308 palma reamer with 168gr bullets

[ptaylortx]

Just got my parts dropped off at the GS for a light weight m700 308 hunting rifle. I went with a 20" Hart, .750" at the muzzle with a Remington contour. I want a short leade chamber and the only one he had on hand was a palma. I know they're designed for 150's, but i was wondering how a 168 would fair in this chamber? I want to keep my loads within mag length but with as little jump a possible. Any thoughts or advice?

 

[gimpy]

I'm willing to bet that you will be well under 2.800 OAL with that chamber, using 168 SMK.

 

[ptaylortx]

I don't want to intrude into the case volume anymore than i have to. I've still got time to figure it it before my barrel gets here

 

[Hunt]

Will work just fine. I have a 95 Palma chamber and shooting 175s and 178s on a regular basis. I get 2650 fps with a 24" barrel.

 

[ptaylortx]

What are you running on your COAL and how far are you seating off the lands?

 

[Hunt]

What are you running on your COAL and how far are you seating off the lands?

Measured with a Stoney Point (Hornady) gauge:

175 SMKs: 2.783 OAL (avg. of 5) to get to the lands (2.202 Comparator length)
168 SMK: 2.811 OAL (avg. of 5) to get to the lands (2.215 Comp. length)
Hornady 178 HPBTs: 2.841 (avg. of 5) to get to the lands (2.181 Comp. length)

I'm loading the SMK 175s to an OAL of 2.805 (2.214 Comparator length) -> .012 into the lands.
I'm loading the Hornady 178 HBPTs to an OAL of 2.805 (2.142 Comparator length) -> .039 off of the lands.

 

[Texar2]

Palma is not enough info. There are many different palma prints. Clymer m852 is the bomb for 168 smks. You can get one from brownells for 145.00 and they are in stock. However the 168smk tends to fall apart around the 800 yard mark.

 

[ptaylortx]

I am really looking for a reamer that will allow me to be touching the lands at 2.830" with a 168 smk and with no neck turning. I tried to call PTG today with no avail, so I'll give it another try tomorrow. I doubt this rifle will ever see 800 yards. My shots will be 400 or less.

 

[Texar2]

When the 168 smk is properly seated the oal will be less than 2.83. Also the smk does not need to touch the lands and will probably have the most consistent results with some jump. M852 all the way

 

[ptaylortx]

I've had the best results about .015" jump with 168 smk in my other Remington factory 308's. Problem being the .130" freebore to get there. They are waaay past mag length. I don't know why Remington can't shorten up their throats a bit. Thanks for the input.

 

[Texar2]

google images of the different reamer prints and it may give you an idea of what the difference is.