Gents

I have a Boddington Kudu (300 H&H) that has a short throat.

I cannot even seat bullets to SAAMI max of 3.6", let alone seat them out the way I like to in a No 1.

I want this rifle optimized for heavy bullets, and currently, the 220gr Partition hits the lands at 3.57" OAL.

I would like to be able to seat this bullet to 3.75 OAL, which will put the base of the bullet only 0.1" below the neck.

Any opinions on who should I take the rifle to for a .2" ream?

I have no experience with gunsmithing here, except for having 2" cut off a .375 about 12 years ago at Carter's Country on I-10. That turned out fine.

Thanks!


Tim

Does it need to be done in Houston?

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Kobe:
Does it need to be done in Houston?

Hi Jim

I live in Houston and having it done here would certainly simplify things, not to mention reduce ancillary costs.

Tim

Buy a throater (reamer) and do it yourself.

Bobby Pitchford in Waller County, off Kickapoo Road (NW of Houston off 290). Pitchford Custom Gun Works. He used to be with Briley. http://www.pcgguns.com/

^^^^

I mostly have my work done out of town, but that is good to know too .

Call Dave Manson at 810 953 0732. He owns Manson Precision Reamers and can tell you what to do and how to do it.

Yes, a throater only costs 40 bucks and you will pay more than that to get it done at a gunsmith. And you can sell it later to some guy here on AR for 25 and you have done the job for 15 bucks. Can't beat that!

quote:

Originally posted by tarbe:
Gents


I want this rifle optimized for heavy bullets, and currently, the 220gr Partition hits the lands at 3.57" OAL.

I would like to be able to seat this bullet to 3.75 OAL, which will put the base of the bullet only 0.1" below the neck.

Any opinions on who should I take the rifle to for a .2" ream?

I have no experience with gunsmithing here, except for having 2" cut off a .375 about 12 years ago at Carter's Country on I-10. That turned out fine.

Thanks!

Tim

No matter who lengthens the throat in your rifle, I suggest you allow more clearance from the rifling than .001" if it is to be used for hunting at all.


All commercial bullet-makers wear out the form dies for their bullets fairly frequently. And the replacement die is almost never exactly the same in the ogive area. What that means is variation in bullet ogive length,& diameter, which can be more than .001" for the finished bullet.

Not too important if shooting at the range or in plinking. But when hunting, it can leave you with a bullet stuck in the barrel throat, powder all through your action, and an empty primed case in your hand, if you try to extract a loaded round without firing it.

May never happen, but when you have a nice greater kudu or bull elk out there in front of you, it can be pretty darned disappointing...especially on the last day of a hunt.

So, for hunting rifles, I always leave at least .003" clearance from the rifling. In your case that would just mean throating it to a depth .002" more than the .001" you had planned...and it might even shoot better at that distance from the rifling too!

I can recommend Briley Manufacturing in Houston. Just look them up on the net. They will do you a good job.