bullet OAL

[2704deer]

I use a .270
and have reloaded my own ammo for years
I have come across an odd case with my friends .280
He keeps getting his bullets stuck in the rifling even though we measured the oal with a stoneypoint guage and came back 40thou
We used a vernia dial guage with the ogive coller on it
re measured every bullet before loading still the same bullets getting stuck,which is a pain when in the bush shooting.
His rifle is a remy 700 which has apparently had some modifications done to make it more accurate?
I am wondering if it can be something with the bolt and action as I knoaw some of these gunsmiths tweek them when they are customising these remy 700 rifles
Can any one shed some light on this? As all problems have usually happened before
Hamish

[Bindernut]

Is it just one particular brand/weight of bullet getting stuck?
Are these reloads or factory ammo?

If reloads, double-check the bullet diameter and maybe try a different brand.
Also check out the size of the expander ball in the sizing die too. I've seen them oversize before (with Lee AND RCBS...so no comments on the Red/Green debate! LOL).
If OAL is shorter than what you're measuring with the StoneyPoint gauge, it sounds like the case just isn't gripping the bullet tight enough.

( And I have to ask...I certainly hope the answer is no though ... )
You aren't loading the .280 with .277 bullets are ya?

[2704deer]

Firstly no to the last question,
however I have known of some who has a.243 and a.308 and fired some .243 bullets out of a .308 and when it didnt group tried to blame the federal cartridges. dumb prick.
These are reloaded ammo,I suggested he buy a competition die to resize and seat his bullets as some years ago I once had bullets not gripping the heads firmly enough" leason learnt"
Thanks for your reply
Hamish

[Terry_P]

It sounds like they are jumping crimp.

[Bindernut]

Originally Posted by 2704deer

Firstly no to the last question,
however I have known of some who has a.243 and a.308 and fired some .243 bullets out of a .308 and when it didnt group tried to blame the federal cartridges. dumb prick.
These are reloaded ammo,I suggested he buy a competition die to resize and seat his bullets as some years ago I once had bullets not gripping the heads firmly enough" leason learnt"
Thanks for your reply
Hamish

Didn't think so...but it doesn't hurt to ask. My dad tried sighting in his 270 with a box of my 25-06 rounds once...finally came and asked me if his scope might've been bad since it just wouldn't zero.

TerryP might be onto something too. Try using the crimp groove if the bullet has one. I'd still suspect the expander ball being a bit out of spec too (or maybe just a buildup of lube/rust/etc on it).

[2704deer]

hehas bought a new rcbs competition die so hope its ok now
I will pull his old lee die to bits when I see him next and see if tere is rust or lube on the expander.That is something i hadnotthoght of
Thanks again
Hamish

[artabr]

Blacken your bullet and case neck with lamp black, sight black, marks-a-lot and see what and where is sticking. Take a unprimed empty case & the bullet you plan to use and make & keep a dummy round. Could your rifle have a custom barrel with a tight neck?

ART

[user]

Is it possible there's a gas leak in the chamber from a crack or something? Too light a load for that gun perhaps?

[Terry_P]

What do the fired cases look like? Do they show a lot of carbon? I'd have a smith look it over.

[stash247]

I do mostly rimfire work, but will offer this, because there is a constant, here; I order my reamers in dimensions that put a particular brand and bullet shape, into the rifling, all three driving bands, for accuracy.
Many of my riflles do annual podium finishes, so it seems to work.
Here's the catch; they will 'pull bullets', and often, if one attempts to extract a loaded round; sounds like the same situation, here.
Many center fire Benchrest shooters feel the same way, about rifling engagement; they know that 'short throating' the chamber will lead to better accuracy, and that it will also raise pressure, dramatically, as the bullet has no 'run', at the rifling, so reduce their loads, and work up, carefully.
If in fact, the 280 is 'short throated' one must either shoot the round out, or accept the pulled bullet, in extracting a loaded round. If you do this, with the rifle 'muzzle up' you will not fill the action with powder, but it may take a cleaning rod, to extract the bullet!
In such a case, reduce the OAL by ten thousanths, at a time, using dummies, until it will extract, intact, if this is a hunting gun, or, live with the issue, and shoot it out.
I am building a .17 Hornet, right now, that will be so chambered; the reamer guy called three times to confirm my print dimensions, which I repeatedly confirmed. He told me of the possibility of extraction problems, with loaded rounds, which I fully recognise, and accept, in the interest of accuracy.
Pick your poison, I guess!
I build rifles that shoot in the threes, from the gate, so I may know a small part of what it takes; forget the bullet, shoot it out, and, move on, if it is an accurate load, and rifle.

[williamd]

Short throating can be achieved by the method I used for years in competition. Best accuracy and no bullet pulling a bullet does not engage lands.

Seat bullet LONG, put in rifle and close bolt EASILY (this will push bullet into case), extract, turn seater die 1 turn (1/14") past bullet touch.

I have done this by just putting bullet into fired case and closing action.

Your cartridge will be in the action with 1/14" in front of the bullet.

All bullets are different so this may need to be done for the differetnt bullets. Look at bullet ogive to determine.

Longer commercial freebores - Weatherby, Shultz&Larsen - use too much freebore to achieve velocity and lose accuracy.