I have a question concerning the base to ogive measurements I'm getting on a Savage Model 14 300WSM. Now it's always been my understanding that most factory guns have a very long freebore to accommodate a wide variety of factory ammo that the average shooter may throw at it.
I preparing to work up a load for the 175 SMK I decided to get the Hornady 300WSM Modified Case for the OAL Gauge that I've used in the past for other calibers. I was shocked by the measurements I was getting however...
The 175 SMK was coming up around 2.201" base to ogive. That was putting the OAL from base to nose around 2.790" (depending on the bullet, there was a pretty good variation). "Book length" on these is 2.800" according to my Sierra manual. Why on earth would a factory gun have such a small amount of freebore? I'm glad I went with the 175s and not the 180s, or I'd have even more bullet pushed into the case.
I still have almost .200" of magazine left to load the bullets further out. I really only need about half that amount to get the boattail out of the shoulder area, and up into the neck. I was thinking of getting a throating reamer and moving the 175SMK up .100 to .150"...
But before I start down a road I can't come back from, am I missing something? I've used this tool on my 6BR and 243Win in the past, with good results. I just can't figure out why I'm getting such a small base to ogive reading for the 300WSM.
Just to add fuel to the fire, this barrel has just been fire lapped (horrible fouler). So the freebore should have been extended during that process. How much, I don't know. I wish I had a "before" measurement.
Does anyone else have a savage WSM and base to ogive measurements for me to compare against?
thanks
ps - i removed an reinstalled the adaptor, i've rezored the callipers, I even measured again this morning after a good night sleep, just in case I was overlooking something last night... and I'm still getting readings of 2.199 to 2.202 consistently with the 175 SMK.
I preparing to work up a load for the 175 SMK I decided to get the Hornady 300WSM Modified Case for the OAL Gauge that I've used in the past for other calibers. I was shocked by the measurements I was getting however...
The 175 SMK was coming up around 2.201" base to ogive. That was putting the OAL from base to nose around 2.790" (depending on the bullet, there was a pretty good variation). "Book length" on these is 2.800" according to my Sierra manual. Why on earth would a factory gun have such a small amount of freebore? I'm glad I went with the 175s and not the 180s, or I'd have even more bullet pushed into the case.
I still have almost .200" of magazine left to load the bullets further out. I really only need about half that amount to get the boattail out of the shoulder area, and up into the neck. I was thinking of getting a throating reamer and moving the 175SMK up .100 to .150"...
But before I start down a road I can't come back from, am I missing something? I've used this tool on my 6BR and 243Win in the past, with good results. I just can't figure out why I'm getting such a small base to ogive reading for the 300WSM.
Just to add fuel to the fire, this barrel has just been fire lapped (horrible fouler). So the freebore should have been extended during that process. How much, I don't know. I wish I had a "before" measurement.
Does anyone else have a savage WSM and base to ogive measurements for me to compare against?
thanks
ps - i removed an reinstalled the adaptor, i've rezored the callipers, I even measured again this morning after a good night sleep, just in case I was overlooking something last night... and I'm still getting readings of 2.199 to 2.202 consistently with the 175 SMK.
