Weird reloading problem

[RestrictedColt]

"cleaning rod to push them out" So the bolt won't pull them out? Extractor slipping off? Extractor tearing the rim off? I can't imagine a cleaning rod being able to do more than the bolt unless it's a steel rod and you're hammering on it.

Or are you just putting them into the chamber by hand and expecting them to drop out by gravity? If this is it, chamber and extract one using the bolt to see if there's actually a problem or not, and I'm guessing probably not.

If they're truly sticking mark the case and see where it's sticking. Smoke, sharpie, dykem; something to let you see exactly where they're sticking.

[robert101]

^^^^^This is so right.

[otteray]

To do this, use an unprimed bullet and case. Maybe Cerrosafe the chamber?

[seramafarm]

It was the brass oal. 2.015 was sticking so went down to 2.005 and everything is good now.

[J-cat]

I don’t think so. How do u have your seater die adjusted?

[NorCalFocus]

It was the brass oal. 2.015 was sticking so went down to 2.005 and everything is good now.

You need to measure your chamber. Take an old case, and cut the neck in half. That way you have a ring. Seat a bullet into the case, set the ring on the bullet. Chamber the round slowly. The ring will catch on the end of the chamber and set further down the bullet. You can then measure your chambers length. Then you know what you need to trim your brass for your rifle too.

[Sir Toast]

My 2 cents: trim your brass. If the brass is too long, it wedges into the chamber. The extra length on the neck gets squeezed in between the chamber and the bullet.

[J-cat]

A 2.015” long case is not going to do that in a factory chamber or any other chamber being the shortest 308 match reamer cuts a 2.025” long chamber.

[zoner]

take a sized case and chamber it then try to extract it. If it's tight to the point you need to mortar it or use a cleaning rod to extract you need to adjust your sizing die to push the shoulder back a hair

[seramafarm]

its not the shoulder. Like I said I have a shoulder gauge I used and they fit fine. It's a desert tech rifle (precision 5500 dollar rifle)

[J-cat]

It’s not your case length either.

[RestrictedColt]

You need to measure your chamber. Take an old case, and cut the neck in half. That way you have a ring. Seat a bullet into the case, set the ring on the bullet. Chamber the round slowly. The ring will catch on the end of the chamber and set further down the bullet. You can then measure your chambers length. Then you know what you need to trim your brass for your rifle too.

Brilliant. I bought a couple chamber gauges from Sinclair International for measuring. They're only $5, but the shipping makes them over double that. I want to measure a few new guns and never thunk of this simple method; thank you!

[J-cat]

Or u can just let your case grow until the bolt won’t close.

[RestrictedColt]

That'll put a crimp in them!

Sorta off topic, but I measured several .223 and 5.56 chambers and all of them are WAY over book length. I don't crimp so I'm done with case trimming .223 brass. The shortest chamber was 1.785", pretty sure the necks will never get there.

[otteray]

I don't crimp and do need to trim my .223/5.56 brass. Not trimming long cases could create excessive pressure, when it squeezes into the chamber, or leade no? That certainly is true in other calibers.