Rem 700 throat length?

[oldgunny]

I recently bought a new Remington 700, in .308,with a heavy barrel to shoot F-Class T/R. I have, however, found that the throat was cut extremely long. When the bullet is touching the lands there is only about .100 bearing surface in the case. I have tried 175gr, 173gr, and 168gr HPBT bullets, all with the same results. when the cartridge is a standard 2.8" long the bullet has to jump about .150. I am thinking that I will have to have the barrel set back or have this rifle re barreled. My question is, Has anyone else seen a new Remington rifle with a throat this long? and does anyone know of any other way to fix this? Also the rules for F-Class T/R say you must use an unmodified chamber. If I have this rifle re barreled or have the barrel set back, would that be considered a modified chamber?

 

[longshooter]

There are currently discussions going on at benchrest central on this subject;

http://www.benchrest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57424
http://www.benchrest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57492

 

[oldgunny]

Thanks, that was a good link. It looks like a long throat on a Remington 700 is a common problem. I tried to call Remington today to see if I just got a bad rifle, or if this is how they cut them now, but of course they are closed until Monday.

 

[billmo]

Every single Remington .308 that I have ever owned has had a long free bore. But, don't sweat it. A lot of guys including myself have come to realize that the .308 performs just as well and sometimes better with jump to land seating. Go to the .308 page here on the web-site and look at some of the most accurate loads from bullet seating at or near 2.800. I would try some of those loads before giving up. You may be surprised. Bill

 

[jr600yd]

Your long throated 308 is standard on Remingtons. Years ago I asked the same question of a Remy Rep and was told all there 308's and 06's were throated for 220gr bullets. Why? Beats the s#$t out of me!

 

[oldgunny]

With Black Hills 175gr Match Ammunition, this rifle will hold about a 1.5 inch group,center to center)at 100 yards. In a five shot group there will be at least one flyer. I thought that reloads designed for the rifle would tighten up that group. The first thing I did was measure the COAL with a stoney point OAL gage. That's when I found out how long the throat was. I know that a lot of .308's do well jumping to the lands, however, in this rifle the bullet will have to jump well over .150" if loaded to 2.800. What I don't understand is what Remington had in mind when they made this rifle. With a varmint weight barrel it is not the best deer rifle, and with the throat so long it's hard to make it accurate enough to be a varmint/target/tactical/F-Class rifle. I won't sell a gun to someone else that won't shoot, so I guess this one will own a place in the back of the safe until I can find a way to make it shoot.

 

[Preacher]

I would install a new barrel spec'ed to what I planned on shooting out of it..
I don't care for rifles with ultra long freebores, or all I would own would be Weatherbys......

 

[kms924]

In my savage f/tr .308 I have found that with 155gr. Lapuas they shoot best with about a .023 jump. This is not bench rest accurate, but will consistently shoot .350 for 5 shots at 100yrds.

 

[oldgunny]

I have just started looking into new barrels and reamers. This has presented more questions then answers.
What I'm hope to do is put together a rifle that will chamber a .308 cartridge 2.800" long out of a magazine and have the bullet ogive seat about .020" of the lands. I use the same brass,wichester)and bullet,175gr SMK HPBT)for everything. Does this sound like somthing that can be done?
Is it best to buy a reamer and barrel and have someone put it together, or send it to the barrel maker and have them do it.

 

[Gearheadpyro]

My remmy .308 has a long throat too, using the hornady sst's 165 gr it jumps almost .200 inch. That seems to be what the gun likes,my oal is 2.810')