Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Is it shot out?

I have a Remington model 721 that my grandpa gave me. I’ve been trying to work up a load for it with a few of the historical pet loads, and I’m not having much luck. And the velocities are way slower across my chronograph than I feel they should be. (52 grains 4064 and a 150 NBT only going 2790 in a 24” barrel) I decided to see how close to the lands I was getting with the 150 BT seated at book COAL. So I used my Hornady OAL gauge to see. I run the bullet in till it stops, set the screw and pull it out. The bullet gets left in the rifle, but
It easy to remove. I go insert the bullet back in the tool, and there isn’t enough case neck left to hold the bullet. So either the throat is a mile long, or the barrel is toast. I have a hard time believing that as my grandpa purchased the gun new, and quit hunting in the mid eighties. I seriously doubt he shot a box of factory ammo a year out of it. So, is it it possible that it’s shot out?

More likely it is a long throat to begin with. You may get good accuracy with the bullet seated a ways from the throat. It happens often enough for me that I don't anticipate the best accuracy will be with the bullet seated close to the lands. 180g bullet may do the trick also. If you do have a lot of bullet jump to the throat a bit more powder can be used.

It's always possible....but doesn't sound likely.

Pull the bolt out and put a bore light in the muzzle...or point it at a light. You should be able to see the grooves and lands at the end of the chamber/lead area. I'm betting if your grandpa purchased it new and didn't shoot much that you'll see nice crisp lines in there. If they are nice and sharp/squared, it isn't shot out.

Some barrels are slow, some barrels are fast, some barrels are just right, so I wouldn't put too much stock in that. You may be able to load up to velocity or you may not.

Some guns don't respond well to the "pet loads". I've experienced that. It amazes me sometimes what a gun prefers in bullet style and weight...along with powder preferences.

Had a .300 Winchester Magnum recently that just would not shoot 180 grain bullets with any of the tried and true pet loads, or loads I had found in other guns to work. Finally decided to move to a 200 grain bullet and the gun really shot.

Go figure.

Just some ideas from a few years of experience.

Are we talking .30-06?

Yes

If you are getting 2790 fps. with a 150, that is still pretty darn good. I laugh at sown of the ballistics of the 30-30 and 32 SPL.

Has the bore ever been cleaned properly? Sometimes it's amazing how old stuff comes alive after a good scrubbing. It wont do much for your speed, but accuracy may improve. The speed isn't down that much either. Maybe sneak up a wee bit with the powder charge?

Older commercial rifles chambered for (ex)-military cartridges like '06 or 7x57 often have long throats in deference to then popular heavy bullets. To this day many "vintage hunters" in Maine swear by the 220 gr Rem CL......in case you were wondering why anyone would make a relatively soft 220 gr RN.

For all I know Remington was still doing it this way in the '80s. Had a 700 for which velocities were low and there was no way to get close to the lands with 150s or 180s.

To "find" the lands on your 721 you might need to use the Hornady gauge with a 220 gr RN having a long bearing surface. That will probably do it.

A lot of Remingtons are still like that. Google “Remington 308 thoat” and you’ll see what I mean.

Okie John

Interesting. Not just '06 and .308 Win. Thanks, John.

39.99 for a Teslong bore scope which works extremely well will tell the tale. Although he may not really want to know.

Mono's like a jump.

Try TTSX

There you go.......

Thanks everyone. I’ll give it a good scrubbing, I also have some 150 TTSX bullets. I’ll try em.

In addition to my comments in the ask the gun writers forum I would try 168 gr. or heavier Barnes bullets, possibly the 200. The Barnes has a reputation for liking to be jumped sometime quite a bit. I would also treat it as though it were free bored and might go a half grain or so over maximum while watching the chronograph. As someone posted 2700+ fps is not too shabby and you could kill game for the rest of your life with that load and not be handicapped.

Great suggestion. You may even go to a heavier bullet. The heavier, the longer they get. Hasbeen