Min OAL for 308

[dr751]

I just got my 308 R700 re-barreled and it seems that the chamber is pretty short. When I measure the to the lands with a Hornady OAL gage and 168 SMK's I get 2.160" with an OAL of 2.710. Before the barrel change I was reloading to 2.220 ogive length, and 2.801 OAL. When I chamber a factory 168 Federal GMM I get rifling marks on the bullet and the round is hard to eject (unfired bullet).

The gunsmith say the tight chamber is because the chamber was made with a match reamer, and just back off my charge weight.

Do the new chamber dimension sound right or do you think there is a problem?

 

[rduckwor]

Seems short to me and it also seems like since you are paying, you should get what you want from the gunsmith. Tough to jump with those dimensions.

Good Luck,

RMD

 

[DocBII]

dr751,

Sounds like the gunsmith needs to throat the chambering job to meet your specs. Not a chamber/cartridge problem.

HTH,
DocBII

 

[jsthntn247]

A tight chamber has nothing to do with a short throat.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

Kind of sounds like a '95 Palma chamber. That reamer has a very short freebore. Shooting as-is will work, but not be optimal for that bullet. The reamer I'm thinking about was designed for short 155's. A simple throating operation can put the freebore anywhere you want.

Sounds like a trip to the gunsmith is in order.

This situation is why I now consider the cost of a reamer and headspace gages part of the cost of a new caliber (barrel). If I like the setup, I can spread the cost of those items over several barrels.

 

[dr751]

Thanks guys the gun is off to the gunsmith. I hope it works out. I will report back.