Maximum safe head clearance? (Unsuppported case stick out)

[Shawnba67]

I had a factory 6 rem that was 0.169 stick out. That seems like the ragged edge of safe to me.
Stick out=distance between bolt face and start of chamber walls
The headspace was ok just the stickout was more than I expected.
Is there a working maximum?
I had read somewhere that maybe 0.180 was the max??? Checking that against the expert consensus.

 

[SBS]

Remington counterbores are usually around .155 and the go ga. is usually close to flush with the end of the shank, so .155 is common with 700's. On quite a few non-counterbored barrels, .130 is about as much as you encounter. For example, the print that comes with the Savage target actions specifies .130 max. On this type, it is dependent on depth of bolt face from the extreme front of bolt, plus clearance.

 

[carlsbad]

.180 sounds like a lot for me for most cartridges. Even if your casing has enough meat in the area to be safe, more support at that location should help with longevity and primer pocket stability.

Like SBS says, standard Rem is about .155 but some counterbore a bit deeper. I like it shallow and sometimes when putting an M-16 or Sako extractor on, I move it back a bit and trim the nose to get more support for the casing.

I wouldn't go much below .130 though or you'll have trouble with your extractor engaging the lip, especially if your casing is at all short and you want to extract an unfired round.

--Jerry

 

[Dusty Stevens]

On a remington or any other action you really dont have that much sticking out you must be forgetting about the nose of the bolt which leaves you .005-.010 unsupported in the end

 

[Shawnba67]

On a Remington usually there is .145 or so sticking out of the barrel unsupported by the chamber,negligibly more if there's chamfer. The bolt nose ain't holding pressure in the normal use-age of the rifle.
The question is what number becomes unsafe?
NOT WHATS NORMAL.
I thought I had read that the brass was designed to hold normal pressures for .180" unsupported but can't find that now. My one factory rifle at .169 is pretty close to that .180. Got me wondering how close to the edge it was. Wanted more understanding of "the edge".
I AGREE LESS IS BETTER, and I wouldn't be happy doing one at .169 if there was a way to get it shorter.

 

[carlsbad]

On a remington or any other action you really dont have that much sticking out you must be forgetting about the nose of the bolt which leaves you .005-.010 unsupported in the end

It's shielded by the bolt nose, but only the chamber retains pressure and keeps the brass from straining.