Problem with new (used) .308

C

Colo77bronco

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 25, 2011
29
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Colorado
#1
So I just bought a used .308 off of gunbroker for a great price. Remington 700 blue printed and trued, Proof Research carbon fiber barrel, HS precision stock, great trigger, and Leupold 8.5-25 tactical scope with Milrad turrets for only $2200. Great deal right? Well, I got it to the range and it shoots great but when I tried to remove a chambered round it was really tough and I pulled the shell but left the bullet in the lands and poured powder all over. This was Federal Match ammo with sierra game kings. Obviously the bullet is loaded into the lands. The bolt isn't hard to close. Did they just try to chamber it too tight and go a little too far?

Here is my dilemma. Do I leave it as is and take a chance with increased pressures? Do I keep it as is but re-seat all of the bullets a little deeper once I calculate the rifles true OAL to the ogive and just have rifle that requires hand loads? Or do I send it back and request my money? I am thinking that even if I have to rebarrel it I got an OK deal but I really like the set-up as it is.
 
#3
Re: Problem with new (used) .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BESETbyAPOSTATES</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Send it to a COMPETENT gunsmith with a few rounds of Federal Gold Medal Match ammo. Have them throat it to those rounds. Shouldn't take them more than a half hour to do and shouldn't cost you much at all. </div></div>

+1
 
#5
Re: Problem with new (used) .308

Those of us with factory chambers wish we could reach the lands...

Its probably chambered to something specific, you could ask the seller if they know. Don't send it with FGMM if you plan to shoot something loaded with SGKs.

If you're handloading seat to the depth that the rifle requires.

<span style="text-decoration: line-through">If you want a good all around will handle everything chamber ask what reamer to to have used for that in the gunsmithing section, lots of knowledge in there. Seems there's a palma one that's pretty universally liked.</span>
 
#6
Re: Problem with new (used) .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Beef</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Those of us with factory chambers wish we could reach the lands...

Its probably chambered to something specific, you could ask the seller if they know. Don't send it with FGMM if you plan to shoot something loaded with SGKs.

If you're handloading seat to the depth that the rifle requires.

If you want a good all around will handle everything chamber ask what reamer to to have used for that in the gunsmithing section, lots of knowledge in there. Seems there's a palma one that's pretty universally liked. </div></div>

The barrel is already chambered. No need for a "reamer" it only has to be throated. Hence the reason he needs to send in some rounds and have the barrel throated to those rounds. Doesn't have to be FGMM I was only using that as an example.
 
#7
Re: Problem with new (used) .308

First step I'd do is contact the seller and see if he has some specifics on the chamber.

Without knowing more, I'd probably just bump my FGMM in the die once I find the measurements I need. But I shoot mainly handloads through my rifles so I can customize to my needs. If you're going to be traveling to matches where you might have to buy off-the-shelf ammo than I'd get it re-throated.

With my current .308 rig I'm planning to start off with FGMM and then resort to handloads once I deplete my supply.
 
#8
Re: Problem with new (used) .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BESETbyAPOSTATES</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
The barrel is already chambered. No need for a "reamer" it only has to be throated. Hence the reason he needs to send in some rounds and have the barrel throated to those rounds. Doesn't have to be FGMM I was only using that as an example. </div></div>

My apologies, last thing the net needs is more mis-information.
I didn't mean to single you out for suggesting FGMM, if that was what he was using. I'm confused about what Federal Match ammo it is that he is using as Federal's match ammunition is loaded with SMKs not SGKs, which could of course be a simple mistake. As you clarified though, not terribly important, as long as he sends what he'll shoot.
 
#10
Re: Problem with new (used) .308

It is not broke, so do not fix it - this is a condition that is commonly intentionally done for having the bullet consistently to the lands

if the problem is with extracting live rounds - do not do that

FGMM is not going to be over pressure with this - is is a very mild load

If you have the throat set forward it is quite likely to decrease the accuracy

after 1000-2000 rds the throat will likely be eroded and no longer be able to unseat a factory load
 
#11
Re: Problem with new (used) .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: George63</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is not broke, so do not fix it - this is a condition that is commonly intentionally done for having the bullet consistently to the lands

if the problem is with extracting live rounds - do not do that

FGMM is not going to be over pressure with this - is is a very mild load

If you have the throat set forward it is quite likely to decrease the accuracy

after 1000-2000 rds the throat will likely be eroded and no longer be able to unseat a factory load </div></div>


federal match 308 (168 or 175 grain) will be plenty accurate without having the bullet jammed into the lands hard enough that you can't extract a loaded round. i personally would be posting on a different website if my rifles couldn't eject a loaded round. in my opinion, a "tactical" type rifle is not built right if it can't eject a loaded round.


like others mentioned, if you are going to hand load, contact the previous owner and see what they were using/what the chamber was intended for. if you are planning on only using factory ammo, it would be best to send it to a competent rifle smith to have the throat lengthened appropriately.
 
#12
Re: Problem with new (used) .308

The box of Federal that I am using has bold italic letters that say Federal Match but they are hunting rounds with sierra game kings. I do handload but wasn't sure if I wanted a rifle that I couldn't just buy ammo for in a pinch.

Thanks for all of your help guys!
 
#13
Re: Problem with new (used) .308

Sierra has some pretty loose diameter tolerances. They vary quite a bit even within the same lot.

I ran into this very issue on a rifle I built. Turned out some Sierras can be up to almost .001" over. I had to have my reamer revised to cut a larger not longer throat in order to clear those bullets.

Sierra is aware of the tolerances and said they have no intention of tightening them up. I would try another brand of ammo and see if the issue goes away.
 
#14
Re: Problem with new (used) .308

My OAL length gauge and modified case should be here any day so I can measure where it is actually at. If it's close I'll throw the ammo I have in my press and just seat em a little deeper. I'm going to go get some Hornady ammo and see where their OAL is at the ogive.
 
#16
Re: Problem with new (used) .308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Beef</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Its probably chambered to something specific, you could ask the seller if they know.</div></div>
+1
blue printed = .001" specifics accounted for
 
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