Bought a couple of boxes of .308 reloads at a local gun show, and when I tried to load them in my rifle the bolt would slide forward but would not lock down. Any ideas about whats going on with these? I tried them in my brothers rifle and the same happened. Thanks for any help.
Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
- Thread starter Deano
- Start date
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
Sounds like they are loaded too long. What is the length of them?
Sounds like they are loaded too long. What is the length of them?
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
I bet they were from brass fired in a semi, which is stretched in the shoulder area.
Run them through a case gage, I bet you'll find the rim sticks out well beyond specs.
Not sure I'd use reloads at a gunshow or from anyone else I dont know.
I bet they were from brass fired in a semi, which is stretched in the shoulder area.
Run them through a case gage, I bet you'll find the rim sticks out well beyond specs.
Not sure I'd use reloads at a gunshow or from anyone else I dont know.
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
Number one rule...DON'T shoot anyone else's reloads. Repeat: Do not shoot reloads you cannot verify the origin. Your rifle may blow up in your face. Repeat, NO vision for the rest of your life. Like that scenario? Just that...do NOT shoot rounds loaded by others that you do not know intimately their reloading cautions...don't ask me how I gained that knowledge. Just make that a rule that is never broken...DON'T ever shoot reloads that you have no knowledge of the person who reloaded them...and then, even if you do, do it with a looooooong string. Just my opinion...and experience.
Number one rule...DON'T shoot anyone else's reloads. Repeat: Do not shoot reloads you cannot verify the origin. Your rifle may blow up in your face. Repeat, NO vision for the rest of your life. Like that scenario? Just that...do NOT shoot rounds loaded by others that you do not know intimately their reloading cautions...don't ask me how I gained that knowledge. Just make that a rule that is never broken...DON'T ever shoot reloads that you have no knowledge of the person who reloaded them...and then, even if you do, do it with a looooooong string. Just my opinion...and experience.
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
the above advice is totaly correct dont shoot any one elses reloads if you dont know them and how they load. the reason they were sold at the gunshow is because they are crap and wont fit in the chamber or the guy who loaded them would have shot them. the other time people load up ammo and sell it at gunshows is when the cases are about to seperate and are completly buggered they think i will get some money back on these cases and load them up sell them for a price not to far under surplus ammo costs and walk away. the cases are ususaly to long aswell and need trimming they use any old powder they have laying around and that can vary as this tin runs out get another part tin does not matter the burn rate just adjust the charge and keep shooting then the projectiles could be mixed. Start seing a pattern here write it down as a lesson lernt and bury those rounds somewhere deep in the ground and forget about them you just lernt a lesson and dont play with them trying to fix them as you dont know what will happen. if they are not made to at least cycle there are peoblems with the size of the case now if that is a problem what others are there with it?
the above advice is totaly correct dont shoot any one elses reloads if you dont know them and how they load. the reason they were sold at the gunshow is because they are crap and wont fit in the chamber or the guy who loaded them would have shot them. the other time people load up ammo and sell it at gunshows is when the cases are about to seperate and are completly buggered they think i will get some money back on these cases and load them up sell them for a price not to far under surplus ammo costs and walk away. the cases are ususaly to long aswell and need trimming they use any old powder they have laying around and that can vary as this tin runs out get another part tin does not matter the burn rate just adjust the charge and keep shooting then the projectiles could be mixed. Start seing a pattern here write it down as a lesson lernt and bury those rounds somewhere deep in the ground and forget about them you just lernt a lesson and dont play with them trying to fix them as you dont know what will happen. if they are not made to at least cycle there are peoblems with the size of the case now if that is a problem what others are there with it?
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
Thanks, Bill...for the approbation. Shooters are the same cheap b......s around the world. Trying to get others f....d at their own expense, Hope you get some rain. FNP
Thanks, Bill...for the approbation. Shooters are the same cheap b......s around the world. Trying to get others f....d at their own expense, Hope you get some rain. FNP
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
Yeah the guy that was selling the rds. has a business selling ammo, so figured I would try it out. I bought some .40 S&W from him and those shot good.
Yeah the guy that was selling the rds. has a business selling ammo, so figured I would try it out. I bought some .40 S&W from him and those shot good.
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: former naval person</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Number one rule...DON'T shoot anyone else's reloads. Repeat: Do not shoot reloads you cannot verify the origin. </div></div>
+1...
Sounded so good, you said it again. Rifle rounds are so much different from pistol rounds. I have fired reloaded pistol rounds before. But I knew the business had a good name.
Use ALL available precaution.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: former naval person</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Number one rule...DON'T shoot anyone else's reloads. Repeat: Do not shoot reloads you cannot verify the origin. </div></div>
+1...
Sounded so good, you said it again. Rifle rounds are so much different from pistol rounds. I have fired reloaded pistol rounds before. But I knew the business had a good name.
Use ALL available precaution.
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
The above advice about not shooting someone elses reloads is sound advice. However I do not feel that negative about all the people in the world. However accidents do happen. And with reloads the rule of the day is "better safe than sorry".
The problem probably lies in the shoulder. The case probably was not sized properly and the shoulder is too long for your chamber.
Personally I would not shoot the ammo. I would either return it or pull the bullets and reload it yourself. If neither option is available then I would render the ammunition inert and throw it away. It just is not worth taking a chance. The guy probably made a mistake. But you do not want to be the one who pays for his mistake(physical damage to you-not your wallet). Tom.
The above advice about not shooting someone elses reloads is sound advice. However I do not feel that negative about all the people in the world. However accidents do happen. And with reloads the rule of the day is "better safe than sorry".
The problem probably lies in the shoulder. The case probably was not sized properly and the shoulder is too long for your chamber.
Personally I would not shoot the ammo. I would either return it or pull the bullets and reload it yourself. If neither option is available then I would render the ammunition inert and throw it away. It just is not worth taking a chance. The guy probably made a mistake. But you do not want to be the one who pays for his mistake(physical damage to you-not your wallet). Tom.
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
1+ on all of the above advices. It's cheaper to either buy manufactured ammo, or do your own reloading. Your rifle costs enough money. Your vision and face is priceless my friend.
1+ on all of the above advices. It's cheaper to either buy manufactured ammo, or do your own reloading. Your rifle costs enough money. Your vision and face is priceless my friend.
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
I no longer even trust the big bulk reloaders like Georgia Arms. My first batch of BTHP Match ammo from them was laser accurate and showed no signs of pressure. The next lot I bought are laser accurate and also 1 out of five rounds completely flattens the primers, scrubs a large patch of the stamping off the case head, and locks up my bolt.
Buy a press, scale, and dies and roll your own. You'll be glad you did.
I no longer even trust the big bulk reloaders like Georgia Arms. My first batch of BTHP Match ammo from them was laser accurate and showed no signs of pressure. The next lot I bought are laser accurate and also 1 out of five rounds completely flattens the primers, scrubs a large patch of the stamping off the case head, and locks up my bolt.
Buy a press, scale, and dies and roll your own. You'll be glad you did.
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
I dont' even like giving reloads to friends and I loaded them. I shure wouldn't shoot anyone elses loads. You never know. Now it this to say that the Big Buys- Fed, Win, Black Hills- never make mistakes, well they check their ammo alot and self loaders get lazy. IMHO I have been lazy too many times.
I dont' even like giving reloads to friends and I loaded them. I shure wouldn't shoot anyone elses loads. You never know. Now it this to say that the Big Buys- Fed, Win, Black Hills- never make mistakes, well they check their ammo alot and self loaders get lazy. IMHO I have been lazy too many times.
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: EagleI79</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I dont' even like giving reloads to friends and I loaded them. I shure wouldn't shoot anyone elses loads. You never know. Now it this to say that the Big Buys- Fed, Win, Black Hills- never make mistakes, well they check their ammo alot and self loaders get lazy. IMHO I have been lazy too many times. </div></div>
Im the same, I hate giving my reloads to the guy next to me, even if they are loaded to minimum specs.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: EagleI79</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I dont' even like giving reloads to friends and I loaded them. I shure wouldn't shoot anyone elses loads. You never know. Now it this to say that the Big Buys- Fed, Win, Black Hills- never make mistakes, well they check their ammo alot and self loaders get lazy. IMHO I have been lazy too many times. </div></div>
Im the same, I hate giving my reloads to the guy next to me, even if they are loaded to minimum specs.
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
I have no problems letting my friends shoot my reloads....in my guns for which those loads were made for.
I have no problems letting my friends shoot my reloads....in my guns for which those loads were made for.
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
The advice about not shooting someone else's reloads is spot on. I won't even use range brass to reload because I don't know it's history.
The only reloaded ammo that is reasonably safe to use is that made by MAJOR ammunition manufacturers like Black Hills. Just because someone hangs out a business sign doesn't mean they have the equipment, or liability insurance to properly run an ammunition manufacturing business.
I'll bet that the rounds in question will be too long if you measure the case length at a datum line on the case shoulder, and you will likely find that they were not trimmed to length prior to seating the bullet.
It just isn't worth your hand, eyesight, face, or even just the cost of replacing a firearm to use unknown reloads.
I wouldn't even recommend disassembling the ammo for components, because you just don't know how many times the brass was fired prior to reloading. There is the chance that the person who sold the brass to the ammo maker lied, and said that the brass was once fired out of a bolt gun, when in fact it has been fired six times, the last time out of an old full auto weapon.
The advice about not shooting someone else's reloads is spot on. I won't even use range brass to reload because I don't know it's history.
The only reloaded ammo that is reasonably safe to use is that made by MAJOR ammunition manufacturers like Black Hills. Just because someone hangs out a business sign doesn't mean they have the equipment, or liability insurance to properly run an ammunition manufacturing business.
I'll bet that the rounds in question will be too long if you measure the case length at a datum line on the case shoulder, and you will likely find that they were not trimmed to length prior to seating the bullet.
It just isn't worth your hand, eyesight, face, or even just the cost of replacing a firearm to use unknown reloads.
I wouldn't even recommend disassembling the ammo for components, because you just don't know how many times the brass was fired prior to reloading. There is the chance that the person who sold the brass to the ammo maker lied, and said that the brass was once fired out of a bolt gun, when in fact it has been fired six times, the last time out of an old full auto weapon.
Re: Reloads not allowing bolt to close???
Well thanks for all the input guys, I guess I will just have to chalk this one up to Lesson Learned...
Well thanks for all the input guys, I guess I will just have to chalk this one up to Lesson Learned...
Similar threads
