308 chamber length question

[Fallguy]

I have Remington 700 SPS that I am trying to get some hand loads worked up for. I want to use Barnes Triple shock bullets, I have not been having any luck getting better than 2" to 3" groups at 100 yards. I have a OAL chamber gage it says that my chamber is 3.100 in length. This seems to be extreme considering that maximum length on a 308 is 2.800. Do I need to get the chamber recut? If so what would be the optimum length?

 

[rcmodel]

You can't recut something that is too long already, without setting the barrel back on a lathe and rechambering it.

Remington uses an awful lot of leade, or free-bore anymore, in an effort to hold down pressure and make a safer gun.

It is an accepted practice, and has been done by Weatherby for instance, for over 50 years.

It is not a deal breaker as far as accuracy is concerned, because most new 700's (or Weatherby's) will shoot quite well right out of the box with good factory loads.

Does you & your rifle shoot anything better then 2" - 3" groups? If not, I would suspect a bedding, scope, or some other issue.

First thing I would do is buy a box of good HP or Ballistic-Tip match bullets, load them to the OAL suggested in the bullet manufactures load manual, and see what they will do.
If they shoot well, it is the bullets, not the rifle.

rc

 

[Fallguy]

I realize I would have to have the barrel removed and reworked. The 2" groups I got were with Serria MatchKings. I have a Lepould 2-7 Vari-X II scope on it. I have not tried free floating the barrel yet.