Factory Ammo Not Chambering in Factory Rifle

[Phil3]

I have had this box of Hornady 223 ammo for ages, and could not remember why I never shot it. Then I remembered, vaguely, that some of it would not chamber in a factory Howa barreled action. How can factory ammo not chamber in a stock action? If I asked about this before, sorry, I forgot if I had or not... On some Hornady rounds, the bolt begins to close, but cannot. Some rounds will chamber, some are tight, some just won't chamber.

For those who have the same tools as I (calipers, Sinclair comparator/bump-gage body insert #23)
https://panhandleprecision.com/sincl...-body-inserts/ here are my measurements for five random rounds of the Hornady ammo.

1.4325, 1.4315, 1.4315, 1.4285, 1.429". Average of the five = 1.4306"

A random 5 unfired unprimed cases from Lapua and Winchester measured as follows.

Winchester: 1.427"
Lapua: 1.4265"

The average shoulder on the Hornady is .0036" longer than the average for the Lapua. Of the five measured Hornady cases, one is a whopping .006" longer than the Lapua. Before anyone asks, the primer on the Hornady ammo is sitting below the case head and is not adding to the case head to shoulder dimension.

I would consider pulling the crimped bullet from the Hornady case (if possible), and resize the case (to set shoulder back), but not warm and fuzzy about doing that with a live primer in it.

Thanks.

[Elgatodeacero]

I would email Hornady and explain situation. They will probably exchange ammo with you or give you a coupon.

[MongooseV8]

Are you sure the issue is with the brass and not the bullet? What load is this? Maybe your chamber has a short jump to the lands.

[Phil3]

Are you sure the issue is with the brass and not the bullet? What load is this? Maybe your chamber has a short jump to the lands.

Somewhere around here, I do have the label from the box and I can tell you details about the ammo. I know the rounds are soft-points and quite sure they are 55 grain bullets.

Rounds that will not chamber show no marks on the bullet, suggesting it is not the bullet that is jamming. Further, the only rounds that tend to not chamber are ones with a longer case head to shoulder dimension. I would try to chamber these in my AR15, but if they get stuck, they would be harder to extract vs the bolt gun. Also, if anything, the AR may have a tighter chamber than the Howa, since the AR uses a custom chambered Krieger barrel (223, not 5.56).

If I can pull a bullet, I can rule out the bullet as an issue, since if the round still will not chamber with no bullet, then it must be the case.

Thanks.

Phil

[JagerDog]

.

I would consider pulling the crimped bullet from the Hornady case (if possible), and resize the case (to set shoulder back), but not warm and fuzzy about doing that with a live primer in it.

Thanks.

About every bullet I've pulled had a live primer.

[JackEllis]

I had this happen with a different caliber, a different rifle and different ammo. Turned out the rifle was fussy.

Tikka T3 in .243 with Prvi Partisan ammo using once-fired cases.

There is no reason that ammo should not work in a Howa action.

[five.five-six]

About every bullet I've pulled had a live primer.

IKR?


I never even thought to worry about that with a kinetic puller... or a collet puller for that matter either.

[bergmen]

About every bullet I've pulled had a live primer.

Yes, using a collet puller, no problem. Kinetic pullers can beat up the bullet and scatter powder everywhere.

Dan

[Phil3]

What about resizing the case with a live primer?

[Don the savage]

What about resizing the case with a live primer?

Do it all the time. Just make sure your die doesnt have the decap pin in place. Unless you want to reprime.

[hermosabeach]

Are we talking about 20 rounds or a case?

If 20 rounds and you don’t have original package- toss them and move along

Or pull the bullet - dispose of the powder in a planter- resize and reload

[bergmen]

What about resizing the case with a live primer?

The only issue I have found is it may be necessary to trim the cases due to the resizing operation. Primer cannot be in to do that (with my case trimmer).

Dan

[Phil3]

50 rounds. I have a collet puller. Not sure it can pull a crimped bullet but will try. Will resize with decapper pin removed. Thanks.

[MongooseV8]

Ok if no marks on the bullet, maybe you have build up in your chamber? Just spit-balling here. Yours wouldnt be the first with a fussy chamber.

[bergmen]

50 rounds. I have a collet puller. Not sure it can pull a crimped bullet but will try. Will resize with decapper pin removed. Thanks.

You can pull it if crimped, just be sure the collet is on tight. Done that many times.

Dan