fouled bore
Member
My son just got a Ruger American chambered in 30-06. Picked up the cheapest box of 150gr soft points we could find to try it out and also to get the brass (PPU) for reloading. Had it dead on in 5 shots and it shoots 2” groups, really happy with the way it shoots.
I have some 110 gr Hornady varmint bullets that we loaded up to try in it. The bullets are Hornady Soft point #3010. We are using Varget and so I checked Hodgdon for load data and our Hornady load manual. Both call for a COL of 3.170”. Check this bullet in the gun and it hits the lands at 3.145. I pulled it away from the lands .020” so we loaded them up at a COL of 3.125. Max load the Hornady manual calls for is 58.9gr and the Hodgdon web site has 59gr as max. I have loads worked up to try from 55gr to 57gr. Because I had to load to a shorter COL I hated to build up any hotter loads.
I was really surprised it hit the lands at the COL the both manuals call out. I am also surprised at the amount that the bullet seated into the neck of the case. I did not measure it but it looked like only about 3/16” at the 3.170” COL. Does this sound right? I guess these bullets just need more free bore than what this gun has to seat at the manual COL. We did not check it with the factory ammo and did not notice any issue with closing the bolt.
I have some 110 gr Hornady varmint bullets that we loaded up to try in it. The bullets are Hornady Soft point #3010. We are using Varget and so I checked Hodgdon for load data and our Hornady load manual. Both call for a COL of 3.170”. Check this bullet in the gun and it hits the lands at 3.145. I pulled it away from the lands .020” so we loaded them up at a COL of 3.125. Max load the Hornady manual calls for is 58.9gr and the Hodgdon web site has 59gr as max. I have loads worked up to try from 55gr to 57gr. Because I had to load to a shorter COL I hated to build up any hotter loads.
I was really surprised it hit the lands at the COL the both manuals call out. I am also surprised at the amount that the bullet seated into the neck of the case. I did not measure it but it looked like only about 3/16” at the 3.170” COL. Does this sound right? I guess these bullets just need more free bore than what this gun has to seat at the manual COL. We did not check it with the factory ammo and did not notice any issue with closing the bolt.