I am brand new to reloading. I am in the process of building a Savage 110BA Stealth in 338LM. I purchased a new PAC-Nor 30” barrel. When I used the Hornaday OAL gauge it gives me consistent OAL of 3.788. My question is, because SAAMI spec is 3.681 should I reduce the chamber length or do I just reduce the seating depth. Thanks
COAL vs. Spec
- Thread starter 338savageshooter
- Start date
Additionally I wanted to initially fire some Hornaday ELD-M ammunition but the COAL for that round is 3.655 which would mean a 133 jump to the lands. Isn’t that too excessive?
You measured your chamber, your measurement was repeatable and it was to first touching the lands and not jamming?
If so then you have your data for your chamber, go with that. Saami doesn’t know what your tools and chamber indicate. I would start them .020 off the lands, start low and work your way up.
Also, invest in a set of bullet comparators and headspace bushings for you calipers. You’ll get much more repeatable numbers. The bullets are more consistent where they transistion to the bearing surface of the bullet than at the tips and what you really care about is where the bullet touches the barrel anyways.
Headspace https://www.hornady.com/reloading/p...gauges/headspace-comparator-anvil-base-kit#!/
Bullet comps
https://www.hornady.com/reloading/p...s-and-gauges/lock-n-load-bullet-comparator#!/
If so then you have your data for your chamber, go with that. Saami doesn’t know what your tools and chamber indicate. I would start them .020 off the lands, start low and work your way up.
Also, invest in a set of bullet comparators and headspace bushings for you calipers. You’ll get much more repeatable numbers. The bullets are more consistent where they transistion to the bearing surface of the bullet than at the tips and what you really care about is where the bullet touches the barrel anyways.
Headspace https://www.hornady.com/reloading/p...gauges/headspace-comparator-anvil-base-kit#!/
Bullet comps
https://www.hornady.com/reloading/p...s-and-gauges/lock-n-load-bullet-comparator#!/
You can't reduce "chamber length" unless you re-chamber the barrel and have a shorter throat machined into it.
Did you install the barrel? Did you use headspace gauges?
If you didn't use headspace gauges, how did you set the headspace?
Did you install the barrel? Did you use headspace gauges?
If you didn't use headspace gauges, how did you set the headspace?
Thank you. I did get all the Hornaday headspace and bullet comparator equipment. I do have a loading plan to start with .020 and work down from there. I was wondering if I could safely start with the COAL being longer and from your experience if that seemed too long.
I had a gunsmith install the barrel and he did not have a headspace tool. He is more than willing to adjust it if need be.
I had a gunsmith install the barrel and he did not have a headspace tool. He is more than willing to adjust it if need be.
If that’s true? Yikes.
Im going to assume he had a some way of gauging headspace. Otherwise that’s just irresponsible.
I would stop right there. Do yourself a favor and find a smith that has the headspace go/no-go gauge and have him set the barrel.
Or, you could find your own set of gauges and do it yourself if you feel comfortable enough. Setting headspace on a Savage is a pretty easy process provided you have the proper tools.
There's plenty of YouTube videos, and even more knowledge here on the Hide that could help you out.
Do you have a barrel vise? And a barrel nut wrench? The Savage nut wrench can be bought fairly cheap. I think I even have one I would sell you for a good price, but I'm not sure that it would work with the 338 because I'm not sure of the barrel shank size.
Or, you could find your own set of gauges and do it yourself if you feel comfortable enough. Setting headspace on a Savage is a pretty easy process provided you have the proper tools.
There's plenty of YouTube videos, and even more knowledge here on the Hide that could help you out.
Do you have a barrel vise? And a barrel nut wrench? The Savage nut wrench can be bought fairly cheap. I think I even have one I would sell you for a good price, but I'm not sure that it would work with the 338 because I'm not sure of the barrel shank size.
Maybe and if so then thats fine, its something.
Thats vastly different from not having a tool of any sort and just screwing it on and saying he can adjust it if the shooter finds out (without dying in the worst case) it needs to be which is the impression Ive gotten so far from 338savage.
If its off a loaded rounds then the numbers returned are good and just has a long throat. If the entire chamber is .1 out thats different.
