Got my 22BR tube but need help

[Justin B]

Ok so I got my 22 BR from Northland all setup on my Savage rented a headspace gauge in "6 BR Lapua" Then the fun stops. Went to chamber a round and the bolt wont close?? I have set headspace before so I am positive I have that set right with the go & no-go gauges. So after messing around I measure the brass at 1.56 so I trim a fair tad off to around 1.50 & bingo the bolt closes but it wont close above 1.50.

So I read the stamp on the headspace gauge and it says "6 BR REM" so is this the old 6BR headspace gauges or do I have something else wrong?? Or do I just trim and move on?? Any help would be great like to put a few down range tomorrow.

 

[Justin B]

Here is my reamer print

 

[NorCalMikie]

Yep. 6BR Remington, that's the short one.
6BR Lapua is what you needed.
22 BR IS a Wildcat so, got brass? Head space is set with sized brass.
Don't have brass OR don't want to use brass?? Get the proper gauge.
NONE of my Savage rigs use gauges to set head space.
No factory ammo available for my ammo so brass gets used.
First Savage head space,barrel swap job used a gauge and the brass was so sloppy I reset it with brass.
All chamber head space is set on the snug side.
Sold the gauges to someone that wanted them more than I did.

Again, got brass??? Set the head space loose and see if brass will chamber.
Adjust accordingly. Only takes maybe 1/16th. or 1/8th. turn to get where you need to be.
When the brass (Lapua) chambers with a little resistance, snug the nut and work the bolt.
When it works the way YOU WANT IT, smack that nut and go shooting. You can ALWAYS adjust it again. It''s a Savage.

 

[hogpatrol]

If it's cut for the old 6BR Rem, I'd send back the barrel and have it recut for standard Lapua 6BR brass.
Don't know about anyone else but to me it doesn't make any sense to use the old Remington dimension reamer. My reamer is 1.575 and .2505 tight neck and I turn the necks. .248 neck with Lapua brass, you'll need to neck turn too. Again, curious as to why they would use that reamer. Also, what is your loaded round diameter?

 

[linebaugh]

I didn't read the print beyond the .22 BR Rem which tells me that you have the wrong reamer if you intend to use lapua brass.

You won't like hearing this...
Off the top of my head I think there is .040 difference in length between the necks on the two. I used a 22BR Rem reamer and fed it in .050 deeper (if memory is correct) to accomodate the lapua brass. You will need to not size all of your neck down to make a false shoulder and blow the shoulder out if using this method.
Otherwise you need a lapua reamer with the correct neck length or you will need to trim all of your brass.

Both prints are available somewhere on the net. I found them but do not remember where.

 

[linebaugh]

Yep. 6BR Remington, that's the short one.
6BR Lapua is what you needed.
22 BR IS a Wildcat so, got brass? Head space is set with sized brass.
Don't have brass OR don't want to use brass?? Get the proper gauge.
NONE of my Savage rigs use gauges to set head space.
No factory ammo available for my ammo so brass gets used.
First Savage head space,barrel swap job used a gauge and the brass was so sloppy I reset it with brass.
All chamber head space is set on the snug side.
Sold the gauges to someone that wanted them more than I did.

Again, got brass??? Set the head space loose and see if brass will chamber.
Adjust accordingly. Only takes maybe 1/16th. or 1/8th. turn to get where you need to be.
When the brass (Lapua) chambers with a little resistance, snug the nut and work the bolt.
When it works the way YOU WANT IT, smack that nut and go shooting. You can ALWAYS adjust it again. It''s a Savage.

It will not be safe to set the headspace with brass in this case using the wrong (short neck) reamer. It will actually be heaspacing off the neck and not the shoulder which will be a problem and potentially dangerous.

 

[Justin B]

Northland had the neck set at .253 so I shouldn't need to neck turn correct? It says on my barrel neck .253.

I only plan on shooting 53 grain bullets but that sucks if it's wrong I specifically told him I wanted the new specs for lapua & norma not old Remington BR specs. So is this the old shorter neck specs?

 

[Justin B]

It will not be safe to set the headspace with brass in this case using the wrong (short neck) reamer. It will actually be heaspacing off the neck and not the shoulder which will be a problem and potentially dangerous.

I would have to chop a neck down.

 

[linebaugh]

Northland had the neck set at .253 so I shouldn't need to neck turn correct? It says on my barrel neck .253.

I only plan on shooting 53 grain bullets but that sucks if it's wrong I specifically told him I wanted the new specs for lapua & norma not old Remington BR specs. So is this the old shorter neck specs?

its the neck length i was bringing up. not diameter or freebore. I never got into specifics of the print beyond the title of 22 BR Rem which I know has a shorter neck than 22 BR lapua.

 

[linebaugh]

I would have to chop a neck down.

Yes Sir. Be sure to check other simple parameters like neck clearance but if you are willing to trim the length I "think" you are good. I dont know that as fact so use due diligence as I did not review prints.

 

[6and7mm]

Northland had the neck set at .253 so I shouldn't need to neck turn correct? It says on my barrel neck .253.

I only plan on shooting 53 grain bullets but that sucks if it's wrong I specifically told him I wanted the new specs for lapua & norma not old Remington BR specs. So is this the old shorter neck specs?

Justin, I'll try to help.

Your .253 neck is a-okay for a no-turn solution. SMART!!!

Your issue doesn't sound like a headspace issue re: the shoulder.

But...it sounds like the reamer used to cut your chamber was based upon the original/older "Remington BR" specs with .040 shorter overall case length than the current "Lapua-based" version of Lapua 6BR chamber spec and Lapua 6BR brass.

Advice. Be a little more patient and have someone extend the chamber neck to accommodate the Lapua brass overall length spec -- with a .253 neck reamer. Or, have them rechamber it accordingly.

The 22 BR and 6 BR topic causes this type of confusion more than it should. This is why the gunsmiths and the customer should agree to the reamer print before hitting the go button. You asked for a 22 BR chamber job, and the gunsmith obliged. (It sounds like you stated you want the Lapua spec, but some gunsmiths actually do stumble over this topic and/or simply grab and use the wrong reamer) What you likely ultimately wanted, if you wanted to use 6BR Lapua brass necked down to 22 BR brass, was a chamber with an appropriate length to accept the Lapua converted 6BR to 22BR brass which is approx. .040" longer than the original "Remington-based" 6BR/22BR Remington brass specs.

I have been there, and can appreciate your current frustration. If you want to use Lapua 6BR brass, without having to trim and turn the necks, you will need to have a gunsmith extend the .253 neck accordingly.

It will be worth it when you get it sorted out.

The long-term reward of a Lapua-based BR chamber spec is easy brass prep and reloading for lots of on-hand ammo where you are able to use the good Lapua brass.

Good luck.

 

[linebaugh]

What he said.

 

[Justin B]

So I'm more than frustrated at Northland because this question was asked to him as I wanted new specs not "old BR Rem"

So that said I'll contact him & see what he says.

 

[Justin B]

Thanks for the help getting it figured out.

Not sure why anyone would want or keep cutting barrels for the old BR Rem specs is there anyone that wants such a thing these days?

 

[JSH]

I didn’t look at the reamer print.
But from what you described it is just a neck length issue was my take on it.
Your neck could be an inch long and your headspace is correct.

I agree it sounds like you didn’t get what you wanted. I will say NSS and James there are great to work with, I have dealt with them several times.

I would rather have to trim than try to stretch necks ;-). It’s fixable though.

Correct me if I am wrong guys but isn’t the 6BR Remington smaller at the web than the 6BR Norma? Did that transfer over to “most” of the 22BR’s?

Just asking since I acquired a 22BR a while back. It shots excellent but neck turning and trimming was required, I can’t argue with the results

 

[Justin B]

I have a pretty fast way to trim brass would the shorter neck affect accuracy with the light pills vs the longer necks?

Othen than my poor brass haha.

 

[hogpatrol]

This MAY clear up the BR conundrum.

https://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/6mmbr/

https://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/22br/

 

[NorCalMikie]

Not sure why anyone would want or keep cutting barrels for the old BR Rem specs is there anyone that wants such a thing these days?

My guess is you got a LAPUA spec barrel/chamber from Northland!!!
THE ISSUE YOU HAVE IS YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE WRONG GAUGE!!!
AGAIN, got brass???
Set the head space loose with the "wrong gauge", leave the nut a little on the loose side and see if the bolt will close. Adjust till you can close the bolt.
You know the drill.
After maybe 10 or 12 barrel swaps, maybe I don't really know what I'am doing?? DON'T TOUCH THAT BARREL!! You got the WRONG gauge!!
YOU'RE DOOMED!! IT'LL NEVER WORK!! YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT!!
Now, throw some Lapua brass in the chamber and get to setting the head space.

 

[NorCalMikie]

The "Key Phrase" is KEEP IT SIMPLE.
Read the OPs first post.
He's got the wrong gauge.
In this day and age, do you know anybody that would cut a Remington 6BR chamber if you didn't specifically ask for it? Don't think so. That's old school.
NOBODY SAID ANYTHING ABOUT A REAMER. We're talking about a chambered barrel.
NO BRASS TRIMMING NEEDED. NO BARREL CUTTING NEEDED!!
Set the head space with Lapua brass and go shooting.

 

[biggun2869]

Reading your post, even before you got through it I guesed it because I have been down that road, I have an old mauser chambered in 6 BR REM and although it came with a ton of brass I bought some new Lapua for it and had the exact problem you stated. I have a "modern" 6 BR now and I know the difference.
I'm afraid what NorCalMike said won't work, where the real difference for me was the very last of the chamber down towards the rim and the REM chamber is smaller (look at the prints).
Without a Lapua reamer redoing my chamber it WILL NOT work. I feel a little more confident in being decisive on this because I have seen this discussed before on this forum. If yours is a really sloppy chaber job there is a chance Lapua brass will work in a REM chamber.
Ask Dusty Stevens. I wasn't in conversation with him but he gave the best explanation of this same problem to someone else. Gary