30" .223 7 twist barrel finding a tune it likes?

[kevinbritvec]

Recently bought a Savage FT/R rifle in .223 with a 30 inch barrel. The barrel has a 7 twist so I figured 75gr to 90gr bullets but for some reason Savage short throated the damn thing!? 55gr bullets are the only thing I can seat and remain in the neck. 69gr and up all push well into the case and the 77gr and 80 gr bullets I have are taking up a lot of real estate for powder volume.
What do I do with it, work up loads with 55gr bullets and just shoot it and increase bullet weight as lands wear

Rifle purchased... https://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/it-pays-to-hit-the-obscure-gun-store.4047264/

80 grain SMK's can be seated around 2.470" in a .223 Wylde chamber, around 2.500" to 2.550" in a 5.56mm NATO chamber. It sounds like you aren't even close to that much clearance.

I would recommend removing the barrel and having it sent to a quality gunsmith for a simple reaming operation. A 1.5 degree leade angle into the rifling and extending the throat to Wylde specs should solve your problem.

Since the rifle is brand new I would contact Savage first and see what they have to say. They may be able to fix it faster and retain the factory warranty. It seems to me that a 30" barreled 1/7 twist rifle should come from the factory set up for the heavies.

 

[Old Navy]

Good luck with Savage. I had a Benchrest Model 12 in 6.5X284 that went south in 650 rounds. I called them. They said ship it to them for inspection. I really don't remember them telling me to send the complete gun. I just sent the barrel. A couple weeks later I got it back with a note that explained that the throat was gone. They would replace the barrel if I sent the complete gun in. I opted instead to go to a new barrel from Northland in 6.5X47L. That turned out to be a wise choice.

 

[JSH]

As XTR mentioned it is a SAMMI length. Those saying it is Savages fault have evidently not fooled with the heavies in the 223. Measure some store bought ammo, chances are it will run in an AR mag.

To the OP, as mentioned if it’s eating the 68’s I would look at the bore gotta be rough. I have numerous Savage rifles. Some barrels are better than others, and it seems not to be a caliber thing either. I would run some 55 or heavier FMJ’s through it, at least 2-300 before I passed judgment. Yeah you can lap it but still may not smooth it as well. FYI it could be a copper mine but still shoot very well, and may not like to be squeaky clean to shoot it’s best.

I dropped a fair bundle on a rifle built by a well known manufacturer. 223,1-7” SAMMI spec reamer, NO options, take it or leave it. I spoke with them several times, if I was not totally happy they would take it back. I still have it and am 99% happy, the 1% negative isn’t worth mentioning.

If you can run anything lighter than some 55’s with any success in a 30” 1-7” twist I am happy for ya. I have tried (mine is 28”) it may go along a while fine then start eating them. Take it on a prairie dog hunt and have that happen! I couldn’t see my misses, because it went poof and I didn’t catch it in the scope, 50 grain varmint bullets that I was t exceeding FPS it was over on RPM.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

My local smith has a hand reamer to throat it out he said I could borrow, go slow and check length about every two turns,... cuts fast even by hand. However it is a 1 degree angle, is that what I want? Someone mentioned a 1.5 angle.
It says on the reamer "Clymer 22CF throater 1deg. 30min"

 

[Ned Ludd]

My local smith has a hand reamer to throat it out he said I could borrow, go slow and check length about every two turns,... cuts fast even by hand. However it is a 1 degree angle, is that what I want? Someone mentioned a 1.5 angle.
It says on the reamer "Clymer 22CF throater 1deg. 30min"

If the reamer says 1 deg 30 min, then it should be 1 deg 30 min (1.5 deg) within the manufacturer's tolerances. Not sure where the gunsmith is coming up with 1 degree if the reamer itself states 1 deg 30 min.

 

[shoot4fun]

My local smith has a hand reamer to throat it out he said I could borrow, go slow and check length about every two turns,... cuts fast even by hand. However it is a 1 degree angle, is that what I want? Someone mentioned a 1.5 angle.
It says on the reamer "Clymer 22CF throater 1deg. 30min"

If the reamer says 1 deg 30 min, then it should be 1 deg 30 min (1.5 deg) within the manufacturer's tolerances. Not sure where the gunsmith is coming up with 1 degree if the reamer itself states 1 deg 30 min.

Did the gunsmith actually tell you it was a 1˚ reamer or did you assume that? 1 degree 30 minutes is what you want.
The number is usually expressed as 1˚_30 on a reamer print.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Did the gunsmith actually tell you it was a 1˚ reamer or did you assume that? 1 degree 30 minutes is what you want.
The number is usually expressed as 1˚_30 on a reamer print.

No, he just handed it to me with a turning handle and said "here ya go, this is what you need". I did not know what the 30min meant so I figured 1 degree.

 

[FilippoMo]

Is this 1 30 included angle or with centreline?