New Brass Needs Preparation Too

WHILE external brass dimensions are standard throughout the industry, internal dimensions and certain other characteristics such as the hardness of case heads and thickness of the web can vary widely between different brands, or even between different lots from the same maker. When case walls are made thicker and external dimensions are standard, obviously the capacity of the case will be reduced, which can have a significant effect upon powders, charges, and pressures. Not so obvious, however, is the fact that if case heads are made harder, they will be able to withstand higher pressures, and charges may be safely increased in a given brand of case beyond the limit which might be safe in another brand of case in the same calibre.

To obtain the highest degree of accuracy a custom gunsmith blue-prints the action, and then takes the utmost care to cut a perfect chamber, one that is concentric with the barrel threads and the bolt face. He makes sure the bolt face is square with the centreline of the bore, then laps the locking lugs into full engagement and cleans up the contact shoulders. He does this whether he