I have swapped a lot of barrel but this one has me stumped.
Never done a win mag before.

This is a used 338 WM barrel and I am beginning to think the chamber might be bad but I dont know.
Like the edge of the shelf where the band sits is rounded off.

I can not get it to headspace using forester go and no go gages.
The go gage is marked .220 the no go marked .223.
I put a caliper on them and that is correct so the gages are good.

The outside of the band of the go and no go gage is .532-.533
The outside of a new piece of brass is .529

If I get it where it will barely I mean barely close on the go gage the bolt will not close on the no go gage but the go gage is way too tight.
If I set the go gage so that the closing the bolt is a little looser but still slightly stiff, the bolt will close on the no go gage.

If I remove the barrel and insert each and measure from the face of the barrel to the back of the go gage, no go gage and a piece of new brass.

This is what I get.

Go gage - .116

No go - .111

New brass - .124 so the brass is actually sitting deper in the chamber than the go gage.

Why the face of the brass is actually farther into the chamber than the go gage is, is beyond me unless the chamber is bad ??

Any help appreciated.

Thanks