Sticky extraction, HXP brass

[SanPedroShooter]

I seem to be having a problem with my once fired HXP brass. It seems to stick in the chamber. It goes in no problem unfired from the factory, but after the first firing and sizing, it sticks on the last couple 1000th of an inch, right where the case head connects to the extractor groove. I am inserting it into the chamber with my finger, not using the bolt.
Do I need a small base die? Is my die adjusted properly? It works fine with remmington brass.
The case slide in no problem, but the last thousandth catches right as it fully seats. It seats all the way, but it sticks when you try and pull it out by hand, the bolt stick too if you work it by hand. Its happens about four out sixteen. I wonder if its a little spur in brass, I am going to try and file the rim a bit and see if I can smooth it out.

I also noticed that HXP expands much more than my remmington brass. After one firing, it needs to be trimmed back, my remm was fired two or three times before trimming.

My HXP also has bent rims from extraction. Almost every case has a little nick taken out of it or a bend in it.

[rsrocket1]

Is this what you saw?

[SanPedroShooter]

I saw that, and honestly I am starting to think its not the case head. I think it may be that my sizing die is not properly adjusted. I am in the process of getting a comparator. Untill I can tell how far the shoulder is being pushed back, I am really just guessing. Although I have adjusted the sizer in both directions and the HXP still sticks.

[rsrocket1]

Yes, a headspace comparator is a very useful too, but your gun chamber is where the rubber meets the road. Try "painting" one of your sticky fired cases with a Sharpie marker and put it into your chamber. You'll see where the friction points are. If it's on the shoulder, then using the headspace comparator will help in identifying whether or not the die is doing its job. If the friction points are elsewhere, then you can work on those. I'll email a write up I did on headspace measurements, see if that helps.

[sfonelson]

What rifle is this for? M1?

[SanPedroShooter]

Yeah an M1 Garand. I "painted" the brass and the hold up seems to be on the last couple thousandths of an inch. I am going to readjust my sizer and see if I can get closer.
Thanks

[Rock6.3]

Is the chamber clean and smooth?

[sfonelson]

I primarily run my own handloads with HXP brass through my Garand. I am on my third and some fourth round handloads. No issues whatsoever.

I am running regular Redding FL dies. Do you turn your die in another 1/4 of a turn in after it meets with the ram? I know that may account for something being off thousandths of an inch in the neck/shoulder area. Not sure what your die's instructions recommend.

[SanPedroShooter]

Okay heres the deal. After the sizing, the case slides in and out no problem. After the bullet is seated, it sitcks in the chamber. So now what?

[Low-Pressure]

What's your OAL?

[SanPedroShooter]

3.3 from the lyman manual

[SanPedroShooter]

I think I got it.

[Low-Pressure]

I think I got it.

so what was causing it?

[FLIGHT762]

The M-1 Garand section in the Hornady #7 manual shows COL with 155 A-MAX,168 A-MAX and 168 OTM @ 3.240". The 150 FMJ COL is set @ 3.185". You may need to seat your bullets a little deeper. You could be seated out too far.

[SanPedroShooter]

Okay I will explain exactly what I am doing.
I am sizing the case. The die is screwed into touch the ram then down another 1/4 turn
Then I am taking the case and fitting it into the chamber. There are four or five that stick. They slide in no problem, but at the last bit they stick. I have to take my nail and pry them out. I will note that the mil factory rounds have an OAL 3.3 something.