Excessive freebore?

coyoteking

coyoteking

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At what point is it too much, for safety’s sake?

What’s the furthest you have jumped a bullet and still had good accuracy?

I’m currently working up a new load for a hunting rifle and in order to fit the magazine, I have to load them .225 off the lands. I guess I’ll find out when I shoot some groups, but I’d like to hear some first-hand experiences from you guys.
 
I can't see how any amount of freebore could be a safety issue. Accuracy issue sure depending on the gun and load.

I've got smoothbore muskets so basically the entire barrel is feebore! :D
 
Ganderite said:
Not a safety issue. Could be an accuracy issue.

My hunting rifle standard is 2 minutes. Yours?

Let us know how it goes.

You have a Remington?
Click to expand...

It’s a Savage 116 in 300 RUM. It shot sub moa with 180 sciroccos, but my stash has dried up so I’m going to try 168 gr TTSX’s in it.
 
I have only needed a second shot once. And it was not a rush to do it.

So I have no hesitation in hunting with a falling block, for example (a single shot).

Could you load long and use your rifle as a 2 shot? Would a round load into the mag, and one in the chamber?
 
I have found that as long as the parallel portion of the bullet shank is longer than the free-bore jump then acceptable accuracy can be obtained. If you size your cases properly, and load your bullets to near zero run-out, then you don't have to jamb your bullet into the lands.

A jump to the lands also will change the pressure curve somewhat lowering the initial pressure spike allowing for somewhat higher velocities. (This is why factory Weatherby rifles always have generous free-bore.)

With the Triple Shock bullets Barnes actually recommends a good jump to the lands for best accuracy.
 
Factory standard throats in European 7x64 rifles have so much freebore a 160 gr spritzer is almost completely out of the case before it touches the rifling. I have had good accuracy, under 1" with several rifles.
 
I read somewhere before that a lot of the ultra mag type cartridges need the extra freebore to keep the pressure spike down from trying to burn so much power. Which would certainly be a good idea in regular consumer grade hunting rifles.
 
I've jumped a .243 bullet up to 0.130" in testing. Increasing jump from contact to 0.040" in 0.020" steps showed very little difference in group size at 100 yds. Beyond 0.040" jump the group sizes increased a bit.
In your case, I'd test it at the max range you intend to shoot at and see what you get. Close range testing doesn't tell you everything you need to know.
 
Ganderite said:
I have only needed a second shot once. And it was not a rush to do it.

So I have no hesitation in hunting with a falling block, for example (a single shot).

Could you load long and use your rifle as a 2 shot? Would a round load into the mag, and one in the chamber?
Click to expand...

I often hunt coyotes while I’m hunting big game. In November the pups are usually running together in packs of 3 or 4, so I do prefer to have a couple of extra rounds in the magazine.

I’ll report back with the results after I’ve shot some groups.
 
With that cartridge why run to the lighter bullet unless it is all you have.
I would be inclined to go to 190 or 200 grain bullets.
Also consider the Barnes TSX/TTSX will give more overall length in similar weight bullets.
Barnes recommends 0.050 off the lands.
 
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