curtis axiom/ head space question

[Lesco Brandon]

I know very little about gunsmith work. I am looking for an action that will allow me to set my own head space using prefit barrels. For example my friend has a savage and set his head space to match new brass so that he didn't have to worry about fireforming brass for accuracy. So his new 6.5 CM brass has only (EDITED .002”) gap and he won't have to worry about accuracy issues with 1st fire vs second fire so he says. I laid my paws on a curtis axiom and love it but don't want to have to fire 500 pieces of brass before I go to a K&M precision class coming up. Tax returns around the corner and I want to upgrade my rig... What do you guys do?

 

[Pigeonhunter]

What part of the barrel/action interface are you talking about? Did you mean to say .002?

It would make since if there was a .020 gap between the front of the bolt nose and the barrel but not headspace.

Keep in mind that the Curtis Axiom does not have a counterbore on the breech face like a Remington.

 

[Lesco Brandon]

What part of the barrel/action interface are you talking about? Did you mean to say .002?

It would make since if there was a .020 gap between the front of the bolt nose and the barrel but not headspace.

Keep in mind that the Curtis Axiom does not have a counterbore on the breech face like a Remington.

Edited to correctly state headspace of .002”

 

[Danattherock]

I think you're well-intentioned friend may be confusing you a bit. I have a couple Axiom and they are fantastic actions. With any action I've ever used after I fire form the brass it grows a few thou from its virgin state. With that said that virgin firing is extremely accurate if you've done load development.

There is no reason in the world you should have to fire form brass before taking a class at k&m. Or shooting a match for that matter. I highly recommend Curtis Axiom, just put together another rifle the other day.

 

[kindabitey]

Look into a Bugnut from Southern Precision Rifles. You can order a prefit barrel from them. They carry CC actions, so doing a prefit for the Bugnut shouldn't be a problem. I had my smith fit my 6BR to my Axiom using a Bgnut.

 

[Lesco Brandon]

I think you're well-intentioned friend may be confusing you a bit. I have a couple Axiom and they are fantastic actions. With any action I've ever used after I fire form the brass it grows a few thou from its virgin state. With that said that virgin firing is extremely accurate if you've done load development.

There is no reason in the world you should have to fire form brass before taking a class at k&m. Or shooting a match for that matter. I highly recommend Curtis Axiom, just put together another rifle the other day.

Let me elaborate. My friend took an unfired case and placed a single layer of scotch tape on the case head. After trimming the excess tape and removing the ejectior he placed the case on the bolt face and ran the bolt closed. He then threaded the barrel until it touched the case shoulder. The barrel nut was tightened and the tape removed from the case head. Head space was now set to .0025” on unfired brass. With this setup a go gauge will almost close but not quite. While not SAAMI spec, the chamber is specific to the brass. I theoretically see the benefit of this.

 

[kthomas]

IMO, if you want the most consistent headspace possible, there is no better way of doing it than with a shouldered barrel.

With barrel nuts there's more chance to move the headspace, inadvertently or not. Impossible to do with a shouldered barrel.

 

[Shortbus6588]

Keystone Accuracy also makes pre-fits for Curtis actions, very accurate and fast turnaround time. Keystone will use Krieger blanks for $619 and button rifled blanks for $419 finished into a prefit, last I checked. They have been in the NRA, CMP rifle accuracy game for a while and have it figured out. My Keystone pre-fit shoots awesome.

 

[Lesco Brandon]

IMO, if you want the most consistent headspace possible, there is no better way of doing it than with a shouldered barrel.

With barrel nuts there's more chance to move the headspace, inadvertently or not. Impossible to do with a shouldered barrel.

I understand what you are saying. I’m interested in precision headspace control not just consistentency of an unknown variable. For example I could set my savage stealth and my MPA with the exact headspace of .0025” on the same piece of unfired brass and could shoot the brass interchangeably if that makes sense. With a shouldered barrel you are stuck with what you have.

 

[b6graham]

I understand what you are saying. I’m interested in precision headspace control not just consistentency of an unknown variable. For example I could set my savage stealth and my MPA with the exact headspace of .0025” on the same piece of unfired brass and could shoot the brass interchangeably if that makes sense. With a shouldered barrel you are stuck with what you have.

or you could just get a quality barrel from a known smith and just shoot. you're worrying about the smallest of details

 

[Lesco Brandon]

or you could just get a quality barrel from a known smith and just shoot. you're worrying about the smallest of details

By your response I believe you are missing the point of having the ability to use the same brass in separate but identical chambers. Less brass stretch, increase in brass life, less variables to worry about... get it?

 

[Supersubes]

All you’re looking for is a remage prefit, then you’ll be able to do exactly what you’ve described. Nothing wrong with that approach.