Reamer question

[Skeeter_Westgate]

I'm new to having a rifle chambered in a new caliber. How do I know what length to have my gunsmith make my chamber or throat?

Where do I start? I'm wanting a 6.5 Creedmoor and will first shoot the factory 120 and 140 Amax ammo from Hornady. BUT, I want to begin reloading soon and would like to try some bullets from Berger and Lapua like the 130 VLD's and 136 and 139 gr Scenar.

Is there a "one size fits all" length to start with? Say, a jump of 0.010" beyond the factory ammo from Hornady? Will that then work for other bullet types?

Thank you in advance for any advice you could pass my way.

 

[jscandale]

You truly ought to be able to give your gunsmith a dummy round with the bullet seated to the precise depth that you prefer and he should be able to throat your chamber to accomodate your dummy round, provided that the freebore in the finish reamer does not exceed your desired length.
If your smith cannot or will not do this, you may consider finding one who will, but I'm sure he will be able to accomodate you.

JS

 

[LCazador]

Making a dummy round and then taking it to your smith makes great sense . Before you do here are some things to consider . If you have a repeater action make sure your dummy round fits in your magazine and your action . If it's a single shot , make sure the dummy fits your action length . The next consideration is throat length . When making your dummy round use the bullet weight/length that you will be shooting most and seat the bullet no deeper than the neck/shoulder junction if your magazine/action length will allow it . I would suggest having a reamer made for the configuration that you finally arrive at . You can send the dummy in to the reamer maker and they will make a reamer accordingly . Dave Kiff at Pacific Tool and Guage has helped me tremendously when making reamers for me . You can have the reamer made and then sell it here when you're done with it .