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Thread: Freebore length?

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  1. #1
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    Freebore length?

    Kind of in the weeds, maybe, but I'm planning on putting a new barrel on my 12 FV 6.5 Creedmoor, and at least one of the sources I'm looking at offers chambers with shorter than SAAMI spec freebore. I have this rifle set up as a single shot, so no issues with mag length, but is there any other reason I might benefit from a shorter freebore?

    As the goal is long range shooting, I expect to mostly be using heavier bullets, with the 147 gr. ELD-M probably the heaviest. Have been testing some Berger 144 gr. LR Hybrids, but the results have been less than great. I switched this rifle from .223 to 6.5 CM with a take-off Savage barrel, it shoots well but is a copper mine, thus the search for something better. And just to be clear, this isn't a "what barrel should I get?" thread, I'm just curious about freebore options other than SAAMI spec. Thanks!

    Dave

  2. #2
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    Since you are not constrained by mag length issues, and want to shoot the heavies, just stick with the .199 spec. If you were shooting nothing but sub 130gr bullets and wanted to keep them mag length then the shorter freebore might be useful.

  3. #3
    Basic Member SageRat Shooter's Avatar
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    I built a .260 Remington a few years back and had it chambered in a "Match". That gave me a little more freebore than SAAMI spec. It allowed me to seat the 143 ELD-X way out to take advantage of the case capacity. Being that you're referencing the 147 ELD-M I'd say that you probably want more freebore than less. I bought a Criterion prefit barrel, but I can't remeber how much more freebore they said it had.

  4. #4
    Basic Member Fuj''s Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SageRat Shooter View Post
    I built a .260 Remington a few years back and had it chambered in a "Match". That gave me a little more freebore than SAAMI spec. It allowed me to seat the 143 ELD-X way out to take advantage of the case capacity. Being that you're referencing the 147 ELD-M I'd say that you probably want more freebore than less. I bought a Criterion prefit barrel, but I can't remeber how much more freebore they said it had.
    My Criterion large shank Varmint had a .209 freebore, as verified
    from a chamber cast I do on all my barrels. It's nothing special I
    ordered. It's the way Criterion sent it to me. And yes it came
    direct from Criterion from the early days when they were still in
    the Kreiger shop. I no longer shoot the Creedmoor, but if I did,
    I'd go with a 7.5 twist and a little longer freebore then SAMMI
    Keeping my bad Karma intact since 1952

  5. #5
    Basic Member big honkin jeep's Avatar
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    I shoot a factory barreled Savage so this may be useful, maybe not. For my pet load I load with my bullets touching the lands by using a neck sizing die, loading a little long, and letting the lands finish seating the bullet. I've found it's hard to get more consistent than that and have been able to get some fantastic accuracy doing it. My 700s all seem to have come with longer freebore and I cant seem to replicate this with them and still feed from the mag. It seems to me just as a personal preference I prefer a shorter freebore so my bullets will reach the lands over a longer one.
    A good wife and a steady job has ruined many a great hunter.

  6. #6
    Basic Member Robinhood's Avatar
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    Freebore is not the same as leade/throat.
    The Dunning-Kruger effect is alive and well.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Robinhood View Post
    Freebore is not the same as leade/throat.
    Maybe a technical description is needed in order to clear up some of our minds on the issue?

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