Hey Guys,

I used the Stoney Point gauge to check the distance to the lands on my rifle with a 180gr bullet, specifically a Nosler Accubond and the bullet was maybe 4 finger nails inside the case. So something like a half inch or just over.

Is this shocking to anyone to have that much free bore in a rifle?

Is this typical of Rugers?

Could this cause excessive chamber pressure?

Could this cause issues if the bullet wasn't exactly centered in the brass?

Looking for some info as to why Ruger would head space a barrel so far out. Or any other company for that matter.

Thanks

Tom

Too much freebore won't cause excess pressure, it'll actually reduce peak pressures somewhat. That's why Roy Weatherby's cartridges have so much freebore, to reduce peak pressure so more powder could be burnt safely, creating more velocity.

As for causing other problems, I doubt it. About the only thing it might do is reduce accuracy somewhat (or maybe not).

As for headspace, what makes you think that your rifle has too much? The Stoney Point gauge measures where the seating depth has to be for your chosen bullet to touch the lands and allows accurate adjustment after this measurement is determined. This measurement has nothing to do with headspace. Headspace is the distance from the face of the bolt and some reference point in the chamber. For rimless non-belted bottleneck cartridges this is usually a point about midway down the slope of the shoulder. For belted mags it's the front of the belt. It's completely possible that you could have a bunch of freebore in the throat of the chamber, but the headspace could be right in spec, which I suspect is the case.

If you are concerned about headspace, the proper tool to get is a set of headspace go/no-go gauges. The go/no-go gauge set for H&H based belted mags is universal.

Mike

Headspace of a belted case is the distance from the front edge of the belt to the bolt face. It has nothing to do with the amount of freebore you may or may not have. All excessive freebore will do is make accuracy a little harder to find when developing a load.

Sorry that is my mistake. Somewhat new to all this so still learning. I didn't mean to say headspace I was talking about seating depth, free bore.

I'm going to start a new post to try and get at the heart of my issue.

Tom