308 COAL prob

[Placebo]

So I started my reloads and here is the process. Lubed by hand and Lee full resize and deprimer die used on once fired hornady match brass. Then use the Lee case trimmer. After that RCBS Trim Mate Case Prep Center for pocket primer cleaning and chamfering along with running the brush thru it twice. After that the cases are thrown into my tumbler for a couple hours and taken out.

After all clean a CCI Large Rifle Bench Rest Prime with the Lee autohand priming tool is put in. I measure out 42 grains of varget and place into each casing. I seat the round with Lees Bullet seating die. No crimping die. All done on a Lee auto indexing press that i took the rotating bar out to have it as a single stage.
The prob is if my COAL goes over 2.73 it is stiff as hell to close the bolt on my rem 700 ADL .308. I guess the main reason I ask is I always see a 2.80 or higher on other posts. Would this be lets say the norm for my rifle or am i missing something. Thanks as always in advance. I did a search and blam was trying to find the answer but couldn't.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: 308 COAL prob

How did you set up the Full Length die, I bet you followed the directions that came with the die set, your not bumping the shoulder back at all, when we FL size the case gets longer before it gets shorter, get a HeadSpace Gage, decap a fired case and use the Headspace Gage to set your FL die up, you want to resize the cases so there .0015 shorter, once you get there lock the die in place

 

[former naval person]

Re: 308 COAL prob

If you have easy seating below 2.73 OAL...tip to base, and over that it gets hard...it isn't the sizing die. Probably the ball seat length at the junction of rifling and chamber. Live with it. Or, have the junction moved forward...a neck reamer will do that easily. That shouldn't be a big concern however...it gives you room to chase the lands and still be within magazine length. JMHO

 

[427Cobra]

Re: 308 COAL prob

I thought about that FNP but no factory Rem is going to be chambered that short

 

[Placebo]

Re: 308 COAL prob

Thanks so much for the quick reply everyone. much appreciated.

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: 308 COAL prob

make sure your trimming betwwen 2.005 and 2.015 (i keep mine neutral at 2.010)

what grain / shape bullet you using? perhaps the ogive of the bullet is going to force you to keep it seated deeper in the case.

or keep it a 2.73 or lower, just lower the charge so pressures are not exceeded.

you can always seat the bullet loosely in the case, chamber it, and what ever is causing the friction will puch the bullet back, measure it, it's your new max. oal.

 

[Placebo]

Re: 308 COAL prob

yes I did adjust it and set it up according to the Lee instructions that came with the dies and I am using 168grn Match BTHP from Hornady. I looked at Midway for the gauge and they are on backorder. Will look elsewhere.
Thanks again

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: 308 COAL prob

If a case chambers fine with no bullet inserted it is probably not a problem with the FL die setup.
Possibly could be the case length is too long. Don't trust the Lee trimmer, measure the trimmed case, it should be no longer than 2.015".

Does the rifle chamber fine with Factory match ammunition?

 

[m1match]

Re: 308 COAL prob

I wouldn't think a factory Remington would be chambered with such a short throat, factory rifles are usually very long in the throat. Let us know what you find once you get a case gauge.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Re: 308 COAL prob

Not to infer anything, but your calipers are zeroed correct?

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: 308 COAL prob


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sobrbiker883</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If a case chambers fine with no bullet inserted it is probably not a problem with the FL die setup.
Possibly could be the case length is too long. Don't trust the Lee trimmer, measure the trimmed case, it should be no longer than 2.015".

Does the rifle chamber fine with Factory match ammunition? </div></div>
^^^^^^good advice, i always start any data with factory stuff to get a base line, at least for safety's sake.

 

[Queequeg]

Re: 308 COAL prob

What is going on with factory rounds? Do they chamber normally?

Very few of them are loaded below 2.800" OAL.

Edited to add; Sorry for the redundancy!

 

[XTR]

Re: 308 COAL prob

Just out of curiosity I just miked some of the lake City M80 ball I have here, looks like they're 2.80 OAL.


<span style="font-style: italic">If your really at 2.80 and having problems it has got to be the brass.</span>


<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">edit 2</span></span><span style="font-style: italic">better check that FA caliper, I have one and I just measured a M-80 and got 2.99 twice, both times if I rolled it back to zero it said 0.200. The right number is 2.80 but it seems to randomly pick up a couple of tenths </span>

 

[Placebo]

Re: 308 COAL prob

Trimmed resized case Chambers very smooth and easy. trimmed cases are 2.010 and i just check some winchester 150 super X and they come out to 2.698 consistantly. I am using a Frankford Arsenal digital caliper. Factory loads chamber absolutely fine

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: 308 COAL prob

so the factory 150's chamber well, and the resized / trimmed empty cases chamber well, that takes out the possibility of the fl / trimming issue.

the 168's are longer thatn the 150's, do you happen to have any 168 factory to try chambering?

since your not crimping, i don't see where the neck / shoulder is getting squashed, but check it non the less.

the only other thing i can think of is adjust the 168's seating depth to where they are not hard to chamber, and the adjust the powder charge also to avoid excessive pressure. hopefully they'll shoot well for you with the adjustment.

 

[XTR]

Re: 308 COAL prob

Look at the problem here


Any chance you are having the same kind of problem?

 

[Placebo]

Re: 308 COAL prob

I dont have any 168s on hand at the moment but will get a box tomorrow. I will check tomorrow XTR to see if that might be the prob. Thanks again everyone for chiming in, so much appreciated and in the process im learning so much.

 

[Queequeg]

Re: 308 COAL prob

Are there any marks on the bullets of your handloads that indicate contact with the lands? I don't believe the use of the Winchester 150 grain Super X rules out the insufficient resizing theory. As mentioned above, it's an unusual Remington that has a leade so short that a SAMMI spec length cartridge won't chamber. Rare as hen's teeth.

Certanly, if any round of factory 168 gr match ammo (Or 175, or 155...) will chamber then I believe it is inconsistent resizing that is the culprit.

If the resizing stroke is inconsistent, coupled with the setting of the resizing die being close to minimal resizing in the first place, one could see the same result.

As a test, if you have an inertia or collet bullet puller, you could easily draw out the bullets from one or two of those Win. X loads, say three or four hundredths, to see if they find the lands. Then measure your OAL to see if it's truly a short chamber.

Just measured 12 rounds of Win Super X 150 gr; I get 2.703" to 2.714". Still a good 13 -23 thou longer than your consistent 2.692" but not conclusive.

 

[Placebo]

Re: 308 COAL prob

No marks on bullet or casings. OK so i finally had time to get some Hornady 168 Match and them bastards to my chagrin chamber beautifully and measure a even 2.80. Tonight i will go over everything with fresh one shot brass and reseat everything while puilling bullets, Thanks everyone so far will keep you posted.

 

[Placebo]

Re: 308 COAL prob

Took everything apart, cleaned very good then put dies back together and reseated in press. Resized a recently fired casing, no primer or powder, put a 168 gr BTHP Hornady and pressed it in down to 2.805 and chambers in my rifle like storebrand. Not sure what was exactly wrong but gonna be pulling bullets soon. Can you resized casings with a primer in place or should i just scrap the rounds that I already loaded.

 

[ggmanning]

Re: 308 COAL prob

You can resize with the primers in place if you remove the decapping pin.

 

[XTR]

Re: 308 COAL prob

I measured my stock Remy 308 today for loading 150g ballistic tips for hunting. The OAL (tip to base) just touching the lands is 2.932.

 

[Placebo]

Re: 308 COAL prob

Thanks so much everyone for chiming in and helping along with advice. So much appreciated.