Bolt gun chamber

[ricsmall]

Guys:

I'm in process of building three bolt grendels and am torn on which chamber to use. I'm looking for some experiences with different chambers in bolt guns grendels with bullets ranging from 100- 130 gr. Any help is appreciated.

Richard

[Neale]

I used the 6.5 BPC. http://www.4-dproducts.com/displayitem.p...ame=rental
It's just right for my 527 mags with 123 SST's, 0.030" jump and a bit more room than that between the tip of a loaded round and the front of the mag. Just enough throat for a 527 7.62x39 mag. The mag inside length is 2.350" IIRC

Fred at 4D should be able to send you the print of that reamer and others.

Cheers

[ricsmall]

Thanks Neale, I'll check with him.

Richard

[Drift]

One of the guys from the Southern Hemisphere Von Guff if I remember correctly, has a made his own 6.5 "Grendel Max" It's a blown out Grendel that gets a couple extra grains of powder in the cartridge case , but still will shoot factory 6.5 Grendel. The down side is higher pressures of course.

[Neale]

Also, what action(s) are you builds these 3 on?

And I just realized I wasn't super specific earlier. I was talking about CZ 527 mags.

[cory]

Pac Nor has a "Match Grendel" chamber offering. I'd check that out.

Unless you plan to shoot steel case, which it doesn't sound like, I don't see any reason for the .300 neck. I'd go with a .295 neck chamber and keep the compound throat. I suspect that is was the pac nor chamber is. That's just speculation on my part though.

[ricsmall]

Neale these will all be built on rem 700 SA. I suspect at least two will use bdl bottom metal and one may use aics mags.

Drift, I thought about that as well but think I'll stay with the original cartridge.

Cory, this is similar to what LR52 talked about in private message. My main concern with an "LBC" type chamber is that everything I've read says its suited to just one or two pills. I don't know how true this is though. I like the idea of a compound throat and .295 neck because I plan to start my son out with 100 grain monos for deer. In the off season I'll shoot some steel with it and eventually go to something like the 127 lrx for longer range deer. The versatility of the compound throat design speaks for itself, so sounds like I need to make a call tomorrow.

Thanks guys,keep me coming.
Richard

[LRRPF52]

If factory ammo is going to be a good part of the diet, I would lean to the SAAMI chamber.

If strictly hand loads with longer COL allowable from a bolt gun mag, I would consider a custom throat.

[Von Gruff]

One of the guys from the Southern Hemisphere Von Guff if I remember correctly, has a made his own 6.5 "Grendel Max" It's a blown out Grendel that gets a couple extra grains of powder in the cartridge case , but still will shoot factory 6.5 Grendel. The down side is higher pressures of course.

Correction on that Drift. My Grendel-Max has the shoulder pushed forward by .050 so I have to neck up to 308 then neck down for the lengthened shoulder so I cant use the factory Grendel ammo but I do use the Grendel dies for load work simply by having a fixed .050 shim on top of the shell holder. You can see the differences (in red) between the Grendel and the Grendel-Max and with loaded cartridge length at 2.405 along with the lengthed shoulder, I have a capacity advantage that explains why I can get 2700fps with the 123gn bullet from my 21in barrel without getting into much higher pressure.

[cory]

The "LBC" chamber is a traditional chamber, 0.295" neck with a traditional neck. It doesn't have the compound throat. I would keep the .300 neck before I'd loose the compound throat. If you find out the specifics of the pac nor chamber do report back here, please.

[Drift]

When I had PacNor build my 700 SA Remington into a 6.5 grendel they told me it was a .295 chamber. I never it measured myself. Bottom metal and twist rates were of more concern to me.

[ricsmall]

I recieved feedback today from Dave at Manson reamers and their reamer is indeed the SAAMI spec reamer. They will alter the neck for an additional $30.

The pacnor "match" reamer is a parallel freebore reamer with a .295 neck. At this point I think Ill go with the SAAMI tapered freebore and .295 neck. I think....

I tried to contact Bill A but as expected at this time of year he was busy, as was dave kiff. I spoke to a young lady twice today at ptg and am awaiting a print from her via email.

Richard

[sneaky one]

RS, my hunt buddy Blade is in the start of building his first Boltie Grrr. We talked about this all, this fall- I think that I helped him , by convincing him to stick with the Saami chamber.

No worries upon ammo- we can swap ammo in the field if need be- SHTF- oh no! All will function. Plus we can work up loads together that may be good for hunting.

Hope this helps,- If it's a target gun only! Then I'd do the Les Baer unit, but then, what iff. the SHTF..? Grendel 1-2 chambers, and how many variants are still out there? Ma & Pa Kettle chambers.

[cory]

I recieved feedback today from Dave at Manson reamers and their reamer is indeed the SAAMI spec reamer. They will alter the neck for an additional $30.

The pacnor "match" reamer is a parallel freebore reamer with a .295 neck. At this point I think Ill go with the SAAMI tapered freebore and .295 neck. I think....

I tried to contact Bill A but as expected at this time of year he was busy, as was dave kiff. I spoke to a young lady twice today at ptg and am awaiting a print from her via email.

Richard

Becareful dealing with ptg! I'd never trust anything from them.

So it sounds like the pac nor chamber is simply the lbc chamber.

[kmon]

Wound up going with SAAMI on a CZ 527 build, no regrets. The SAAMI chamber works well in bolt or semi actions.

[PrecisionFirearms]

I got your message today. I personally have used and will continue to use the SAAMI spec reamer which is a 300 neck with compound throat. It works, Period!

[SDguy]

Fairly easy to see a disadvantage to the SAMI 300 neck in the bolt action platform from a reloaders perspective. Can anyone offer a disadvantage to a everything SAMI except the neck? I much prefer a .295 neck and still consider a .293 neck a acceptable consideration. Just be sure not to call your tight neck chamber a Grendel chamber. If factory ammo should give issues in the tight necked chamber be sure to understand the factory or Grendel founder are not at fault. If you form up brass from a 7.62x39 and end up needing turn necks don't be disappointed.

If your brass last twice as long in your tight neck chamber do not blame, well you can probably get by blaming anyone you wish on this one.

[cory]

I never suggested anything other than the SAAMI chamber because I thought it wouldn't work. I'm positive it would work, I just think there may be a more optimal option for a bolt gun.

There's no advantage to the .300 neck in a non semi. The .295 neck will lend to longer brass life. Especially, if ricsmall decides to push the pressure as a bolt gun would allow him to do. If there is no intention of loading hot, then I probably would keep things simple and go with the SAAMI chamber.

[southern180]

both from PTG

[Neale]

Here's the 6.5 BPC that I used per 4D reamers suggestion. I just cut my chamber to a piece of Lapua brass, and just enough throat.