Hope someone can help me here. I've got a Sako 85 in 338 Federal. Fired case necks measure up to .373". I purchased some once fired brass which hasn't been resized and those necks measure .364".

My gun is grouping very poorly and I'm wondering if I've got an out of spec chamber?

I searched a bit but can't find a link to any drawings showing max chamber dia for the neck. Any help would be appreciated.

Thx

Mike

You figure approximately .030 for brass and a minimum of .004 clearance which gives you .372. Considering the excess dimensions in factory chambers, I think .373 is just fine. I would look elsewhere for the problem.

Thanks Guy
Maybe it just doesn't like the 180gr Nosler Accubonds I'm trying to feed it using H-4895 powder. Didn't care for Federal's factory loads with that bullet either, which are seated 1/8" or so deeper than my loads.

I'll have to consider my options with this gun. Darn Tikkas have me spoiled (savage too), I'm not used to working to get guns to shoot well.

Hello NoMo:

Max. SAAMI cartridge neck for 338 Federal is .370". Min SAAMI chamber neck tapers from .372" @ neck/shoulder junction to .371" @ case mouth. Chambers have +.002" diametral tolerance, so your chamber is on the large end of standard--especially when you consider springback in the neck.

Dave Manson

I'd suggest trying a heavier bullet. 180 grain is on the light side for .338 caliber. I'd bet 210 grain will group better.

Thanks for the replies. Group dispersion is horizontal. I'm pretty certain it's a bedding issue.
I don't like the bedding system used on this rifle. It would work fine but my gun has gaps either side of the action so things are swimming around a bit.

quote:

Originally posted by Nomo4me:
Thanks for the replies. Group dispersion is horizontal. I'm pretty certain it's a bedding issue.
I don't like the bedding system used on this rifle. It would work fine but my gun has gaps either side of the action so things are swimming around a bit.

As I recall, you were a fairly good stock guy. Why not mix a shit load of wood shavings and some glue together and fill in the stock. Then you could take a hammer and a chisel to it and make it all better.

A "good stock guy"???!!!

Shite Malm, I tought Echols, Hughes and Weibe everything I know. Took all of 5 minutes

I'm deciding on what to do with this gun. In my heart I no longer want to own it but I hate to send it down the road with the bedding and accuracy in it's current sorry state.
If I do bed it I'll go right over the top of that blasted recoil plate with the muck, gluing it into the stock and supporting the sides of the action and bbl under the chamber. I'll probably get to it within a week.