According to SAMMI specs, .223Rem COL is 2.260". In my Tikka M595 Sporter the COL for my chamber with 53-grain Sierra HP Match bullet is 2.252", short by 0.008".
Is this normal?
Shouldn't that be longer to make SAMMI specs?
Have you ever experience similar situation?

PS
Accuracy is good so far, best I can get so far is around 1/2", but have just started working on right combination for that rifle.
It looks like Benchrest 25-grain, with Sierra 53HPMatch and Federal match primer works good, maybe I gonna explore H322 later on.
Case is Winchester and I am thinking about getting that neck turn to uniform the thickness or maybe get Lapua.
Also using Wilson bushing dies I have noticed that my 245 bushing doesn't make bullet seating snug enough (with little bit of force I can push the bullet inside the case), so I've ordered 244 and 243 from Sinclair. Maybe tighter neck will help with improving accuracy.
One more thing,
after reloading, I like to test a loaded cartridge against the chamber, so I load it in, and I've noticed that the bullet is pushed more inside after one bolt cycle.
For example, my messured COL is 2.252", but when I have cycled the cartridge the lenght shrinks to around 2.242",
how this is possible???

Your comments are welcome.

Peter

Peter -

Actually, SAAMI for each cartridge will list both a min and max OAL - for the 223 Rem, 2.165 and 2.260", respectively. These values represent lengths that the gun industry agrees should function though any SAAMI member mfg'd firearm. These dimensions are guidelines, they are not requirements for (handloaded) loaded ammo. Case in point: the 218 bee is listed as 1.645/1.680"... but we find that our's shoots best at 1.710-1.715"... so that's were we load it. [Though a note in that most published loads are published with a particular OAL - if one loads shorter, then the velocity and pressures will be higher, and conversely, if loaded longer, lower and lower.]

do shoot straight,
greg
www.gmdr.com

SAAMI spec for the .223 Remington cartridge is 2.165" min, 2.260" max length.

SAAMI spec for the .223 Remington chamber is 1.8570" min, 1.8720" max to the end of the [ 3 degree, 10 minute, 36 second] throat. From that point forward, the groove is .224" min .226" max and the bore is .219" min and .221" max.

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