Hersh5317
03-28-2012, 09:18 AM
I bought a Model 11 in .308 several months ago and went to the range. I had fun with a 100 yard zero trying to guess hold over at a 700 yard silhoutte with a couple different loads. I was close several times, but was really there to get my .223 Howa dialed in so I switched the rifles and went to town at 200 and 300 yards. I have been considering several options for a long range varmint load/caliber for dual use as a deer (and bear if I decide to try that) round. I traded an unused scope for a 7mm-08 Shaw varmint contour barrel and believe it is between 9 and 10 twist from my measurements. Being on a tight budget, I am extremely thankful to THOMAE and WHIT for allowing me to borrow the tools etc. to swap my barrels and the advice I was given when we met. It took about 45 minutes to get everything done to my satisfaction. I put it in a HS Precision stock I purchased from another member and it looks like it is ready to draw blood. I now just need my pre-ordered scope to come in (promised to ship in the spring so it could still be a while).
Down to the gritty...I purchased some Prvi Partisan 7mm-08 ammo this morning and took a couple rou ds in a mag to the bas of a hill by my house. With muzzle pointed at the base of the hill, I cycled the action to check the headspace and make sure all was feeding properly. The bolt was stiff, but closed on the rounds. I checked the bullet and there are no marks. I also don't see marks on the shoulder or anywhere else on the case. Every round extracted perfectly. I bumped the barrel on the gauge and tightened the nut, added a piece of scotch tape to the gauge and it was hard to start camming the lugs. I felt the tape start to squish (very technical term) and stopped because I was using more force than I feel comfortable using to chamber a round. The feeling of the cases this morning chambering required about half that amount of downforce I used before stopping on the pseudo No-Go gauge. Should I back the barrel out a tad so it closes on one piece of tape but not 2? I had an experienced handloader cast a .308 chamber for me and do some custom loads years ago. From my recollection, they were also difficult to chamber, but slightly less than that Prvi. Should I do a remote test fire as is or...? If this is normal, I'm thrilled. If it isn't, I'm glad to learn before things go boom.
Down to the gritty...I purchased some Prvi Partisan 7mm-08 ammo this morning and took a couple rou ds in a mag to the bas of a hill by my house. With muzzle pointed at the base of the hill, I cycled the action to check the headspace and make sure all was feeding properly. The bolt was stiff, but closed on the rounds. I checked the bullet and there are no marks. I also don't see marks on the shoulder or anywhere else on the case. Every round extracted perfectly. I bumped the barrel on the gauge and tightened the nut, added a piece of scotch tape to the gauge and it was hard to start camming the lugs. I felt the tape start to squish (very technical term) and stopped because I was using more force than I feel comfortable using to chamber a round. The feeling of the cases this morning chambering required about half that amount of downforce I used before stopping on the pseudo No-Go gauge. Should I back the barrel out a tad so it closes on one piece of tape but not 2? I had an experienced handloader cast a .308 chamber for me and do some custom loads years ago. From my recollection, they were also difficult to chamber, but slightly less than that Prvi. Should I do a remote test fire as is or...? If this is normal, I'm thrilled. If it isn't, I'm glad to learn before things go boom.