Freebore on Savage factory barrels

[shovelheadave]

I'm getting ready to do my first barrel swap.

I scored what was sold to me as a new factory take off barrell from a 12 FVSS in 22-250. I haven't done the swap yet but, decided to check the barrel out with my Stoney Point OAL gage. I found that when using a Speer 50gr soft point, the bullet would seat at the very edge of the neck.

I decide to check my current 110 (also 22-250) and found pretty much the same thing.

Is it common that a new factory barrel would have so much freebore ?? Is my "new" barrel already throated ??

[dolomite_supafly]

Using 69 grain SMK's I seat them to a COAL of 2.43" in my 223 Stevens. Even at this long I still am not into the lands. Having a long throat isn't a bad thing, it helps reduce pressures. Some other gun makers have some pretty substantial throats.

Dolomite

[nova1194]

I have 3 Savage 22-250 barrels and all of them have lots of freebore, it seems to be the trend for the 22-250, my 308 on the other hand is very short, When I first got the rifle I loaded up some test rounds to the max OAL in the manual and the bolt wouldnt hardly close, had to shorten them .020 to get them just touching the lands with a 150gr bullet. My 223 is kind of in the middle, I can seat 50gr and heavier bullets out to the lands but not 40s.

Mike

[jdg]

My 10FP .308, has a very short leade. Fed GMM 168gr, oal is 2.800", and the bullet is .013" off the lands

[shovelheadave]

Maybe my particular bullet selection has something to do with it ?? I tried it again with a Sierra 77gr Match King, granted that would be too heavy for a 1:12 barrel but, just as a comparison.

With the 77gr SMK, to the lands I read 3.136” using a Stoney Point OAL Gauge & Bullet Comparator in the 12 FVSS barrel, and 3.125” in my used 110 barrel.

If anyone else out there has a 22-250 and some 77gr SMKs, I'd really be interested to hear your readings.

[Slowpoke Slim]

I didn't shoot any 77 gr SMK's out of my factory 22-250 BVSS barrel, but my throat was *very* short. My replacement McGowen barrel has what I would consider a more "normal" throat and I can seat bullets further out. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I could look up the OAL's if needed. I guess it's possible to get variations in any manufacturing process??

[shovelheadave]

I should have been more clear, the 77s I have are for my Service Rifle (.223). I was only using them because they're longer and I could get a good read.

My fear is that I've bought what was supposed to be a new factory take-off barrel but, is actually already throated and worthless. Let's hope not.

[steveinwv]

Model 12 VLP 22-250 1 in 9" twist, 77SMK, 2.573" OAL hard into the lands. With a 69SMK its 2.490" OAL just kissing the lands.

[shovelheadave]

Very cool, thanks.

Just measuring the actual OAL (not using the comparator), I'm at 2.532" into the lands. So that's about right, correct ??