go/no go

[Awf Hand]

I'd like to chamber a rifle in 308 x 1.5 Barnes, but I don't want to rent go/no go gauges.  I don't want to rent them.I wouldn't mind buying them, but I've got a pretty spiffy set of tools.  

Is there such a thing as a specs sheet with dimensions so I could make my own set??  Where might I find such an item.

Thanks in advance,

[John Traveler1]

Try the Clymer reamer web site.

They show chamber dimensions for standard and wildcat cartridges.

Mind you, these are SAAMI chamber dimensions, not reamer or gage dimensions.  You can get close enough to make your own.

Since this is a wildcat, why not just make your own like Frank Barnes (Cartridges of the World) did by cutting a 1/2" off the standard .308 winchester loading die set, and cutting a chamber using a standard .308 Winchster reamer until it fits the sizing die chamber?

HTH
John

[Awf Hand]

You're a good man JT!  You just saved me a bunch of time and money.

Thank you VERY much.      

[Awf Hand]

I did some math in my head (not a lot of room in there to get any real work done) and if short chamber a .308 reamer, won't I run into diameter issues as the case has a .016" taper over the 1.560" run of the powder body.

I'm counting on cutting the neck area small enough that I'll have to neck turn the cases, but I don't want to have to "base turn" them as well.

Is there a direction you guys could point me for learning about match chambering?

[John Traveler1]

Hi again, Awf!

Yes, the chamber reamer and sizing die adaptation I suggested is gonna be a compromise.  You didn't want to buy or rent reamers, remember?

Yes, cutting off 0.500" from the sizing die, making your trial .308x1.5" cases,  and then short-chambering using a standard .308 Win reamer to produce a chamber that will headspace those cases correctly MIGHT give you tight chambering issues.  I would start with the RCBS "small base" sizing dies, and then experiment with several brands of cases to see which is the least work.

If you really are looking for match quality results, you probably won't get there easily without custom chamber reamer and reloading dies.  RCBS and Redding (among others) offers them of course, but they are expensive.

[Awf Hand]

Maybe I should've shown a few more of my cards.

It is the go/no-go gauges that I don't want to rent.  I need to have a set, either of my construction or manufactured.  I'll happily rent a reamer.  I would only need it twice to do two chambers.

The rifle is a Savage 110 that has had the full-meal deal.

I need the gauges because I will have two twist rates to experiment with, and the Savage allows easy changing of bbls (even at the range), but requires a gauge to ensure proper setback.

I'm hoping to build a rifle to shoot cast-lead bullets beyond what any reasonable man should expect their accuracy to be.

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.  GB Shaw

[gunnut69]

I was under the impression that if a Savage was being swapped a go guage was all you needed as the barrel in adjusted into contact with the guage installed in the chamber and the barrel but is then tightened.