Distance to Lands Differences in Model 10 243s

[tradbeau]

I have a late 90's to early 2000s Model 10 243 that is a tack driver. I talked a friend into buying an Accutrigger Model 10 in 243 Win a few years ago. I gave him some of my hand loads to try, but experienced blown primers right off the bat. Long story short, his rifling lands were closer than mine. I think it was .045. We seated the bullets deeper and the issues went away.

Is this a common issue with the newer Savages? I shot the same load out of an even older Savage 110 in 243 Win and a Remington 700 with no issues.

[CFJunkie]

My oldest Savage rifle a .308 made in 2008 had a deeper chamber (0.080 longer than the SAMMI recommended O.A.L. of 2.800).
All my newer Savage rifles (2010 to 2019) came with chambers that were much closer to the SAMMI recommended O.A.L.
It may be that Savage might have changed how they bored their chambers after 2008.

Also rifle chambers wear (erode) with use.
After 6,500 rounds down the barrel my oldest Savage chamber had eroded another 0.090.

Trying a deep seated bullet in a shorter chamber will increase the pressure if the bullet is touching the lands.
You may be experiencing both factors, depending upon how much usage your old .243 has had.

[tradbeau]

My oldest Savage rifle a .308 made in 2008 had a deeper chamber (0.080 longer than the SAMMI recommended O.A.L. of 2.800).
All my newer Savage rifles (2010 to 2019) came with chambers that were much closer to the SAMMI recommended O.A.L.
It may be that Savage might have changed how they bored their chambers after 2008.


That makes perfect sense based on what I'm seeing. Thanks!

[shaffe48]

I have a 2000 243 and it's my most accurate factory centerfire out of the 5 I've bothered to have.

The .243 has a lot of barrel wear.

[Mr.Snerdly]

My Savage rifles seem to have quite a bit more distance to the lands than the others I have. The Axis I bought not too long ago is the worst. It is about .080" more than a different brand. It seems to shoot well though. Sometimes I wonder if everything I hear about being a certain dimension to the lands for best accuracy is as big of a deal as they say. Of course, I am not in the same league with most of you guys. If I get below 1/2 MOA I am fairly happy. I don't do that every group but enough to believe it wasn't luck. Sometimes I get right around .3 MOA but it might have been luck.