Did I waste my $$$ ?

[RL338]

Not wanting to get out of the 30-06 game , I decided on trying 1 of these on my Marlin.

Maybe this weekend I might pull the barrel on it. A guy at work will face off the breech end if needed for proper headspace , he’s done other before.
Without measuring the throat is way shorter on this barrel (more than 1/4”) by putting a loaded round in it stick up that much. The question is do I shoot up with current barrel what’s loaded or pull and save the bullet and powder for a rainy day.

 

[RL338]

Last night I took it apart. Barrel runs up to the bolt face on no-go. Going to have to face off 0.015”. Since the barrel was on I spent some time opening up the stock’s channel. Big difference in barrel diameter.

My 210gr VLD load on the rifling

I have 40 rounds to pull down which isn’t the worst. I think this chamber was cut too deep causing my grief this rifle. I know that the Berger 210gr bullet falls out of the case well before reaching the land.

 

[gbflyer]

Those long, beyond SAAMI factory throats are super frustrating. They do it for safety which is understandable from a product liability standpoint, and I guess a lot of bullets really don’t care about a huge jump. Personally it doesn’t suit my nature though. Hope your new one is a shooter.

 

[Slimfinn]

It does look good in that stock

 

[6mm Remington]

It does look good in that stock

Nice looking for a Savage' ! That's French!

 

[RL338]

Nice looking for a Savage' ! That's French!

Well it’s actually a Marlin X7

 

[Joec7651]

Well it’s actually a Marlin X7

I think you’ll be very happy with your end result. Your X7 is essentially a Remington 783. Which is the 7mm RM I’ve been customizing. Parts between the two are interchangeable (barrels, bolt heads, triggers, etc) and the action is a VERY capable platform to build a very accurate rifle.

 

[RL338]

Got the barrel faced 0.015” and headspaced perfectly. Got the rifle put back together fired a couple of rounds I seated deeper and everything is GTG.
The throat is way shorter on this barrel making me feel like I got a chance here to make something good happen.

 

[RL338]

Well put some rounds through it and it gets a .
Had to reseat everything that was left over from old barrel 0.120” deeper so they chamber. I had to adjust the windage 12 minutes to get near the bullseye , elevation was fine.
First was a Berger 185gr. Classic Hunter load that didn’t do crap in old barrel.


I had some Sierra 175gr SMK rounds left over also.


Since these are loads are left overs , this barrel is showing a promising start for a $249 investment.
Sad part is I sold off the Bergers because they didn’t shoot in the old barrel

 

[DrMike]

Those results have be a real confidence booster. You have someplace to work from if you're intent on refining what you have. Otherwise, you're good to go.

 

[RL338]

Well today that department packaged barrel kit came through. With a Barnes 150gr TTSX at a little over 3000 fps.

 

[DrMike]

Looked at your picture and thought you may have shot the motive power for the delivery vehicle! Great harvest. That will be some excellent eating.

 

[elkeater2]

I want a rifle that only shoots elk that can be loaded whole in one piece! Nice going and good to know the kit worked well.

 

[RL338]

The barrel is picking up some speed. That load stared out 3010’s and yesterday I ran 3 over the Magnetospeed 3080 , 3082 , and 3089. I’m just under 150 rounds through it.