ASK THE GUN EDITOR
Letters containing questions for answering by Nick Harvey must be accompanied by a stamped self-addressed envelope. Mail your letters to: The Technical Editor, 3 Reef Street, Hill End, NSW 2850.
LETTER OF THE MONTH
Short-action magazine length
Q I have come to realise that most short-action rifles have magazines that are too short, averaging 2.85”. This may be fine for cartridges like the .308 and necked-down versions like the .243 and 7mm-08, but the 6mm Rem, .257 Roberts, 6.5-284 and .284 Win are cramped and bullets must be seated deeply to fit in the magazine. This reduces powder capacity, preventing these cartridges from achieving their full potential. Are there short-action rifles which have magazines long enough to allow bullets to be seated out further?
James Hewitt
A There are some short-action rifles which have 3” magazines instead of 2.85” with the advantage of allowing shallower bullet seating. This is fine with short cartridges based on the .308 case but the 6.5-284 and .284 Win are better suited in a medium-length action. A rifle for the .257 Roberts should have a long action where magazine length allows the chamber to be long-throated so the round can be loaded to its full potential.
This is one area where I disagree with American gun writers who have never understood how to
