25-06 difficulties

[xausa]

I just took delivery of a 25-06 built on a VZ-24 BRNO action and stocked Mannlicher style. Everything looked fine, until I attempted to chamber a factory round and discovered that the bolt won't quite close on it. Ostensibly the rifle was built in 1949, but I can't discover any discrepancy between the specifications for the wildcat cartridge of that name then in use and the present factory cartridge. I considered grinding a few thousendths off the bottom of the die I'm using or off the top of the shell holder, but I would prefer a solution which doesn't involve either. My long time friend and gunsmith, Harry Creighton, is no longer with us, but I have access to his chambering reamers. However, I know of no one in my immediate area whom I would trust to use them. Suggestions would be most welcome.

 

[shootist~]

It's not impossible that the factory round could be slightly over spec. Did you receive any fired brass? That plus a Hornady Cartridge Headspace Guage would tell you a lot. Double check the primer is flush or slightly below as well.

 

[JimP]

I'd have the chamber checked by a gunsmith.

When rifles are built on a wildcat cartridge which the 25-06 was back in 49 anything could be possible.

 

[Areaonereal]

Try to load it from the magazine…loading from the mag let’s the claw extractor grip the rim. If trying to load by single manually placing the round in the chamber the extractor may not grip and prevent loading.

 

[xausa]

Try to load it from the magazine…loading from the mag let’s the claw extractor grip the rim. If trying to load by single manually placing the round in the chamber the extractor may not grip and prevent loading.

I have a pretty large collection of Mausers and am quite familiar with their single loading problems. I had previously resized a fired case I had on hand, removed the bolt, hooked the extractor to the case and replaced the bolt in the action. I was able to feed the empty case into the chamber, but just as it did with the loaded factory round, the bolt handle refused to close more than half way down. I should have mentioned that in my initial post.

 

[marksman]

l would suggest a small base body die
l'm not sure if they make one for a 25-06 but l am sure you could use a 30-06 die

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your idea of filing the top of a spare shell holder may do the trick

 

[GuttormG]

I would start with making sure the rifle is chambered for 25-06.

 

[SaintPanzer]

My first thought is headspace. My second thought is have the chamber cast.

 

[Nevada Mike]

Why not simply have the chamber cut for the .25-'06 Remington? As pointed out, in 1949 the .25-'06 was a wildcat round without SAAMI published specs. I expect that this would eliminate the problem.

The 25-'06 is a terrific cartridge... I have one built on a Ruger No. 1.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have a pretty large collection of Mausers and am quite familiar with their single loading problems. I had previously resized a fired case I had on hand, removed the bolt, hooked the extractor to the case and replaced the bolt in the action. I was able to feed the empty case into the chamber, but just as it did with the loaded factory round, the bolt handle refused to close more than half way down. I should have mentioned that in my initial post.

@xausa
Just a far out suggestion.
Try cutting half the neck off and then try chambering.
If it chambers its a neck problem. If it doesn't chamber more than likely a datum problem.
You could do a chamber cast and get a better idea.
Bob

 

[xausa]

Thanks for all the replies. Problem solved. Rummaging through my collection (accumulation) of dies, I came across a .25-06 sizing die from RCBS dated 1970. Remington added the .25-06 to their line of tamed wildcats in 1969, so RCBS must have been using their wildcat dimensions on this die. The cases fit perfectly and I am a happy ( relieved) man.
One thing I learned from my research was that there was a movement at one point to name the cartridge ".25 Whelen", thus associating it with the .35 amd .400 Whelen. A more appropriate appellation would have been .25 Niedner, after its originator A.O. Niedner.

 

[Sabattiboy]

A headspace gauge set will tell a lot but maybe not all if the reamer that was used differs from the SAAMI specifications. If the headspace gauges show proper headspace then as @SaintPanzer said a chamber cast for dimensions. It might be that a SAAMI chamber reamer will fix it.
Also, I use a felt marker to color the case at the shoulder and base area to see where it is getting tight.

 

[MS 9x56]

I believe the technical term for that fit is called a smidgeon, as my Grandma used to say. Glad you got it worked out. The 25-06 is a fine round. A bit light for my taste but it gets the job done and will reach out there a long ways. Creedmore what?

 

[Sabattiboy]

Thanks for all the replies. Problem solved. Rummaging through my collection (accumulation) of dies, I came across a .25-06 sizing die from RCBS dated 1970. Remington added the .25-06 to their line of tamed wildcats in 1969, so RCBS must have been using their wildcat dimensions on this die. The cases fit perfectly and I am a happy ( relieved) man.
One thing I learned from my research was that there was a movement at one point to name the cartridge ".25 Whelen", thus associating it with the .35 amd .400 Whelen. A more appropriate appellation would have been .25 Niedner, after its originator A.O. Niedner.

Though it is working with the RCBS dies if it will not chamber a factory 25-06 it will be your reloads only for ammo. A SAAMI reamer may only change the chamber a few thousands 0.001 to 0.002 will stop a bolt from closing. Just a thought.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I believe the technical term for that fit is called a smidgeon, as my Grandma used to say. Glad you got it worked out. The 25-06 is a fine round. A bit light for my taste but it gets the job done and will reach out there a long ways. Creedmore what?

@MS 9x56
Is a smidgeon smaller or bigger than an Australian milli-poofteenth, which is a lot smaller than a flies foreskin.
Bob

 

[MS 9x56]

@MS 9x56
Is a smidgeon smaller or bigger than an Australian milli-poofteenth, which is a lot smaller than a flies foreskin.
Bob

I would have to say bigger based on your detailed thorough description.