New guy on the block, and a Remington SPS question

[uncledog57]

Hi thought I would introduce myself. I live on the central coast of California and I live and work at the San Luis Obispo Sportsman's Association.
Just found this great forum and hope to be able someday to shoot LR. I am starting with a Remington 700 SPS. I have been loading pistol for 20+ years and now starting rifle. Someone at the range told me that when you try to measure head space on a SPS you can not cause (he called lawyer proof) the lands are so out in front? Is this true? I was just about to order the Hornady Lock and Load tool and goodies, but maybe I would ask first?
Thank you in advance.

 

[Boomholzer]

Re: New guy on the block, and a Remington SPS question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: uncledog57</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hi thought I would introduce myself. I live on the central coast of California and I live and work at the San Luis Obispo Sportsman's Association.
Just found this great forum and hope to be able someday to shoot LR. I am starting with a Remington 700 SPS. I have been loading pistol for 20+ years and now starting rifle. Someone at the range told me that when you try to measure head space on a SPS you can not cause (he called lawyer proof) the lands are so out in front? Is this true? I was just about to order the Hornady Lock and Load tool and goodies, but maybe I would ask first?
Thank you in advance. </div></div>

Welcome.

Head spacing is relative to the chamber cut and the bolt face. That's different. Think of it as the tolerance behind the bullet where your question stems forward of bullet.

The throat or free-bore is the distance after the chamber to where the correct diameter rifled bore begins. This is commonly referred to as "jump". Note that while this distance is obviously a physical constant in the rifle, the term "jump" can be relative to the cartidge itself. Cartidge "o-give length" is dependant on bullet and seating depth.

O-give is a term for the bullets nose profile to the main bearing surface. Ex: tangent ogive or secant ogive. The term is often used to define a point on a bullet where the bullet diameter first matches the bore diameter (seating depth) and hense "o-give length". Given a pointy bullet in a cartidge, you can see how this is usefull vs. OAL or overall-cartidge-length (base of brass to bullet pointy-end). Bullet comparators are used by reloaders to determine this length.

Yes, Remington throats are long and in order to touch the bore or lands the bullet will not have enough seating depth in the case neck. This should not hinder any ambition to load for your new rifle, there is still benefit to be found.

Be safe. HTH

 

["Partridge"]

Re: New guy on the block, and a Remington SPS question

I think you would be limiting yourself if you go with your friends advice.I read a post by sterling shooter in the reloading section on using head space gauges,and finding overall length for your chamber.

 

[fdkay]

Re: New guy on the block, and a Remington SPS question

If you have not purchased your rifle yet consider either the SPS tactical model (there are two) or the SPS varmint model.

You mentioned only SPS, they have several models, most of which are "hunting" or sporter weight rifles.

The SPS tactical or varmint model will be pretty damn accurate out of the box and no matter how long your throat is, carefully handloaded ammo is almost always better than factory.

The problem with the SPS line of rifles is that you will really need to upgrade the stock to get consistent accuracy from it. Bell and Carlson makes several different tactical stocks that are of very good quality but now you are talking another 230 bucks.

Then there is the trigger. It isn't terrible, but some can bee set to a very respectable 3.5 lbs and others can't.

I will tell you that I prefer the Remington action oer the Savage but if you buy one of several heavy barreled savages in an accu-stock your overall cost will be less, it comes with a very good, user adjustable trigger and they shoot lights out.
The accu-stock is a good stock, I used a 10PC to complete a basic sniper course. An excellent rifle.