Interesting my new Shilen is short throated.

[MrBottleneck]

(Am I saying the title correctly)
This is the first Shilen Select Match barrel (.308-28") I have ever bought and it sure has a short throat. It replaced a factory 26" .308 Savage barrel on my 10 FPXP.
I was shooting 43gr of Varget pushing 168smk's seated .020 off the lands, but its obvious that is not going to work with this new barrel.
Due to the chamber on this new barrel using that same calculation it would be compressed load at 104.4%.

With the new Shilen I was at the lands with the 168smk using the stoney point gauge at 2.794 coal and averaged 2.220 to the ogive.

Is this typical of the Shilen barrel?
I reckon it could be a blessing in disguise but darn its a tight one.

 

[50bmg1979]

(Am I saying the title correctly)
This is the first Shilen Select Match barrel (.308-28") I have ever bought and it sure has a short throat. It replaced a factory 26" .308 Savage barrel on my 10 FPXP.
I was shooting 43gr of Varget pushing 168smk's seated .020 off the lands, but its obvious that is not going to work with this new barrel.
Due to the chamber on this new barrel using that same calculation it would be compressed load at 104.4%.

With the new Shilen I was at the lands with the 168smk using the stoney point gauge at 2.794 coal and averaged 2.220 to the ogive.

Is this typical of the Shilen barrel?
I reckon it could be a blessing in disguise but darn its a tight one.

You could have your smith run a throating reamer in and get the freebore that you want

 

[MrBottleneck]

Yeah, I could
I am not aware of any local smiths near me though.

Im just kind of at a loss why Shilen would make it so short

I dont have any factory ammo but, it might not even chamber a 2.810 coal round.
I was thinking about running some factory match ammo down it will breaking it in then doing some load developement but, I am not sure if thats possible.

 

[eric32]

I would run a the TMKs or a VLD the short throat you still might be able to keep them at mag length

 

[MrBottleneck]

Well, its internal mag and thats not really my concern I suppose.
I shoot it as if its a single 99.9% of the time.

I made a dummy round using a 168smk and a coal to 2.810 and it fit but, bolt pressure downward was tighter then I would like for sure.
Sank the bullet to what my stoney gave me to the lands at 2.794 and it was ok with very very slight drag/pressure.

Never bought any factory loaded match .308 does it run to max saami at 2.810?
Sure would like to send that downrange prior to load development.

 

[eric32]

I would switch bullets the 168 smk is marginal by todays standards. Your not getting the most from your setup.

Additionally why are you choosing the 168smk?

 

[MrBottleneck]

I agree.
I just was going to use up what 168s I have then go to atleast a 175smk.
Its a 1n10 so, it should sling the heavier VLDs easy.
Shame the Alco are so exspensive they have some nice BC

Now its time to get a new load data book for this rifle.
I am anxious to shoot it though for sure.

 

[eric32]

The 168gr tmk is the best bc vs weight not much more than the 168smk.

Give it a try

 

[Richard Jones]

Does it match the reamer print?

 

[MrBottleneck]

Does it match the reamer print?

I have no idea on the reamer print.

 

[Richard Jones]

They'll send it to you if you ask.

 

[JRS]

Did you mention to Shilen you would be using the 168 SMK's and wanted the barrel throated for that particular bullet?

 

[MrBottleneck]

No, I wasnt set on using that particular bullet. So, nothing about a certain bullet was ever mentioned.

 

[Erud]

What reamer did they use? What reamer did you want them to use? What reamer was used on your previous barrel, and how many rounds had you fired through it?

 

[JRS]

Possibly a dumb question? Is it head-spaced correctly, and are you using virgin brass for the new chamber? The chamber on the factory barrel is probably on the generous side.

 

[MrBottleneck]

What reamer did they use? What reamer did you want them to use? What reamer was used on your previous barrel, and how many rounds had you fired through it?

I was just told the freebore is .090
Here is a picture of the reamer specs that was used.
Help me to understand how I am touching the lands with a 168smk. at 2.794 coal with these specs.
I am at a loss to understand this.

 

[Highpower-FClass]

I was just told the freebore is .090
Here is a picture of the reamer specs that was used.
Help me to understand how I am touching the lands with a 168smk. at 2.794 coal with these specs.
I am at a loss to understand this.

For what it's worth, looking back through my records, the COAL with the 168 SMKs in my first 308 barrel from Shilen was 2.795 when seated to the lands. So mine had a short throat too. I subsequently had it throated out further.

90 freebore is pretty short. As a comparison, the 2013 FTR reamer which is dimensioned for the 185 and 200 Bergers has 170 freebore.

 

[MrBottleneck]

For what it's worth, looking back through my records, the COAL with the 168 SMKs in my first 308 barrel from Shilen was 2.795 when seated to the lands. So mine had a short throat too. I subsequently had it throated out further.

90 freebore is pretty short. As a comparison, the 2013 FTR reamer which is dimensioned for the 185 and 200 Bergers has 170 freebore.

Yep, I am at 2.794 on the lands with the 168smk's
So, I am going to send it back to Shilen and have them check it to just make sure its reamed correctly. Sounds like it might be?
While its there I will have them throat it longer I suppose. If its in specs it cost me $45.
If it wasn't reamed to the specs its no charge I was told.
I suppose I will dummy up some 168s and seat them to the lands of my old barrel that I took off?
Input is more then welcome as I am in uncharted waters.

 

[Erud]

.308 empty case = 2.015"
168 SMK = 1.215"
Total length of those 2 components = 3.23".

Subtract your OAL to lands of 2.794" and you get 0.436". So, it sounds like you have .436" of bullet seated into the case neck, which seems completely reasonable. The Sierra loading manual lists 2.800" as the COAL with the 168 SMK, so it sounds like you are right about where you are supposed to be with a standard .308 reamer. I'd guess that your Savage had a longer than standard throat, as is pretty common on factory guns. If you want specific chamber dimensions, you need to specify that with whoever is doing the reaming before hand.

 

[Nature Boy]

I'd like to ask a stupid question. Wouldn't a shallower throat give you a bit more barrel life, particularly if you're chasing the lands with your loads?