6.5cm freebore

[JRBullock1987]

Am getting a new 6.5cm bartlein barrel chambered and am trying to decide if I want a .170 freebore or a saami .199 freebore. If I was just shooting 140gr berger hybrids and newer shaped bullets id easily go with the .170 freebore but I shoot a lot of different shaped bullets. A lot of 140gr sierra mk, hornady match, eld match, berger hybrids. So with the variety of bullets I shoot should I stay with the saami .199 breebore or still go with .170 freebore?

 

[spife7980]

Negligible.
If you’re shooting factory go with the longer saami to ensure you don’t jam.
If loading your own spin your micrometer top and rock on, you won’t hardly notice a difference.

 

[Baron23]

Even with a SAAMI chamber in a new barrel the closest I could get to the lands was about .070" (with Berger 104 HT) and still fit in AICS mag and of course that throat moved out with shooting.

Take .030" off of the freebore and I'd still be .040" off and growing.

I have a barrel, spun by @FisherT&C , with a .150" freebore just to try it out. I do believe that all factory ammo I've run across will fit and I have lots of room to seat deeper on my reloads if needed. This should allow me to get about .020 - .030" off lands *when the barrel is new*.

Just thought I'd try it based on this:

https://preferredbarrelblanks.com/best-6-5-creedmoor-chamber-prefit-barrel-comparison/#SAAMI

On the other hand, @spife7980 is my trusted source for reloading stuff so maybe listen to him. LOL

 

[R_A_W]

I’ve had multiple of both, you’re splitting hairs

Buuuut I do prefer the 0.170 for anything from 130otms to 153 hybrids, it’s just a little more flexible