gives?

Thought, that's enough, seated the bullet to 2.020, hard bolt close, marks on bullet, length after extracting, 1.960...

Have now had issues with the OAL tool measuring lengths for both 308 and 223 so that is it, no more Hornady OAL comparator for me. Like the idea of the convenience it provides but in my case it just plain does not work reliably.

Now looking at an OAL of around 2.440 - 2.450 for the 80gr SMK. Still a bit on the short side but much better than before.

Ackley, I appreciate your optimistic view, just worried about hitting high pressures too soon.

 

[bigedp51]

Below is a good link on .223/5.56 chambers which includes the Wylde chamber.

HOLLIGER ON .223/5.56 CHAMBERS
http://www.radomski.us/njhp/cart_tech.htm

More chamber info below.

 

[bulletdrop]

Thanks for the link bigedp51, the OAL for the 80 SMK in that article is listed as 2.475 for 223 Wylde so at least I am in that neighborhood with 2.450. Lots of other good info in the article too.

 

[mac86951]

I am *done* with the Hornady OAL tool...

Did the measurement again with the 80 SMK, this time really jamming the bullet, very hard to the point where the plastic rod would almost break, then measured the length. It went from 1.858 to 1.930... wow, quite a bit longer.

Created a dummy round, bullet seated to 1.930 to the ogive and painted the bullet with a sharpie. The round chambered without stickyness, no marks on the bullet.

Seated the round to 1.950, no stickyness, no marks on the bullet. What gives?

Thought, that's enough, seated the bullet to 2.020, hard bolt close, marks on bullet, length after extracting, 1.960...

Have now had issues with the OAL tool measuring lengths for both 308 and 223 so that is it, no more Hornady OAL comparator for me. Like the idea of the convenience it provides but in my case it just plain does not work reliably.

Now looking at an OAL of around 2.440 - 2.450 for the 80gr SMK. Still a bit on the short side but much better than before.

Ackley, I appreciate your optimistic view, just worried about hitting high pressures too soon.

Just checked my Hollinger chambered Wylde yesterday. 2.450 to Jam with 77gr Sierras. Sounds like you are in the ball park.

-Mac

 

[XTR]

I am *done* with the Hornady OAL tool...

Did the measurement again with the 80 SMK, this time really jamming the bullet, very hard to the point where the plastic rod would almost break, then measured the length. It went from 1.858 to 1.930... wow, quite a bit longer.

Created a dummy round, bullet seated to 1.930 to the ogive and painted the bullet with a sharpie. The round chambered without stickyness, no marks on the bullet.

Seated the round to 1.950, no stickyness, no marks on the bullet. What gives?

Thought, that's enough, seated the bullet to 2.020, hard bolt close, marks on bullet, length after extracting, 1.960...

Have now had issues with the OAL tool measuring lengths for both 308 and 223 so that is it, no more Hornady OAL comparator for me. Like the idea of the convenience it provides but in my case it just plain does not work reliably.

Now looking at an OAL of around 2.440 - 2.450 for the 80gr SMK. Still a bit on the short side but much better than before.

Ackley, I appreciate your optimistic view, just worried about hitting high pressures too soon.

That tool is your friend if you figure it out. I use one for all my rifles from 45-70 to 223.

In 223 chambers there can be something going on that lets the bullet cant and grab or the case isn't straight and it grabs.

Slide the bullet in, hold gentle pressure on the plastic rod and pull the case back, you'll feel the bullet slide forward and contact the lands, then push the case firmly back down and set the screw.

And if you get this wound up over the OAL tool take my advice and never, ever, decide that for any reason you might want to shoot a VLD bullet, and if someone ever talks to you about Berger 90VLDs you should run from him as fast as you are physically capable.

 

[bulletdrop]

Just checked my Hollinger chambered Wylde yesterday. 2.450 to Jam with 77gr Sierras. Sounds like you are in the ball park.

-Mac

Good deal, sounds like I am in good company

 

[mac86951]

Just an FYI, if you are planning on using the 90grs. some long-range shooters prefer the 5.56 match chamber with a COL of ~2.550, meaning our Wylde chambers are a bit short for maximum powder volume. You'll find lots of great loading advice on White Oak Precision if you need somewhere to start.

-Mac

 

[bulletdrop]

Thanks mac, will check out white oak precision. Won't go over 80gr since this is an 8 twist barrel.