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

[Lefty Trigger]

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/

 

[mike mccormick]

If it were mine, I would have the throat cut to a dummy cartridge with the bullet of my preference. Just a suggestion

 

[GLShooter]

Call Savage. That ain't right.

Greg

 

[Lefty Trigger]

If it were mine, I would have the throat cut to a dummy cartridge with the bullet of my preference. Just a suggestion

Getting any barrel work done is a huge hassle, shipping to and from and waiting months just to get it back. My only local guy is 8 months behind.
I guess I'm more curious if the 7 twist will be ok with 55-60gr bullets.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Call Savage. That ain't right.

Greg

That's a thought... might just do that to see what they say about it anyway.

 

[Doug Beach]

The sooner you arrange to have it throated correctly, or better yet, re-barreled, the sooner you’ll have it back…

 

[Dgd6mm]

Anyone near you that has a .223 uni-throater that would be willing to give you a hand?

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Rent, a Freebore / Throating Reamer for, $50- $60.00 and Hand Ream it, YOURSELF ! ( It's not, "Rocket Science " ).
Go SLOWLY, KEEP Straight, use cutting Oil and Polish Throat "area" done with, JB's slathered on a Patch, over, a Bronze Brush about 10- 12 strokes, Clean and "shoot " !

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Well I managed to have two Hornady 68gr HPBT's blow up today. Have never had that happen before but never owned a 7 twist either. They was running about 3150 and I think it was just too much even though I was .6 under max load. The first one we just questioned if it missed the target completely but just a few later it happened again and a friend seen the "poof" through his spotting scope.
Think I'm going to leave the barrel alone and run 77gr Bergers. A friend gave me about 20 of them and they are not real deep in the case as the others. Going to test them with Varget and 8208XBR and see what I get...

 

[Ned Ludd]

If you have ever disassembled a commercially-loaded .223 Rem 77SWMK round, or even just held a naked 77 SMK along side a factory 77 SMK round, you realize how deep they are actually seated below the neck. Being accustomed to loading 90-95 gr bullets for .223 Rem bolt rifles, how far below the neck the 77s appear to be seated is still a bit disconcerting to me, but that seems to be the way it is done in that caliber. My point is that within reason, you can still load bullets that are seated well below the neck/shoulder junction. A very large amount of factory .223 Rem ammo is loaded exactly this way and it works just fine. Obviously with hand-loads, excessive pressure is a concern when a significant portion of the case volume is occupied by the bullet shank/boat-tail. Nonetheless, being aware of that possibility allows it to be mitigated rather easily by not trying to overdo what the rifle setup/chamber will allow with a given powder and bullet weight.

I've run bullets as light as 40 gr in a .223 bolt rifle with a 26" 7-twist (0.218"/0.224") barrel without any blowups/jacket failures, and the precision was just fine. However, that was commercial load, and obviously not that hot. Unfortunately, jacket failures when running light bullets in a fast twist rate barrel are a concern, whereas the precision is usually not. The precision of light bullets will typically be ok in a fast twist barrel, but only if they actually make it to the target intact.

 

[urbanrifleman]

Shoot 10 Tubb TMS bullets through it...

That is what I would do. Best money you will ever spend...

 

[moorepower]

Well I managed to have two Hornady 68gr HPBT's blow up today. Have never had that happen before but never owned a 7 twist either. They was running about 3150 and I think it was just too much even though I was .6 under max load. The first one we just questioned if it missed the target completely but just a few later it happened again and a friend seen the "poof" through his spotting scope.
Think I'm going to leave the barrel alone and run 77gr Bergers. A friend gave me about 20 of them and they are not real deep in the case as the others. Going to test them with Varget and 8208XBR and see what I get...

You have something tearing up the jacket. They are not going to blow up at that velocity, even in a 7 twist without help from a rough throat, or carbon ring.

 

[Jdne5b]

Rent, a Freebore / Throating Reamer for, $50- $60.00 and Hand Ream it, YOURSELF ! ( It's not, "Rocket Science " ).
Go SLOWLY, KEEP Straight, use cutting Oil and Polish Throat "area" done with, JB's slathered on a Patch, over, a Bronze Brush about 10- 12 strokes, Clean and "shoot " !

This. Try and find an adjustable unithroater and you’ll be in business for the heavies seated properly.

 

[Old Navy]

Hope your factory barrel looks better than the two that came on my Model 12 BR. Don't understand the 7 twist with the short free bore.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Really -talk to Savage - something's not right- and you should not have to live with it. I suggest that you get an accurate measurement to lands and ask on here what another member has on his rifle. Savage are not known for short freebores.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Have you tried the 77 Berger's yet? You should not be blowing Hornaday 68's up in that barrel. Something is definitely amiss with that barrel. I would definitely borescope it and probably talk to Savage. If it not a pure piece of bad steel there's been a few suggestions that would probably take care of it. A throater and some Tubb bullets. With that being said, I understand you didn't buy a new rifle to have to do something like this to be able to shoot it and take advantage of the 7 twist. Hopefully if it comes down to Savage they will stand behind it. They're usually easy to deal with.

 

[XTR]

Savage is probably put a SAAMI or a Wylde chamber in it. I don’t know of any factory rifles ( other than Weatherby) with the long freebore needed for heavy for class bullets in any chambering.

When did Savage last make this one? I think it’s been quite a while, and Savage barrels are generally reported to be pretty rough inside. (I read it on the internet)

Get a Uni throater for this one or get someone to push it out for you. if you are going to shoot heavies a lot I’d recommend ordering something equivalent to a PT&G ISSF reamer in time for your next barrel. That reamer works well for about all the 80s and 90VLDs.

 

[SVT_Tactical]

If it were mine, I would have the throat cut to a dummy cartridge with the bullet of my preference. Just a suggestion

I'm sure one of the smiths on here could do that for you quicker. If you don't have the tools to disassemble a savage barrel already its cheap and will have you set up for when you want to rebarrel to a different round anyway.

 

[otnot]

Last May I bought a savage 12 LRPV in .223 that was supposed to have 1:7 twist. It had a 1:12 twist and the throat was so short it would only chamber a 55 gr. Sent it to Savage and got it back 2 weeks ago with a 1:7 twist barrel but a short throat. With a 80 gr Nosler CC the AOL is 2.380. I ordered a Unithoater last week to open it up .036. When I’m done your more than welcome to use it.

 

[JOE360]

Just rent throater form 4d it's so easy