Reloads in new rifle

[casemac]

Help the novice please-
Finally got my 30-06 put together
FN Mauser action from JC Higginns model 50
Shilen no 7 contour 24" ss barrel 1-10 twist
Timney featherweight trigger
B&C Medalist stock
Sightron 3.5-10 optic

Went to the range last week sighted in with some factory remington ammo- no problems
Followed Shilen protocol and started the break in
Shot 15 rounds total

Tonight started handload development
Full length resized Remington brass
Trimmed to length in Sierra book
Load using cci #200 primers
Starting charge 42 gr of IMR 4064
.5 jump in charge weight up to 44 gr
Nosler 168 gr custom comp HPBT

So this is where I hit the snag- I seated 4 cartridges to 3.285 and deiceded to chamber them and check- they've all been pushed back .030 +/-
So I'm wondering do I drop them back .005 more and go try them or did the smith short ream the chamber?
Max load is up around 51 gr according to Sierra (Nosler doesn't list 4064) so I'm thinking pressure won't spike immediately
Please point me in the right direction
Thanks
Casey

 

[Shynloco]

casemac,
Have you compared the OAL of your reloads to those of the rds you shot at the range? Sounds like your Gunsmith short throated the chamber..BUT you need to find out how long your chamber is as well and how much freebore you actually have. It seems to me some factual measurements of your chamber need to be taken before you can proceed with you handloads being seated to the depth you desire.

 

[ARIZONA_F_CLASS]

casemac,
Have you compared the OAL of your reloads to those of the rds you shot at the range? Sounds like your Gunsmith short throated the chamber..BUT you need to find out how long your chamber is as well and how much freebore you actually have. It seems to me some factual measurements of your chamber need to be taken before you can proceed with you handloads being seated to the depth you desire.

+1

 

[CJ6]

Ask your Smith what he used to set the throat Manufacture/weight/style of bullet. Get a modified case and you can check with whichever bullets you plan on useing.

 

[searcher]

After looking at my (latest) Nosler manual, they show the 168 Custom Competition O.A.L. tested at 2.8". You mentioned you seated yours to an O.A.L much longer. Did you arrive at this longer O.A.L. by using a dummy cartridge measuring device such as the Hornady Lock 'n Load? If not, your chamber is probably perfectly normal and you simply seated your bullets too long. If you don't have the proper measuring tools to determine how far off (or into) the lands you are seating your bullet, you might want to first try the Nosler recommended O.A.L. as noted above. If you didn't put a crimp on your bullets, you now know approximately what your "jamb length" is. I'd try seating your bullets about .010" shorter than the measurement your bullets are after being pushed back, as I am assuming magazine length has not been an issue if you were able to load the first longer rounds. As a beginning reloader, you might want to keep your loads well off the lands to start with. Bottom line - you said nothing to indicate there is a problem with your chamber.

 

[KMart]

Searcher
Not trying to be argumentative here. I just checked the #7 Nosler manual for the OAL of the 168 CC in a 30-06. It shows 3.320" oal
The 308 shows 2.8" for the 168 CC.
The pages are pretty close to one another.

 

[K22]

Before reloading for a new rifle, the first thing I do is check the max overall cartridge length (COL) for the bullet I intend to reload. You can't always go by the values stated in the reloading manuals for all rifles.

For example, the Sierra Manual states a max COL of 2.710 for the 243 and report using a 2.650 COL for their 85 grain BTHP. My Tikka T3 Lite in 243 has a max COL of 2.630 for this specific bullet.

It always wise to check especially since it's so easy to do any only takes a few minutes.

 

[searcher]

Good eye k22! I should never look up anything without my glasses. I had indeed given erroneous info!!! I gave proper info for the .308
Thanks so much!!!

 

[jsthntn247]

I've only had one aftermarket barrel put on, but it was here recently. I asked the smith before he chambered it about the reamer. Glad I did because his had a 0 throat on it. Sounds like yours was reamed with a 0 throat reamer. I would make a couple dummy rounds at the seating depth you want, take it back to him and have it throated out. I believe gunsmiths use 0 throat reamers so they can fit all clients needs with the throater and only buy one finisher.

 

[casemac]

Thanks everyone for the info. Finally got back to the bench after talking with the smith. His take was produce a dummy round on the lands and back it off .010 - .015 and I should be good to go. I agree with jsthntn247 that he probably cut it with the 0 throat. I guess if I get the results I want I'll leave it alone. The smith is a good guy with a good rep so I'm inclined to trust his opinion and let the rifle tell me what it needs. A saturday range trip is in the offing- keep you posted
Casey