bullet to lands, max distance?

[tstarky]

Hi,
I have an older Remington 700 BDL, 30-06. Bought it used. It, shoots 2" or less groups at 100yrds. I want better accuracy for long range hunting, 600-800 yards.

I'm in the process of measuring the chamber for reloading. I diassembled a Remington core Loct 180gr factory round and slid the bullet just into the case end, chambered the round and gentle ejected. I was surprised to discover a 0.170" distance between the rifling lands and the seating grove on the bullet.

I repeated the measurement test with Hornaday measuring equipment, Berger and Sierra bullets. The bullets barly slid into the case, about .050". Not enough to create a safe reload.

Has anyone seen such a gap between bullet and rifling lands? What should I do?

 

[FEENIX]

Welcome to LRH and enjoy!

Check out the similar/related threads below.

 

[Sully2]

Hi,
I have an older Remington 700 BDL, 30-06. Bought it used. It, shoots 2" or less groups at 100yrds. I want better accuracy for long range hunting, 600-800 yards.

I'm in the process of measuring the chamber for reloading. I diassembled a Remington core Loct 180gr factory round and slid the bullet just into the case end, chambered the round and gentle ejected. I was surprised to discover a 0.170" distance between the rifling lands and the seating grove on the bullet.

I repeated the measurement test with Hornaday measuring equipment, Berger and Sierra bullets. The bullets barly slid into the case, about .050". Not enough to create a safe reload.

Has anyone seen such a gap between bullet and rifling lands? What should I do?

My Rem 22-250. My reloads are seated more than .125 further out that factory and can go even more...but wont feed from the magazine if I go more

 

[tstarky]

Thanks Feenix. The largest gap reported there was .040 none addressed a 4 times+ larger gap of .170. Has anyone measured their Remington 700? What distance have you found? I'm wondering if this is factory or worn or miscut by a gunsmith.

 

[Joe King]

I'm jumping mine 0.080" any less than 0.060 jump and I can't use my magazine

 

[AZShooter]

The best you can do is to seat the bullet deep enough in the neck so it don't move during recoil in the mag box. Work up a load and ignore the jump. Heck Weatherby used to have a .375" jump and they shot just fine.

If it really bothers you, have the barrel setback and rechambered. Even better, get a new barrel and have it chambered to suit you.

I just got through loading a friend's sporter 300 WSM. Due to short magazine OAL is 2.850. Jump to rifling is .140", it shoots just fine.

 

[tstarky]

Thanks everyone.
Having heard that there are rifles out there that shoot fine with a large jump to lands helps build my confidence in this rifles possibility to hold smaller groups by creating custom rounds.

I spoke to Bruno's here in Phoenix AZ and he suggested that if I wanted a new custom barrel it would cost $900 because he would not place a new barrel without truing the action first. Sage advice. I was not ready to spend $900 on this 30-06 rifle today. I will do this on another more match favorable caliber rifle.

 

[AZShooter]

Sounds like he doesn't want to do the job. I am certain if you shop around you could get a barrel installed for far less. IMO you don't have to blueprint the action to have reasonable accuracy. Heck I have several sporters that have Rem take off barrels installed with no other work done and they shoot 1/2 MOA or better.

In the meantime be sure your barrel is clean, bedding is sound, action screws tight, crown in good shape then go ahead and make a load for your rifle.

 

[tstarky]

thanks AZShooter. What barrels do you like and who installed them?

 

[AZShooter]

I have four liljas and a bartlein. All the rest are factory. All the rest are rechambered rem factory takeoffs.

I have used Harry Lawson Co in Tucson Az for over 20 yrs. Now I do my own barrel installations including chambering.