Too much Freebore

Seabee · Sep 13, 2017

I picked up a Ruger 77 for a good price and when I got home I found out why. The rifle has far too much freebore, about 10 mm too much. I'm sure the former owner couldnt get it to shoot. It is chambered for 7x57 AI. Is there a gunsmith in the area that can set the barrel back and rechamber this rifle?

Laddertowr · Sep 13, 2017

Try Scotts right down the road from you... he's also a IP here... Scotts Gunsmithing Service...231 Thelma Avenue

Glen Burnie, MD 21061

Phone: 410 761-9815

Seabee · Sep 13, 2017

Will do. Thank you

Seabee · Sep 13, 2017

Talked to Scott. He cant do it. Any other ideas?

j_h_smith · Sep 13, 2017

Send it back to Ruger. They are pretty good about helping out folks with problems.

Good Luck!

EarnestT · Sep 13, 2017

Seabee said:
I picked up a Ruger 77 for a good price and when I got home I found out why. The rifle has far too much freebore, about 10 mm too much. I'm sure the former owner couldnt get it to shoot. It is chambered for 7x57 AI. Is there a gunsmith in the area that can set the barrel back and rechamber this rifle?

I am interested in buying. Send PM

GuitarmanNick · Sep 13, 2017

According to some posts I have read on other forums, Ruger subbed out the barrels for a while and some pretty crappy ones made it to market.

Acceptable accuracy for this rifle in 7x57 is 1-1/2" groups at 50 yards according to Ruger. I suggest shooting it with different ammunition to see how it shoots before saying it has too much freebore.

I am no expert, but the 7x57 is supposed to have a little more than you may be used to finding in other rifles to aid in accuracy.

EarnestT · Sep 13, 2017

GuitarmanNick said:
According to some posts I have read on other forums, Ruger subbed out the barrels for a while and some pretty crappy ones made it to market.

Acceptable accuracy for this rifle in 7x57 is 1-1/2" groups at 50 yards according to Ruger. I suggest shooting it with different ammunition to see how it shoots before saying it has too much freebore.

I am no expert, but the 7x57 is supposed to have a little more than you may be used to finding in other rifles to aid in accuracy.

It has been rechambered to 7x57AI which was probably done wrong. 10mm freebore is loooong. The barrel would have to be removed, cut down, rechambered and rethreaded to make it work or rebarreled.

GuitarmanNick · Sep 13, 2017

Since it sounds like the OP has not yet fired the rifle, he cannot know how accurate it actually is. I suggest firing it and checking results before investing in work that may be unnecessary.

Weatherby used to make barrels with up to 1/2" in freebore and these were highly accurate.

Just saying, some cartridges perform better with more freebore. Being on a limited income, I have learned to verify a problem actually is present before spending money on a fix.

The differences between the 7x57 and the 7x57AI are very slight from what I have been able to find. I cannot see it requiring less freebore.

Seabee · Sep 13, 2017

The mauser had long throats early on because they used 175 gr RN bullet seated out quite a bit. Later when they went to pointed bullets they shortened the throat. Ruger did outsource barrels for a time and they were junk from what I was told. I am going to shoot it and see how it does before I drop the money in it. I've talked to a gunsmith and he recommended rebarreling. It is the original ruger barrel rechambered.
I also have a 338RCM that has a very long throat. It is long enough that the magazine is too short to get tipped ammo within .050" of the rifling. I wound up using TSX rather than TTSX bullets in order to seat them closer to rifling and that did the trick.
I appreciate all the help and comments. I'll keep this thread posted as this develops. I have to work this weekend so it may be a while before I get to work with it.

Pinecone · Sep 14, 2017

I would try Duffy's. Or Engage. If Scott cannot do it.

Jerry M · Sep 14, 2017

Contact DocEd here on the board to see if he can do it.

Seabee · Sep 15, 2017

Duffy said he would do it. Does anyone have an email address for Kiff at PT&G? I want to talk to him about a reamer

John from MD · Sep 15, 2017

Seabee said:
Duffy said he would do it. Does anyone have an email address for Kiff at PT&G? I want to talk to him about a reamer

They have a web site where you can rent one as I recall.

If they screwed up when rechambering to the Ackley Improved chamber, you would also have headspace issues.

I also suggest shooing some 175 gn bullets before spending alot of money. Those on top of 4350 powder brought me a lot of meat back in the day. :thumbsup:

4g64loser · Sep 22, 2017

Ed "Doc" Harren of Harrens Custom Rifles 301-831-8068. He is very familiar with Ackley chamberings and will advise you on whether the barrel is worth the trouble. If it isn't, well, then I'm sure he will be happy to set you up with a new one. He's a first-rate smith and a heck of a shooter.

Seabee · Sep 25, 2017

Thanks for the responses. The headspace gauges arrived Saturday and the reamer is on the way. I've ordered a Krieger barrel but it wont be in until Jan 2018 they tell me. Thanks again

Too much Freebore

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