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The following opinion was offered by a client in Colorado after the second time his rifle failed to extract a live round from the chamber: "I ain't plannin' to shoot any dangerous game with it so it's no issue to me."
Maybe so - but that rifle is not reliable. Here are my criteria for an unreliable rifle - even in Colorado:
The first time it has a miss feed.
The first time is fails to extract a case or a cartridge.
The first time when the trigger had been pulled when the safety was on and it fires a shot when the safety is released. No fixing - it will go back to the dealer and replaced.
When it is not possible to shoot a 1.5" group at 100 yards.
When groups grow after the third shot.
When an off the shelf rifle bought in South Africa from a dealer shows any of the above it is returned as unreliable.
Many things can attribute to unreliability
- Action issues (including feeding and/or extraction)
- Trigger and/or safety issues
- Barrel issues (bent, chamber, rifling, or muzzle)
- Sights
- Inaccuracy
- Bedding
- Design and/or manufacturing flaws
- Simply in the mind of the shooter
the only rifle I have had that was unreliable was a M70 7 Rem Mag . It would not hit the broad side of a barn if you stuck the barrel to the barn ..
The dies are RCBS and were new old stock years ago from a business that failed. Yes, it is based on the 06 case. Personally, I would compare the Newton more to the 260 Remington than the 6.5-06. The Newton shoulder is further back than the 06 with a longer neck. There is some trimming involved making this cases. There was a long standing desire to put a Newton together. Time came and we are making progress. There is more information on this project in the wildcat portion of this forum. Be safe.
I have always understood the 256 Newton to be much like the 6.5x06. I have a 6.5x06 and love it. Where will you get die's for it? Is it actully based on the 30-06 case?
Welcome home, Bill!
You have a very satisfying shooter there in that CZ; just the ticket for a one-rifle to Africa. I carry a Bavaria stocked CZ 550 .416 Rigby in Mozambique. Totally reliable rifles. Not only do they know about perfect inletting with never the need for a post purchase bedding job - the profile of that Bavarian stock is the best ever for recoil. Maybe yours is the straight butt stock for the American market.
Please tell us about your .256 Newton project in the Random Reports category.
Good to be here. Current project is a 256 Newton on a military Mauser action. Favorite big rifle is a 375 H&H CZ 550. The action fitters at CZ know their work.
I see the issue illustrated above as 2 fold. 1 - the rifle and 2 - the attitude of the client.