Rem 700 barreled action question - got it from PTG

[longrange2]

So I bought one of the Rem 700 barreled actions from PTG, it is a sporter weight stainless in .223. I asked for a Remington bolt if they had one and received a matte blue bolt. Question I have is regarding headspace. I know these are short chambered, and mine won’t close on a Forster Go gauge. I removed the ejector, slipped the gauge under the extractor and inserted the bolt into the action. I tried new Lapua .223 brass and four different rounds of factory loaded ammo and all chambered fine.

My question is would this be safe to fire without cutting the chamber to the Go gauge or will fired rounds stick and not want to extract? I was thinking about renting a finishing reamer to cut it by hand, but if tighter than SAAMI headspace is acceptable I may just shoot it some and see how the accuracy is before I mess with the chamber. I plan to shoot mostly handloads.

 

[Walt Krafft]

It should be safe to shoot if the factory brass and ammo fit. You are likely to run into problems resizing it without modifying your sizing die for the size shorter than standard.

 

[jackieschmidt]

It should be safe to shoot if the factory brass and ammo fit. You are likely to run into problems resizing it without modifying your sizing die for the size shorter than standard.

^^^^^^

 

[Shawnba67]

I have ground the $6 shell holder to get a shorter base to shoulder distance. Or you know buy a custom die. But I'm cheap.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

I's try a case fl sized in my sizing die. If it works you should be good to go. May need to turn die down if your sizing with a gap between shell holder an die bottom. Your go guage may be on the large size but still with in spec.

Frank

 

[tobnpr]

To maximize your shoulder bump, make the press cam over hard.
Setting die to "contact" the shellholder often isn't enough on a rifle with zero (or less) headspace- you need to take all the mechanical "slop" out of the linkages to get maximum bump.
If contact doesn't bump far enough, screw it in another 1/4 turn and try again until you get what you need.

 

[atblis]

Every single sizing die I have will size to or shorter than SAAMI min. Typically I end up using a +0.004” shell holder or more. Sounds like your reasonably close and I suspect you’ll be able to load rounds that fit.

 

[AlNyhus]

longrange2: When setting your f.l. sizing die up, this tool is a must have. With it, you'll know where you're at. You may or may not have to face off a shell holder.

Good shootin'. -Al

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I have ground the $6 shell holder to get a shorter base to shoulder distance. Or you know buy a custom die. But I'm cheap.

I am having difficulty understanding how this helps. Wouldn't it be simpler to raise the die itself?

 

[pintopete]

So I bought one of the Rem 700 barreled actions from PTG, it is a sporter weight stainless in .223. I asked for a Remington bolt if they had one and received a matte blue bolt. Question I have is regarding headspace. I know these are short chambered, and mine won’t close on a Forster Go gauge. I removed the ejector, slipped the gauge under the extractor and inserted the bolt into the action. I tried new Lapua .223 brass and four different rounds of factory loaded ammo and all chambered fine.

My question is would this be safe to fire without cutting the chamber to the Go gauge or will fired rounds stick and not want to extract? I was thinking about renting a finishing reamer to cut it by hand, but if tighter than SAAMI headspace is acceptable I may just shoot it some and see how the accuracy is before I mess with the chamber. I plan to shoot mostly handloads.

Like you, I bought a couple of these. I opted to bring them to my gunsmith and have them finish chambered. That way they are right, and the headspace should never be a question. Cost was not that high. I preferred to have the certainty, and safety.

Best of luck, Peter.

 

[AlNyhus]

I am having difficulty understanding how this helps. Wouldn't it be simpler to raise the die itself?

You want to push the case further in the die to move the shoulder back a bit more (if, in fact, that's what needs to happen).

This can be done by either removing material from the bottom of the die or by removing material from the top of the shell holder. Most opt to face off the shell holder, for obvious reasons.

Hope this helps. -Al

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

You want to push the case further in the die to move the shoulder back a bit more (if, in fact, that's what needs to happen).

This can be done by either removing material from the bottom of the die or by removing material from the top of the shell holder. Most opt to face off the shell holder, for obvious reasons.

Hope this helps. -Al

After giving it little more thought I understand now.

 

[longrange2]

I took fired .223 brass I had used in two other rifles and they would chamber with some resistance before sizing, after sizing they chambered fine. I could probably use the rifle as-is but I may rent a finish reamer and cut it a little deeper by hand.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

AS I remember, the way they listed their barreled actions, they stated the barrels would require a final chambering by a gunsmith. Will this very tight chamber increase chamber pressure. Would it be better to slug the chamber and have a die made to order? Also should the powder load be reduced? What about extraction? Finally, I don't understand why Remington would not finish the chamber in the first place. Seems to me it only takes a few seconds to finish the job at the factory while it is being produced.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

AS I remember, the way they listed their barreled actions, they stated the barrels would require a final chambering by a gunsmith. Will this very tight chamber increase chamber pressure. Would it be better to slug the chamber and have a die made to order? Also should the powder load be reduced? What about extraction? Finally, I don't understand why Remington would not finish the chamber in the first place. Seems to me it only takes a few seconds to finish the job at the factory while it is being produced.

A short chambered barrel only has the start of the chamber so you have to actually ream it to final dimensions. The tenon is there. The other way is a long chambered barrel where you adjust the tenon length to make it headspace

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

A short chambered barrel only has the start of the chamber so you have to actually ream it to final dimensions. The tenon is there. The other way is a long chambered barrel where you adjust the tenon length to make it headspace

Which is why I did not buy one of these. I did get two of the Actions which were supposed to be from the Custom. They were actually fantastic. One had .004 clearance and the other was .003. Both are extremely smooth. I would not fool with a short chamber unless I had it worked on by a good smith. Just my opinion, but doing otherwise is a formula for disaster.

 

[pintopete]

I opted to have my smith do the chamber fitting. He removed the barrels, fit them with a reamer, and re-assembled them. Seemed like the best way to do it.

 

[whatsupdoc]

I took fired .223 brass I had used in two other rifles and they would chamber with some resistance before sizing, after sizing they chambered fine. I could probably use the rifle as-is but I may rent a finish reamer and cut it a little deeper by hand.

Why cut it deeper? if new brass chambers leave it alone.
When I setup a remage barrel on my 700 action I used new lapua brass to adjust headspace, I dont care if
the go gauge fits as long as the brass I intend to use fits.

 

[pintopete]

Why cut it deeper? if new brass chambers leave it alone.
When I setup a remage barrel on my 700 action I used new lapua brass to adjust headspace, I dont care if
the go gauge fits as long as the brass I intend to use fits.

To create the standardized chamber for the caliber. I like my eyes and face the way they are.

 

[tonyb]

To create the standardized chamber for the caliber. I like my eyes and face the way they are.

This! there is a reason for a go gauge. Don't go with the "it's close enough" method, DO IT RIGHT!

Tony.