Wiley
Well-Known Member
There is no record, ZERO, records proper of Remington specifying and cutting 'match' chambers in their 541 series of 22lr chambered rifles. BUT, there are a bunch of folks that claim they are match and others that claim the term 'match chamber' didn't even exist in the era of these production rifles. Those that claim there are match chambers specifically call out the S rifles and also say the the T does not. I've read that the S rifles engrave the bullet when chambered but that the T rifle does not. I had to know.......
So, I took it upon myself to make a layman's comparison. I currently have two 541S rifles, one of which is NIB and unfired and anther that I call my 'shooter'. I also have a 541T HB that is new/unfired (no box) and a 541T Sporter that is lightly used. I have another 541T Sporter that I'm anxious to pick up tomorrow. Using a new round of Lapua Midas+ for each rifle I chambered and withdrew the bolt on each one. Both S models engraved the bullet and the NIB unfired rifle seems to be engraving quite a bit more than my shooter rifle. Neither of the T rifles engraved the bullet at all. Also of note on the T models is that the HB has a date code of July 1982 and has the small wood screw in the center of the bottom metal. The T Sporter has a date code of November 1985 and has the 2nd, larger head action screw in the middle of the bottom metal where the other one has the smaller diameter head wood screw. All 4 rifles have the 3 screw triggers and 3 have been worked by Brian Voelker. The other is the T Sporter and I have adjusted it down to a decent pull of about 17oz but it's still not a Voelker trigger.
So, are the S chambers that engrave the bullet with the leade actually match chambers before that term came into usage? I reckon that's up to each of us to have our own opinion on BUT that is the accepted layman's way of looking for a match chamber these days.....
Now if I could have those T barrels cut back at the breech just enough to engrave...... calling Mr. Voelker.....
So, I took it upon myself to make a layman's comparison. I currently have two 541S rifles, one of which is NIB and unfired and anther that I call my 'shooter'. I also have a 541T HB that is new/unfired (no box) and a 541T Sporter that is lightly used. I have another 541T Sporter that I'm anxious to pick up tomorrow. Using a new round of Lapua Midas+ for each rifle I chambered and withdrew the bolt on each one. Both S models engraved the bullet and the NIB unfired rifle seems to be engraving quite a bit more than my shooter rifle. Neither of the T rifles engraved the bullet at all. Also of note on the T models is that the HB has a date code of July 1982 and has the small wood screw in the center of the bottom metal. The T Sporter has a date code of November 1985 and has the 2nd, larger head action screw in the middle of the bottom metal where the other one has the smaller diameter head wood screw. All 4 rifles have the 3 screw triggers and 3 have been worked by Brian Voelker. The other is the T Sporter and I have adjusted it down to a decent pull of about 17oz but it's still not a Voelker trigger.
So, are the S chambers that engrave the bullet with the leade actually match chambers before that term came into usage? I reckon that's up to each of us to have our own opinion on BUT that is the accepted layman's way of looking for a match chamber these days.....
Now if I could have those T barrels cut back at the breech just enough to engrave...... calling Mr. Voelker.....
