Sakogun
Active Member
I have a few questions:
1. On the crown, when did Sako start applying what looks like an 11 degree taper from OD of barrel to the first chamfer entering the bore?
2. What's the typical maximum number of ID threads left showing in the receiver when the barrel is screwed in from the factory?
3. What are the normal barrel markings on an AV 300 Win Mag?
I ask because I bought a AV 300 win mag a few months ago and the rifle is beautiful including the rifling. Last night I started to work up a few loads so I can take it out and shoot it for the first time this weekend. When I located the lands using my hornady gauge I noticed the lands are 3.495" from the bottom of the case when using a 180 gr sierra bullet. Many of the reloading manuals indicate a max COAL of 3.340" which puts the lands 0.155" further out. I normally like to start loading 30-40 thousandths back from the lands, but for this rifle it would well exceed the recommended max COAL from the manuals. I read a little on-line and noticed it may not be that uncommon for 300 win mag bullets to be seated further back from the lands, and I also read that COAL could exceed 3.340" as long as the cartridges can still fit in the mag (I am not asking for reloading advice). However, when I look inside the receiver I can see where 2 ID threads still show (where the barrel threads into the receiver), whereas, on my other sakos I never see more than a maximum of 1 full thread remaining. I then measured the barrel length (bolt closed with cleaning rod through the bore method) and it's exactly the same length as my AIII 7mm rem mag. The crowns of the guns look different, looks like a 11 degree taper OD to ID on the AIII 7mm, and zero degree tapper OD to ID on the AV 300 but with a small chamfer right at the bore entrance. I'm wondering if the gun has been re-crowned and not threaded all the way back to normal to keep the barrel length to spec. The barrel markings all look normal including the Garcia Import except it doesn't have a heraldic lion head stamp (which might be might be normal for the AV barrel). I would appreciate comments on my observations from you the experts...Thanks!
1. On the crown, when did Sako start applying what looks like an 11 degree taper from OD of barrel to the first chamfer entering the bore?
2. What's the typical maximum number of ID threads left showing in the receiver when the barrel is screwed in from the factory?
3. What are the normal barrel markings on an AV 300 Win Mag?
I ask because I bought a AV 300 win mag a few months ago and the rifle is beautiful including the rifling. Last night I started to work up a few loads so I can take it out and shoot it for the first time this weekend. When I located the lands using my hornady gauge I noticed the lands are 3.495" from the bottom of the case when using a 180 gr sierra bullet. Many of the reloading manuals indicate a max COAL of 3.340" which puts the lands 0.155" further out. I normally like to start loading 30-40 thousandths back from the lands, but for this rifle it would well exceed the recommended max COAL from the manuals. I read a little on-line and noticed it may not be that uncommon for 300 win mag bullets to be seated further back from the lands, and I also read that COAL could exceed 3.340" as long as the cartridges can still fit in the mag (I am not asking for reloading advice). However, when I look inside the receiver I can see where 2 ID threads still show (where the barrel threads into the receiver), whereas, on my other sakos I never see more than a maximum of 1 full thread remaining. I then measured the barrel length (bolt closed with cleaning rod through the bore method) and it's exactly the same length as my AIII 7mm rem mag. The crowns of the guns look different, looks like a 11 degree taper OD to ID on the AIII 7mm, and zero degree tapper OD to ID on the AV 300 but with a small chamfer right at the bore entrance. I'm wondering if the gun has been re-crowned and not threaded all the way back to normal to keep the barrel length to spec. The barrel markings all look normal including the Garcia Import except it doesn't have a heraldic lion head stamp (which might be might be normal for the AV barrel). I would appreciate comments on my observations from you the experts...Thanks!