AR15 Stuck Cases - Reloads

[spmat]

Hello,

I went to the range today with my AR. On three or four occasions, the bolt threw a round in the chamber which didn't seat all the way to allow the bolt to close fully. On these occasions, I could not pull the charging handle back to clear the round. The only way I was able to clear the round was to separate the upper from the lower, turn the upper upside down and pry the bolt back with a screwdriver to release the round.

The Range Master told me it was my reloads; however when I got home, I tried every round into a Dillon 223 Case Gauge and there was no problems with the rounds dropping into the gauge.

Question, If the reload fits into the case gauge and is flush with the top, shouldn't the round cycle through the AR?

What else could be wrong? Thanks.

[CSACANNONEER]

Dirty or extra tight chamber? Super tight headspacing?

[huckberry668]

The only time I've seen such problem was badly sized brass. It sounds like the case front the shoulder to the head is longer than the headspace on the barrel. I'm pretty sure that's what the case gauge is for but I"m not sure how to tell by feel or visually a few thousands of an inch. the best way to check is using a headspace comparator gage to measure your rounds against a factory round or a 'Go' gage.

I've seen a rifle like that for repair and I found the round stuck in the chamber was .008" over the 'Go' gage and the chamber is .003" over the 'Go' gage.

Use this to measure your loaded rounds.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=479704

[Seesm]

What is your overall cartridge length and what was the case length after sizing? Are you doing full or neck sizing at this point? I suspect full..?

BTW you posted this at 7:18pm also.. Same dealio..

[J-cat]

Case gauges are not your chamber.

I think you overcrimped, buckled the case, it grew in diameter, and wedged in the chamber. Crimp less.

[spmat]

AR15 Stuck Cases - Reloads

Thanks to all for responding. Can someone explain what headspacing is?

[ww2m38]

.........

[J-cat]

Thanks to all for responding. Can someone explain what headspacing is?

Headspace is the distance between the back of the case and the front of the bolt when the bolt is closed and the case is chambered.

But yours is not a headspace issue.

[JamesY]

In the Dillon gauge, the top might be flush but what about the bottom? Is this once-fired brass or new brass that you used? Did you trim them?

[CSACANNONEER]

In the Dillon gauge, the top might be flush but what about the bottom? Is this once-fired brass or new brass that you used? Did you trim them?

Great thoughts. I assumed that he had trimmed. It really could be that the brass is too long for the chamber. If the brass is too long, it could cause serious damage to both the firearm and the shooter.

[spmat]

AR15 Stuck Cases - Reloads

Hello Guys,

One of my friends called me last night and he suggested that since the bolt does not close all the way, that maybe my dies are fully sizing all the way down to the base. He suggested I buy small base resizing dies to ensure my entire case gets resized.

I cleaned my rifle last night and dropped some loaded rounds in with the upper completely separted from the lower to see if the shells dropped completely in. I found that there were rounds that would not drop completely in, although the rounds checked out fine in the case gauge.

I plan on taking my micrometer today and measuring the base of the reloads and comparing them to factor ammunition.

I will post my results.

Does this sound like a logical method?

Thanks for all your responses.

Steve
9th Batallion of Missouri Sharpshooters - CSA

[J-cat]

Yes.

How did you adjust your FL die? Is the die touching the shellholder when you raise the ram all the way up?

Have you tried closing the bolt on an empty FL sized case?

[spmat]

AR15 Stuck Cases - Reloads

When I set up my Dillon 550, I purchased Dillon Dies and adjusted per the directions in the manual.

It has been a couple of months since I set it up, so I don't quite remember.

[spmat]

Case Measurements

Factory Load Stuck Case 1 Stuck Case 2
Length 2.248 2.259 2.257
Shoulder .349 .355 .357
Base .369 .372 .372
Base to Shoulder 1.435 1.44 1.431
Neck Length .204 .206 .205
Case Length 1.759 1.754 1.754

I took the firing pin out of the upper and cycled 20 rounds in the mag, two of which got stuck. To release them, I had to pry the bolt back while pulling on the charging handle.

[J-cat]

On the stuck cases, measure the case body half an inch below the shoulder and compare it to the cases that did not stick.