Ruger 77 .280 chamber

HTDUCK

Good morning to all.While I frequent the auctions alot I just found the boards yesterday.I have a technical type question that maybe someone knows the answer to.I have a Ruger 77chambered for .280 Remington that is giving me fits.I've tried various factory ammo and can't get the rifle to shoot any better than 2.5 inches at 100 yds.I decided to try some handloads.Before I assembled the first round I resized a fired case and assembled a "dummy round" with a 140 Nosler Ballistic Tip in order to find out how long the rifles chamber is.Here is where the problem started.The chamber in the rifle is .085 longer than the magazine.Fired cases measure exaclty at what all my loading manuals say they should.No signs of excess pressure.Also rifle has been glass bedded and barrelfree floated,trigger breaks crisp at 2.5lbs after trigger job.What should I do?Sorry for the long first post but I'm really torn up over this as the rifle was my dads and he's passed away.TIAHTDuck

robsguns

I'm no expert on diagnosing a rifles accuracy problems, but I do have an idea. You seem to think that the .085" of free bore is causing your problems, correct? Test your theory by loading up enough rounds for a few groups. Seat your bullets so that the bullet is just enough off from touching the rifling to suit you. Now load your bullets one at a time into the chamber, single shot, when you go to the range, and see if your groups tighten up any. I recommend using the load that provided you your best accuracy, previously, for this test, but that doesnt mean it will still be your most accurate load when you change your seating depth, you know what I mean? Once you find out if this improves your accuracy, or not, then you can go from there on improving your rifles accuracy. Personally I'd cross my fingers and hope it doesnt make any difference. Have you checked the rifles headspace? Stupid question, I know.

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SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC

HTDUCK

Well it may seem a stupid question but I'm not really sure how to go about checking the headspacing.Perhaps you can explain it to me.

sealyon

Hi HT. Headspace can be checked with a set of go--no go guages or a chamber guage. I suggest you find a local gunsmith to check this for you. It's not hard to do but headspace is critical to safety and accuracy so having someone with experience do it is reccommended. Probably cost you 10 bucks. You could have throat erosion but it would take a lot of rounds in a 280 to do it. Good luck to you!!!

sealyon

P.S. If you want to have some fun, Have it reamed out to a 280 Ack. Imp. This was Jarods beanfield rifle cal. if I'm not mistaken.

robsguns

Click on this link, then click on- view technical information, I believe it is, and it will tell you a little more about how the guages work that you do this with, should you choose to do it yourself. http://www.midwayusa.com/online/productpage.exe/showproduct?SaleItemID=752932& KeyWord=head+space The guages are inserted much like a round, but not quite. Should you choose to do it yourself, instructions are included with the guage, its a no brainer. The throat erosion mentioned previously is a possibility too, I still think you should try loading up some rounds like I'd suggested though, if your accuracy doesnt improve, I'd think its nothing to do with free bore.

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SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC[This message has been edited by robsguns (edited 01-18-2002).][This message has been edited by robsguns (edited 01-18-2002).]

HTDUCK

Thanks for the info guys.I'll check with my local gunsmith on the headspace guages,if he doesn't have one I'll give Midway a holler.Rather than have the chamber reamed,I'd probably just get my 'smithto rebarrel the action.

HTDUCK

Thanks for the info guys.I'll check with my local gunsmith on the headspace guages,if he doesn't have one I'll give Midway a holler.Rather than have the chamber reamed,I'd probably just get my 'smithto rebarrel the action.