Seating depth/Throat questions for 17 Rem

[kzz1king]

I am trying to work up some loads for my 17. I am using Rem 7.5 primers, Rem 25 bullets and W760 (26.5 GR). This gun used to shoot this load well under an inch and now its closer to 1.5-2".

I had trouble with bullets tumbling and a good cleaning has eliminated that problem but it still isnt shooting as well as it did.

I can easily chamber fired cases without resizing. Is this common? OK?

My current OAL is 2.212" (Recommended is 2.150") I have been trying to see how far out I can seat the bullet without touching the lands useing a bullet blackened with a marker. Seems I can move clear out to 2.228"

So, what does this all mean? Is the an indication that throat may be worn? Any ideas for getting this thing to shoot a little better? Thanks

 

[fdshuster]

kzz1king: You may have a serious buildup/accumulation of carbon fouling in the bore. I had a 20 cal. and that was a major problem. First 15 or 20 rds. groups were very good, then all went downhill, fast. Cleaned the barrel and saw the ugly black streaks ( with my "Hawkeye" borescope), gave it a thorough cleaning with JB borepaste, carbon out, and start all over again. Carbon is a major problem with the sub-calibers, I believe, and you gotta keep after it. It will also raise pressures and if you start blowing primers and get hard bolt lift after firing, that could be the problem.

 

[kzz1king]

I have done some serous cleaning on this thing but I have no way of verifying just how clean it is. I cannot discern any tight spots. Thanks

 

[vrscdx09]

I would take a look at the throat for sure. Sometimes its not a big deal tho. Ive burned some throats out and it was still good enough to launch ground hogs at 300 n go. My old 17 rem I always thought the barrel was clean with hoppes. Dead wrong. Soaked with Gunzilla copper out and groups closed right in.

 

[kzz1king]

The throat is definitely wore a bit. Hopefully can get it to shoot. I have been soaking it in wipeout in 12 hour shifts. About 5/6 times now and still getting blue.

 

[cmillard]

get a chamber plug and pour some hoppe's down the pipe. i usually let mine set overnight. this will take out all the fouling. if not, then i run some jb through the barrel, then repeat the soaking with hoppe's again. how many rounds down the barrel?

 

[fdshuster]

kzz1king: If you are having success in getting the carbon fouling out of the bore, your cleaning patches will be coal black, as they are when you first start cleaning, and are getting the powder fouling out. My best indication when all the copper is out, is after soaking for a few hours, the color of the solvent dripping out of the bore is close to the color it was when going in. I then can verify the copper is gone with my borescope. Patches can come out clean, and heavy carbon can still be present, again, as verified with the borescope. That's when I go to work with the JB.