problem with O.A.L. and pic's of new rifle

[alexkeyser]

I have a new 7wsm that I just had built last summer. I picked the rifle up late sept. but with my work/ hunting schedule I have just started playing around with loads. So far I have 22 rounds down the tube.

Tonight I started measuring for o.a.l. with my stoney point o.a.l. gauge and bullet compareters. (I just used the recommended O.A.L. out of the book for the first few) I found that the o.a.l. of a 168 gr. berger right at the lands, was 2.495". At this length the bullet is barely in the case I did load a few up at the longest length I felt comfortable with, but these measured 2.265" and did not fit in the factory mag. well.

This isn't a problem as I will probably have the mag. converted to an wyatts extended version before next hunting season.

My question is why are the lands so far away from the chamber? And will the bergers work being this far away from the lands? So far I have not been overly impressed with the accuracy. And actually, if I wanted to switch to a lighter bullet I really won't be close to the lands. what gives? Can this be fixed?

The specs' on the rifle are:

Rem. 700 action trued
26" Hart 7wsm, sendero contour barrel, fluted
factory trigger at 2 1/4 lbs.
Mac A-5 50% tan 25% black 25% white
removable muzzle brake(definatly not needed)
leupold 6.5-20x50 mark 4 tmr reticle
cobalt coating on all metal
11 7/8 lbs. with scope, no bipod

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/bone2711/hunting pics/IMG_1069.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/bone2711/hunting pics/IMG_1068.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/bone2711/hunting pics/IMG_1067.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/bone2711/hunting pics/IMG_1066.jpg

 

[landcbeitner]

Sounds like your gunsmith decided you needed a long throat, or ordered the reamer with the wrong specs.

 

[britz]

I have a factory 300wsm and have the same issues. My solution was to just stick to the max lenght that would fit in the magazine and work from there since I couldnt' hit the rifling anyway. (now that I think about it, I should check it agian since I was testing w/ 165's then, and now shoot 180's - oh well). I got mine to shoot quite good w/ lots of freebore, maybe you can too.

 

[boomtube]

Factory rifle chambers and the leade are cut to safely accept the longest factory ammo available, usually a heavy Round Nose. Unless you specify otherwise, most smiths will do the same. That means lighter pointed bullets will sit well off the lands.

 

[EZShooter]

Noticed the same issue with my 300 RUM

My smith chambered my barrel to shoot 30 caliber 200 gr & up pills, but when I go to 210 Berger VLD's, my OAL is way out there. I believe that its a characteristic of the Bergers, as 220 SMK's work fine, with a shorter OAL. I am sure it has to do with the amount of bearing surface each has, and where it starts - at least for my rifle. I would be interested in what others have to say as well...

EZ