I just assembled my first rifle. It has a model 12 action and Shilen barrel. A friend measured the chamber with his Stoney Point gauge. Using 175 gr Sierra Match Kings the COAL would be 2.69 at the lands. I chambered a 168 gr. Federal Gold Medal Match rouind and when I extracted it there was a scuff mark that ran halfway around the bullet.

This is my first custom barrel. Has anyone else seen a throat that short? I suppose on the positive side I won't have to worry about loading too long for the magazine. But it does cut into case capacity.

The rifle will be used to learn long range shooting, out to a 1000 yards. I was planning on using 175 gr SMK or 178 gr AMAX. Will the short chamber hurt me?