Help: case not fitting chamber correctly

[A.Redd]

I just finished my first rounds of reloads, and I already have a problem. The case/ bullet is not entering the chamber correctly. In my savage the cartridge will entire the chamber, but if i try to pull it without fireing it "drags" real bad and will scratch the bullet. In my buddy's howa, it wont even allow him to close the chamber, and he has to tug pretty hard to get it back out. I was thinking it has to be the neck, but it appears to be ok. With the naked eye the cases appear almost exactly the same as an unfired case. From reading on this forum FC brass is crap, but i was thinking this might be user error. Anyone know what is causing the cartridge to not fully entire the chamber? Can this be fixed without tearing down the existing load?

308 Load: FC once fired brass. 168 hornady Amax. 2.81 OAC. Lee dies.

 

[gixxer822]

FL SIZE? Trim? did you set the headspace at all? have you ever tried to measure your seating depth or jump.

 

[FLIGHT762]

There's nothing wrong with using Federal brass. Yes, it is softer than other brass types, but it reloads fine. It sounds like you just loaded up ammo without checking your F/L sizing. You do this usually by making a dummy round. Unless you have a Redding body die, you will likely have to dismantle the ammo and resize again.

Take another empty case, turn your die into the press another 1/4 turn and resize. Make a dummy round with a seated bullet and see how it then chambers. Very doubtful your jamming the lands @ 2.81".

Look up "shoulder bumping" on this site. Read up on it. You can also go to the "Sticky" above the reloading section here and read the reloading for long range brass prep **http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...and-loading-long-range-1-brass-case-prep.html **

 

[leadbullet]

buy a case guage and adjust resizing die until the brass drops in and out easily, couldn't be simpler bro.

 

[oldfatguy]

. ....... " With the naked eye the cases appear almost exactly the same as an unfired case." .......

The differences between chambering and not chambering can be very, very small. Not many people claim to be able to see a 0.002" difference. And "almost" really does not apply to hand loading.

As others have suggested, buy some proper measuring tools and learn to use them.

OFG

 

[rjacobs]

You dont even need a case gauge, just use your chamber. Grab a factory round and see how it feels to close the bolt on, should be just about thumb pressure. Now grab some empty brass, throw it in and make sure the bolt closes with at most thumb force. If your rounds truly wont chamber right now than it wont be hard to get things setup correctly. Turn the sizing die down 1/8, size a piece of brass, try to chamber it, if its harder than thumb pressure(or harder than the factory round) to close the bolt, turn the size die another 1/8 and repeat. 1/4 turn further down from touching the shell plate should be the most you need IMO.

After doing this with my new sizing die last week I took out my case gauge and the rounds dropped right in perfectly.

 

[pawprint2]

Good practice, safe practice is to buy a case gauge as lead bullet has suggested, for every caliber you're loading. It is safer and easier from the start-and eliminates lots of problems.

 

[melloyello]

Was the brass fired in YOUR rifle before you reloaded it or was it fired in an UNKNOWN rifle? If the shoulder of your brass is not pushed back enough to fit your chamber then you won't be able to close the bolt. And just b/c it will or won't work in your rifle doesn't mean it will or won't in the next one.
And as a rule, everytime I work up a load for a rifle I first make a dummy round with no primer or powder. I set the headspace and max OAL touching the lands. I mark that case with all the dimensions and keep it for future reference. This way I always know the headspace and I don't make a round too long for that particular gun.

 

[High Binder]

without fireing it "drags" real bad and will scratch the bullet

^^^

If it's scratching the bullet, it's likely not a case problem. Sounds more like your seating the bullet too far out and its getting stuck in the lands when you close the bolt making it hard to eject the unfired case...

 

[melloyello]

^^^

If it's scratching the bullet, it's likely not a case problem. Sounds more like your seating the bullet too far out and its getting stuck in the lands when you close the bolt making it hard to eject the unfired case...

I thought that when I first read it but then I noticed he loaded OAL to 2.81"
I think the scratch is happening when he ejects the unfired round. The bullet is scraping b/c it is being pushed out as the bolt is pulled back.

 

[A.Redd]

Appreciate all the feedback, looks like I'm back to the drawing board.