Ridgeline shoots poorly and jams

[Harry Knutz]

The chamber pic is from the factory. it is already in the box again and a new return request started. Did it yesterday so do not expect a reply till tomorrow.

I wouldn't waste my time sending it back, Order a barrel from Preferred barrels, They are here in So Utah, These barrels are getting good reviews, My next barrel will be from them, I am going to give them a shot. The main reason is their lead times are currently 2 to 3 weeks, Muddyboots from this forum can fill you in on their accuracy, He has bought 5 from them. Get a reputable Gunsmith to install it and call it a day. You could even just have a Gunsmith set it back and re-chamber using your existing barrel as long as the bore diameter checks out.

 

[p47dman]

Don't know what "set it back means" . Guessing, it means reface the mating surface of the barrel to action joint.

 

[p47dman]

Thanks for the suggestion. But I should not have to spend another thousand bucks on a gun that should shoot.

 

[Harry Knutz]

I get it, But I don't know that the outcome will be any different, Isn't this the second time of sending it back?

Set it back, Chop off a couple of threads, Re-index the barrel and re-chamber, It's done all the time, Usually to get a little more use out of the barrel due to throat erosion.

 

[p47dman]

Yes it is.

 

[p47dman]

What could be some of the gunsmiths that would do a good job?

 

[Harry Knutz]

I don't know where you are in Mn but here is a google search. LRI is good, But I doubt you would get it in time for Hunting Season, I would try a local guy with good reviews that specializes in Rifle Building.

best gunsmith in minnesota - Google Search

 

[p47dman]

Just spoke with Northwoods, he was open on Sunday, he thought it for sure was due to chamber getting warm and swelling. Now he says it may have compromised the receiver also. He said I should be asking for a new gun. I might just be doing that tomorrow.

 

[Harry Knutz]

Just spoke with Northwoods, he was open on Sunday, he thought it for sure was due to chamber getting warm and swelling. Now he says it may have compromised the receiver also. He said I should be asking for a new gun. I might just be doing that tomorrow.

Looking at his shop, It doesn't look like he does any machine work, And the chamber swelling doesn't sound right to me. You can see a huge gouge in the chamber in your pic, It is kind of fuzzy though.

 

[antelopedundee]

This is from the 6.8 Western Thread By Venatusdominus Post #52

6.8 Western- has it been abandoned already?

Only time will tell if the 6.8 Western is here to stay. Ive sen ammo for it on the shelves when little else was. They’d better start producing more rifles fast while there is still some memory of it in the publics mind...and reinvest in marketing hype at the same time. The new cartridges-...

www.longrangehunting.com

Berger offers factory ammo:
6.5 PRC 156 Grain Extreme Outer Limits (EOL) Elite Hunter Rifle Ammunition
Spor*****s Warehouse has the following 6.5 PRC on their website:
Barnes 127 LRX
Barnes 130 LRX
Browning Long Range Pro Hunter 130
Federal Premium Trophy Copper 120
Federal Premium 130 TA
Federal Fusion 140 SP
Hornady 143 ELD-X
Hornady 147 ELD-M
Norma 143 BBT
Nosler 120 TPFMJ
Nosler 140 AccuBond
Nosler 142 Long Range AccuBond
Remington 145 OTMBT
Winchester Match 140 BTHP
Winchester 142 AccuBond
Choice Ammunition has the following offerings:
Choice Ammunition 120 Barns TTSX
Choice Ammunition 127 Barns LRX
Choice Ammunition 130 Barns TSX
Choice Ammunition 130 Berger VLC Hunting
Choice Ammunition 130 Nosler Accubond
Choice Ammunition 140 Barns BT Match Burner
Choice Ammunition 140 Berger VLD Hunting
Choice Ammunition 140 Hornady ELD-M
Choice Ammunition 140 Nosler Accubond
Choice Ammunition 143 Hornady ELD-X
Choice Ammunition 145 Barns BT Match Burner
Choice Ammunition 147 Hornady 147 ELD-M
Choice Ammunition 156 Berger EOL Elite Hunter
This is not a complete list by any means. Lots of choices for the 6.5 PRC!

Barnes doesn't offer a .264 130 grain LRX bullet, just the 127 grain.

 

[antelopedundee]

Welcome to Christensen ownership. If you get a good one they are great. I bought one in 308 10 years ago and had basically the same issue you are having with 6 different types of FACTORY ammo. The rifle also had nearly zero primary extraction because bolt timing was way off.

I'm not trying to bash a brand but if you have 2 rifles with similar problems from the same company it might be time to request a refund twice!

This.

 

[WYO300RUM]

OTE="Muddyboots, post: 2607561, member: 63925"]
By chance do you anyone with a 6.5PRC to test the ammo in their rifle? That will tell you immediately if ammo or rifle. I would expect any rifle to fire any factory ammo safely and without flaw. Another rifle will give more data to chew in.
[/QUOTE]

By chance do you anyone with a 6.5PRC to test the ammo in their rifle? That will tell you immediately if ammo or rifle. I would expect any rifle to fire any factory ammo safely and without flaw. Another rifle will give more data to chew in.

I have a C.A. Ridgeline in 6.5 PRC. I've never had any issues with it. The only factory ammo Ive shot in it is Hornady 143 ELDX. No pressure issues. I load for it. I do have a Cooper mod. 52 in 6.5x284 with a tight chamber . I've shot Factory Norma 156 Oryx and HSM 140 Berger. Both major pressure. I load for it also. For what it's worth no pressure in an MGM TC Encore barrel in 6.5 PRC with factory Hornady either.

 

[lyle2231]

May I suggest…Choose 20 rounds measure OAL and separate into shortest and longest groups. Then weigh each group separate those into lightest and heaviest. Function fire 2 or 3
from each group. Some indication should be derived from the test. HTH

 

[DUCKMAN11]

Thanks for the suggestion. But I should not have to spend another thousand bucks on a gun that should shoot.

This!!

After spending 2k on a rifle that doesn't FUNCTION with factory ammo...... THEY have a problem! It's like buying a brand new truck and it not running properly on gas from 5 different gas stations. It's not your fault that something wasn't made properly. Accuracy is one thing but for a bolt action rifle to need a tool to reload is something different. It could shoot 1 hole 10 shot groups, but if I'm having to karate chop a bolt handle after every shot.... the rifle is now useless.

I have a $400 Howa 1500 that I DO NOT have to use a rubber mallet on to cycle the bolt. There is inexpensive and there is cheap! Christensen has a track record of being the latter. Get your money back.


Edit: also I wouldn't personally fire that rifle again until it's been looked at. Brass isn't supposed to come off cartridge cases in flakes. You have a major problem just waiting to happen. If any of us handloaders saw cases like yours out of our handloads we would be pulling bullets and subtracting grains of powder. Just my .02