Weird Browning A-bolt 30-06 Reload COAL

[SecretSquirrel38]

I loaded up a ladder for my rifle. Set my COAL at 3.34 and they wouldn't chamber! Grabbed a factory load and it cycled properly. Measured the factory load and it measured 3.185. I don't have the tool to measure the lands so I worked backwards until they chambered smoothly at 3.20 with no resistance and they shoot and cycle. When it was 3.225 it was snug closing the bolt. Once I felt resistance I backed it out. My son Remington cycles and groups great at a COAL of 3.335. Very perplexing. I know every gun is different.

 

[huntinfool18]

Try closing the bolt on one of your resized brass with no bullet/powder/primer. There's some many things that could be causing a tight bolt. Brass that hasn't been sized properly or a primer not seated deep enough come to mind

 

[SecretSquirrel38]

Try closing the bolt on one of your resized brass with no bullet/powder/primer. There's some many things that could be causing a tight bolt. Brass that hasn't been sized properly or a primer not seated deep enough come to mind

Thanks. I checked all that. I took a load that wouldn't chamber, put in a Remington and cycled perfectly. Pretty sure it's the gun.

 

[ObiJohn]

It could be the throat... more freeborn in the Remington than in the Browning.

 

[MagnumManiac]

To check for certain, mark the top of your bullet with a sharpie all the way around the ogive, chamber and see if there are rifling marks evenly spaced where the rifling would be.
If this is the case, then your throat is short.

Cheers.