I was checking several 55 Grain bullets in my new Savage Model 11 using a Stoney Point overall length gauge. Several seemed to have way too little shank left in the case neck, on the order of .085", .096", etc. Since I like to seat close to or on the lands, is this enough neck gripping the bullet shank to provide proper bullet pull?
The cannulure stands a goodly amount away from the case mouth, on bullets with them.

Is this "long throating" the norm with Savage .223's? I seem to remember an assertation in an old Handloader's Digest that, ideally, at least one caliber of the bullet shank should remain in contact with the case neck after seating to final OAL.

Any ideas on this?

Rosse

I had a problem with a savage 223 (blue action "10" and stainless bull barrel)

if you got the bullets even CLOSE to the lands, there is NO WAY they would go into the mag (seems like browning got involved)

the gun had better accuracy with the bullets long, but it was a single load only... but it wasn't enough (.65 vs .8) from my friend to care much about.

for what it's worth, that particular rifle never shoots over an inch, with even mixed bag surplus

jeffe

Dear Jeffe:
Thanks for the reply.

Every load I've made so far doesn't fit in the magazine, so I'm coming up with a plan to replace the block at the back of the magazine box with something shorter that will allow longer COL- may have to diddle the follower, too. I gotta do something, 'cause this gun isn't close to MOA yet.

I got some milsurp M885 63 grain pulldown bullets which leave ~.228" shank within the neck when seated at the lands, so I'll try that next. If they start shooting cloverleafs, I may consider having the barrel shortened a couple of threads and rechambered, so it will shoot shorter / lighter bullets better.

Anybody else got one of these "almost freebored" Savages? What's your fix for it?

Thanks
Rosse

what i've done on abolt brownings is to remove the front block on the mag, mill those smaller, and replace... it;s simpley AMAZING that most 708 loads in an abolt will not fit in the mag... like it was designed for a 2.83" round, even thought that action, with nothing but a mag change and boltface, can handle 30-06/ and 300 win


I'll suggest taking the rifle apart and looking hard at the mag.. I think it's just sheet metal (don't remember.. was a bud's rifle 3 years ago) ...

jeffe