can't close/ tight bolt.

[dmiller369]

I'm in the process of developing a load. for some reason the bolt is tight with 2.84-2.80 oal. previously I have not had an issue with this. any suggestions? I was able to seat the 178 amaxs at 2.86 without jamming. the current round is smk 168.

I wounded if its not the bullet length but maybe the shell or something else. please offer things to check.

savage .308 fcns 11

 

[Tackman11]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

Check the case shoulder if its right length

 

[Thor2j]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

Is it fired brass, if so how many times, what brand

 

[jagged77]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

It's not your overall length that's the problem, it'll be a dimension in your fired cases - shoulder, body, trim length etc. if you have a way of measuring the shoulder dims check there first, if not get a sharpie and black out a portion of an empty case, chamber and see where the ink has been rubbed off. That's usually a good indication of where the problem is.

 

[dmiller369]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

brass has been fired about 4 times. once with factory smk. then 2-3 times reloaded. it is federal.

no stress signs that I see.

just checked to see, it has to do with the shell, not the bullet depth.

 

[dmiller369]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

eye balling with a mic. the shoulder is about .01 longer than book specs. if this is the reason, is it ok to jam, the mouth of the casing holds the bullet tight, sometimes peels the copper off the bullet when seating.

 

[jagged77]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

Are you full length sizing or just neck sizing? Camming your bolt shut on oversized brass is not going to do you any favours in the long run, far better to shoulder bump the case back just enough to give a snug fit whilst being able to close the bolt easily.

If you get copper shavings whilst seating the bullet you need to chamfer the case mouth. Check overall length too whilst your at it to make sure that is not the issue.

 

[former naval person]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

First, measure the diameter of the fired case and a loaded round. There should be at least .003 difference. If the loaded round neck diameter is larger than the fired case then you have a tight neck and your cases will need neck turning. Then it is time for re-adjusting your full length sizing die, brushing and polishing the insides of the case necks, full length sizing the cases with the proper bump of the shoulder, trim to length, then chamfer the mouth of the case. Doing it in that order should solve your problems.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

Based on the entire thread, you have not pushed the shoulder back far enough to allow the cartrige to fit in the chamber and allow the bolt to close effortlessly.

 

[Tripwire]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

Basic shit, as in reloading manual 101....buy one and read it.

Pay particular attention those first few boring chapters........

 

[FLIGHT762]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MitchAlsup</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Based on the entire thread, you have not pushed the shoulder back far enough to allow the cartrige to fit in the chamber and allow the bolt to close effortlessly. </div></div>
This issue come up every few days in this forum.
98% of the time this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ is the cause of the problem. Not having the die bumping the shoulder enough to for the chamber.

Try turning your die in another 1/8th-1/12th turn clockwise or so ( rightee-tightee) and see if that solves your problem. Make a couple of dummy (no powder or primer) rounds to check it. I'll bet it works.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[MitchAlsup]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

As Flight762 indicates, give the die 1/16 turn in, size a case and then see if the unpowdered, unprimed cae fits in the chamber. If not another one or two 1/16 turn (just undr 0.001 inch) should address the problem.

 

[Sudden Impact]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

Like mentioned above, I too had the same problem (I was neck sizing only.) FL sizing solved the problem for me.

I also invested in a chamber gage and equipment to measure case at shoulder and ogive. Now I can tell exactly how long my cases should be at the shoulder, OAL and at the bullet in relation to the lands.

Never hurts to be sure.

 

[Deadshot2]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sudden Impact</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Like mentioned above, I too had the same problem (I was neck sizing only.) <span style="font-weight: bold">FL sizing solved the problem for me. </span>

I also invested in a chamber gage and equipment to measure case at shoulder and ogive. Now I can tell exactly how long my cases should be at the shoulder, OAL and at the bullet in relation to the lands.

Never hurts to be sure. </div></div>

An alternative to F/L sizing is the Forster Shoulder Bump/Neck Size Bushing die.

Realy versatile. Can be used to neck size AND shoulder bump at the same time. Can also be used without the bushing to merely bump the shoulder and leave the remainder of the case unsized. This can be desirable if one wants the extra capacity of a fire formed case which in many cases can be substantial.

It comes without an expander ball but Forster offers one as an option. I prefer a mandrel expander die myself for straighter cases.

 

[Mudcat-NC]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

OP, immediately stop doing your own loading right now, do NOT shoot your reloads, and get someone that knows how to reload to help you out for a while. SAFETY FIRST. ANd right now, you know enough to be really dangerous.

My guess is you got a shooting bud or two that know what they are doing and can get you up to speed fast. Not only that, its fun, especially when you learn the right way and dont have to redo a bunch of ammo.


Be safe please.

 

[USAF SP]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

4 times fired brass likely needs to be trimmed to length. After you heed the advice above make sure your case length is within spec.

Jet

 

[sic65stang]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

Get a headspace gauge and bump the shoulder 0.002 and trim to proper length. Read the stickies in this forum about reloading. Lots of great info in there that WILL help you. Be safe.

 

[JayCarver]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

Sounds like you need to bump the shoulder back

 

[majohnson2]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

Spending some money on a couple of books would be a good start. Second you not only need to measure your case overall value. But you need to get the numbers at the top of the neck. How the cases neck fits into the barrels chamber is important on several levels. I'm using the tools put out by Hornady, part of it slips over the ears of your calipers and has inserts to fit just over the cases neck.

Using a fired case, you want to measure to the top of the shoulder. Then measure that same point after you have sized the case or just the neck. Optimally the after size neck measurement should be .005 less then the fired case. Then you also need to confirm that the cases overall length, you need clearance there as well. Cramming things closed is not a good measure.

 

[1J04]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Tripwire</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Basic shit, as in reloading manual 101....buy one and read it.

Pay particular attention those first few boring chapters........ </div></div>

Hope "THAT" answered your question. WTF?

 

[DHDeal]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mudcat-NC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">OP, immediately stop doing your own loading right now, do NOT shoot your reloads, and get someone that knows how to reload to help you out for a while. SAFETY FIRST. ANd right now, you know enough to be really dangerous.

My guess is you got a shooting bud or two that know what they are doing and can get you up to speed fast. Not only that, its fun, especially when you learn the right way and dont have to redo a bunch of ammo.


Be safe please. </div></div>

Best advise of all here. I notice the OP has not replied, and hope he has got it figured out. There seems to be a lot of these type posts lately, i.e., <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">"new to reloading and just blew my gun, my scope, 3.5 fingers, and one eye to pluto, and need some help because a .338 Lapua won't fit in my new .223. Do I need to bump the shoulder back more, and are Small Pistol primers OK in my 6.5 Lapua"</span></span>

Please people, get a damn <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">BOOK</span></span></span> (Hornady, Sierra, the new Berger, etc.) and read. If there is someone near you that has been reloading for years and has both eyes and most fingers, by all means ask him for help, but at least borrow the <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">BOOKS</span></span></span> he has. Oh, and if he doesn't have any <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">BOOKS</span></span></span>, move along smartly and ask someone else. And, no, I do not think books have everything in them as far as reloading goes, but they answer a lot of these type posts. Most of the info is also on the respective websites for the manufactuer's. YMMV.....

Reminds me of a conversation I had with one of our pilots. He said something along the lines of <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">"there are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old bold pilots"</span></span>

 

[Deadshot2]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DHD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mudcat-NC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">OP, immediately stop doing your own loading right now, do NOT shoot your reloads, and get someone that knows how to reload to help you out for a while. SAFETY FIRST. ANd right now, you know enough to be really dangerous.

My guess is you got a shooting bud or two that know what they are doing and can get you up to speed fast. Not only that, its fun, especially when you learn the right way and dont have to redo a bunch of ammo.


Be safe please. </div></div>

Best advise of all here. I notice the OP has not replied, and hope he has got it figured out. There seems to be a lot of these type posts lately, i.e., <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">"new to reloading and just blew my gun, my scope, 3.5 fingers, and one eye to pluto, and need some help because a .338 Lapua won't fit in my new .223. Do I need to bump the shoulder back more, and are Small Pistol primers OK in my 6.5 Lapua"</span></span>

Please people, get a damn <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">BOOK</span></span></span> (Hornady, Sierra, the new Berger, etc.) and read. If there is someone near you that has been reloading for years and has both eyes and most fingers, by all means ask him for help, but at least borrow the <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">BOOKS</span></span></span> he has. Oh, and if he doesn't have any <span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">BOOKS</span></span></span>, move along smartly and ask someone else. And, no, I do not think books have everything in them as far as reloading goes, but they answer a lot of these type posts. Most of the info is also on the respective websites for the manufactuer's. YMMV.....

Reminds me of a conversation I had with one of our pilots. He said something along the lines of <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">"there are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old bold pilots"</span></span> </div></div>

Better yet, look for a "Reloading Class" that many NRA affiliated Gun Clubs hold on a regular basis. Books may be a good start but they don't have a hand that comes out and gives you a swat when you do something wrong.

 

[JeffP40]

Re: can't close/ tight bolt.

You guys that speak of the books must not recall what they say about full length sizing. They all say to screw the die all the way down onto the shell holder and use that setting to size. We all know that is not the proper way to do it. All that does is over size the brass, most of the time. The die should be adjusted to allow the bolt to just close easily on the brass. That setting should be good for quite some time. If they get tough, then I would say trimming is necc. As was already mentioned, turn it down a bit at a time until they fit.