.236 or .237 groove one preferred over the other ?

[Mark S in NM]

I have a Bartlein .236 and a Krieger .237 .243 barrel's both med palma both 5-R rifled. I'm getting ready to re- barrel this will be 6XC tactical type rifle application. I will be shooting 105 Berger Hybrid's and or 115 DTAC and sure trying others. Could someone please explain the benefit of .236 over .237 if there is any. Thank you.

 

[dreever]

This has been discussed a lot. Some years ago I took a poll of top shooters and gunsmiths and asked the same question. Most short range (600 yards and less) guys replied .237 since it does not deform the bullet as much, hence in their opinion a slight accuracy edge. Most long range (1000 yd) guys went the other direction.
If you are old enough to remember the old Right Guard deodorant commercial "Six took stick, six took spray" that about sums it up. Myself I go with .237 only because that's all that Bruno carries and I usually buy my Kreigers from him. Really I don't think you'll see much difference.

Danny

 

[alf]

General rule of thumb is a .237 for close range BR for the flat base bullets that are generally fatter, due to the pressure ring on the base.

LR shooters shoot HPBT's or VLD's that tend to run smaller due to lack of a pressure ring, so they opt for the .236's.

 

[rcw3]

General rule of thumb is a .237 for close range BR for the flat base bullets that are generally fatter, due to the pressure ring on the base.

LR shooters shoot HPBT's or VLD's that tend to run smaller due to lack of a pressure ring, so they opt for the .236's.

Dittos to that.

Robert

 

[dreever]

I don't disagree....but.... I use a .237 with 105 VLD's and Hybrids out to 500 meters with pretty good success.

Danny

 

[Mark S in NM]

Thanks all, I will be going to 1000 so .236 it is. One more question please. When sending a dummy round for chamber to smith in my case a boat tail where should the base of the bullet be in relation to bottom of neck if I want to make sure I can keep seating out as throat goes south assuming I'm starting with bullet into the lands say 0.010" and figuring barrel life of 2000-2500. Hope that made sense, if I'm screwing up set me straight please.

 

[alf]

Preferably you want the boatail/body juncture of the bullet to sit just above the neck/shoulder juncture of the case.

Here's my 6.5-284 throating with a 142. That's in the lands 25-30 thou.

 

[Mark S in NM]

Got it alf, nothing like a picture thank you.