New to reloading... Having an issue...

[Watts]

First a thanks to all of the replies that are to come. I have been reading for quite a while and have gotten a bunch of useful information from experienced reloaders. It seems now that I have an issue that I don't know how to fix.
I am reloading for a Weatherby Vanguard 22-250. I have had this gun for several years and it has performed flawlessly. Just now decided to get into the reloading hobby. I am using a Lee press with Hornady New Dimension Dies. The first box of shells that I reloaded were from brass that was fired in this rifle. They were a little tight when closing the bolt, but usable so I went ahead and took them out to the range and everything went fine. I am now going through the reloading process again. I have since been given two more boxes(40 total) of brass that has been once fired from my brother's Thompson Center 22-250. Now that I have them all cleaned, deprimed and resized, on exactly half of the ones I got from my brother the bolt will not close. What gives? They were all sized at the same time on the same settings. How can some work and some not? I have read that maybe they need to be trimmed but usually not after the first firing? But if that is the case then why do some of the longer ones (1.924) chamber fine and some shorter ones (1.914) won't chamber at all? Any ideas?

[Lead Waster]

You are full length resizing, right?

Is there a bulge at the bottom of the case?

[Watts]

yes i am full length resizing. I can see a little bit of a line around the case about a quarter inch up from the bottom. Is that normal? I wouldn't say there is a bulge, though.

[Spanky8601]

Compare the shoulder Area of the shells that fit vs those that will not. It almost sounds like the resizing was not complete. Are these dies, just a neck sizing or full length sizing? Double check the instructions on the proper depth of the sizing die.

[Watts]

Sorry if this sounds dumb, but what do you mean by comparing them? They all look they same to me. Don't get me wrong. I understand that we are dealing with a subject where thousandths of an inch are important. I can't tell any difference by looking at them. Can measure a little difference with calipers. But like I said earlier the length doesn't seem to be the entire problem because some of those are the ones that fit. I thought maybe I would try some of the shells that were originally fired in this gun.(The ones that I already reloaded and were kinda tight but did fit). I have just resized two of those and now they both won't chamber either.

[BigBronco]

Check the empty case length. I think you need to trim your empty brass after resizing. It stretches you know.

[FLIGHT762]

Odds are you are not sizing the cases down enough (bumping the shoulder back enough). Try turning your sizing die in (clockwise) 1/12th or 1/24th at a time, resize the brass fired in the other rifle until it chambers in your rifle.

You are not going to be able to see the difference with the naked eye on the shoulders since bumping the shoulder (sizing a bit more) another .005" or .010" is a pretty fine measurement. This may cure your issue.

There are tools that can measure the fine differences, but you don't have to have them. You can do it the described way. It takes a little time and patience, but it works.

[Watts]

I know it stretches. Don't have a case trimmer yet. It is in the budget for next month though. But I don't think that explains how some of the longer cases will chamber. I think it is something with the sizing, but I don't know how to fix it. I read somewhere that you can soot the case with a candle and see where it is making contact when chambering. I did this and it appears that the problem is about a quarter inch from the base of the case where I can see a little bit of a ring around the case. How do I fix this?

[bumpo628]

This tool will allow you measure from the shoulder to the bottom of the case.
As the post above describes, it looks like this measurement is what is varying from case to case.

Hornady Lock-N-Load Headspace Gage 5 Bushing Set with Comparator - $32

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=479704

[Lead Waster]

Try this, take two cases, one that fits and one that doesn't. Using a sooty candle, cover them both with soot and tthen try chambering both, see where the soot is and isn't on both cases to see where it is touching the chamber so see if the shoulders touch before the case mouth or head do.

[FLIGHT762]

This tool will allow you measure from the shoulder to the bottom of the case.
As the post above describes, it looks like this measurement is what is varying from case to case.

Hornady Lock-N-Load Headspace Gage 5 Bushing Set with Comparator - $32
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=479704

This is the gauge set I use. Here's an article with photos to show you how it works. Some day when you're ready to buy more tools, it's a good set to have. It can measure nearly every bottle necked cartridge.

http://www.inlandshooters.net/index.php?contentid=99

[pdq_wizzard]

from what I am getting from your post it sounds like you need to run the sizing die down just a bit more, when I get brass that was not shot in my gun I run the the die down to the shell holder then give it a 1/4 to 1/2 a turn more.

I haven't used the dies you are using but I have RCBS / Lyman and some older Hornady as well as one set of Lee dies.

[Watts]

Thanks. I will try to figure out where they are making contact inside the chamber. Have to work the next couple of days, but will make an update on Monday or Tuesday...

[TakeFive]

There is a product called "Machinist's Blue" which you smear on the case in a thin layer (it has the texture of Vasoline) and then chamber the case to see where it touches the chamber. This should tell you exactly where the hard-to-chamber rounds are impacting the chamber. Since the cases fired in your rifle chamber without issue, the resizing die may not be sizing the other rifle's cases enough, or the cases from your rifle for that matter, because they were fire formed to your chamber.

[Divernhunter]

No need to over-complecate this. It sounds like you are not really full-lenght resizing. I have seen this many times. Adjust your die like this. With the ram all the way up(no shell in the shell-holder) screw in the resizing die untill it touches the shell-holder firmly. Move the ram down and screw in the die another 1/2 turn. Then raise up the ram and it should hit then cam over. If it does not then screw down the die alittle more. If it does cam over then tighten the jam nut(locking nut). Now lube and size a brass. It should fit into your(or any other) rifle. Report back here with the results.