6.5L freebore

[avidflyer]

First reamer had a 109 feebore shot 123 scenars and it just plain worked, found a load in first 30 rounds (in the .1's) and never adjusted seating depth. Shot 123's 25 off h4350. Ordered a new reamer to chamber a new barrel ordered a 109 got a 120 from vendor. 11 thousand not a huge deal so I kept it Vs a 2 month regrind. Question is, is anyone shooting 130 berger vlds with that freebore? I know some really like long freebore in the 6.5 like 160 and 200....I think its over kill but what do I know. (200)

 

[boltfluter]

I shoot 130 bergers from a .125 fb and the gun drives tacks. You should be fine with a .120. Good luck and good shooting.

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[Mega]

Be very careful with answers of freebore for 130gr Berger VLD's. As far as I am concerned Berger have done a very bad nasty with their bullets over the last year or so by changing the bullet dimensions drastically without notice to anyone as far as I can tell. Months later after enquiring I have not received an answer as to why the changes.

I had initially a 6.5x47L which was 0.250" freebore for 140gr Berger VLD which it didn't like accuracy wise at all. I switched to the then long 130gr Berger VLD's and it shot 0.1's consistantly or better in the hands of a couple of much more experienced shooters than I am. Next batch of 130gr were 0.020" longer to the ogive so I had to re-tune but they never shot as accurately but very close to 0.1's....next up and the same as current batches of 130gr Berger VLD's is that every dimension has changed. From the initial bullets I used the base to ogive has reduced some 0.080", oal has reduced as has the actual diameter of the bullet plus there is no longer a pressure ring. They shoot like a shot gun splatter with everything I have tried so now looking at a re-chamber in two rifles.

Lapua 123gr Scenar are now longer in base to ogive length than the 130gr Berger and shoot far more accurately in my long freebore chamber.

SO when someone talkes about freebore with the 130gr Berger VLD's, ask which ogive length they are using or batch number and how recent.

Three other target shooters I know are in the same boat with a number of barrels.

My liking for seating depth was with the base end bearing surface less than half the neck length, very little neck tension (about 0.0015") and ogive just touching the lands.

 

[X-Caveman]

.123" Freebore works with 130's for me. Once you shoot it 1000 times or so, then try 140 hybrids.