308 not able to chamber

[AG166]

I'm sure it's been on this forum before but I can't figure out why my 308 reloads won't chamber. I have some mixed head stamp brass. All of the brass is either Federal. LC. Remington or Winchester.
After checking the brass, cleaning it and getting my program going, I started off by measuring about every 5th case to see if it needed trimming. Some did, most didn't. I ran it through the sizer die, through the powder funnel station, and to the seating station. I seated the bullets according to Nosler's specifications for 168gr BTHP's. No crimp was needed for these bullets.
Everything looked good and ran smooth until I went to chamber the rounds in my Remington 700.
The case wouldn't chamber. It's literally a gnats *** away from chambering. I'd say about 3-4 rounds chamber like usual but the others don't. I started checking all the cases with a Wilson Case Gauge and I'd say about 95% of them fall right into place and are within the specs, but still won't chamber!
If anyone has any idea on WTH these won't chamber, please school me or tell me this has happened to you. I started pulling all the bullets one by one and re-sizing them. I've had 2 that won't chamber again out of about 50 so far.
I was starting to think the chamber on the rifle is out of tolerance, but I doubt it because the rifle only has about 300 rounds through it with all factory ammo.
Thanks in advance!!!!!

[ducky_0811]

What's your COAL

[Divernhunter]

Screw the sizer down a bit more.

[Whiterabbit]

sizer needs to go down. when you set it, look through the side to see if you can see light between the die and the shell holder. You want those mashed together to start with.

[Germz]

specify what type of sizing die you have. theres a lot more that can be done but in short, F/L size any foreign brass (new, once fired, etc) the first time and neck size after that only (only applies to your bolt rifle).

[cpatbay]

Did you say you trim it BEFORE sizing your cases??? You have to size your cases BEFORE trimming ! I bet your case lengths are too long.

[ar15barrels]

Screw the sizer down a bit more.

If 3/4 of the rounds will fit, it probably only needs to go down 0.002" more for them ALL to fit properly.

Wrap some tape around the threads if the die and make hash marks every 1mm.
Then, turn the lock ring on the die body until it passes 2 hash marks.
Each hash mark will give you 0.001" of die adjustment up/down.

[ExtremeX]

Do yourself a favor and get a headspace comparator kit and do it right… Hornady or the RCBS MIC and get your sizing die setup correctly…

I understand the Wilson gage is a min/max headspace case, not a chamber/body guage used like a typically drop in gauge. The body is oversized to allow fire formed brass to drop in for measurement.

While that cool is cool for a quick min/max spot check, you need to size the brass a thou or two smaller than a fire formed case from your chamber. You can use a set of calipers or a depth gauge to get your readings but it’s not as friendly to work with.

Watch this… most people will go ahead and size between the two steps but that’s not always correct. Best results, brass life, and all that jazz come from brass correctly sized in relation to YOUR rifles chamber.

[cpatbay]

Also, I think your "sampling plan" is wrong. If any of your samples has out of specs COAL, your entire batch needs to be trimmed and checked. Otherwise, how can you tell those you did not check are in specs?

"Sampling" is not a good practice for reloading. Right now, you are just getting "cannot chamber" problem. In the future, it could very well be a blow up if ONE of your reload you DID NOT CHECK is bad!

[AG166]

Thanks for the info. I think my FL die wasn't all the way down + 1/8 to 1/4 turn more. I replaced the set screw and lock ring with a new one.This is working a lot better.

[oregonnative1968]

Resize, then check each one for length, trim and then proceed with reloading. If you measure before sizing, you aren't getting the "as loaded" length of the brass. I resize and put each shell in my trimmer. If it trims, it needed it, if not, it didn't.

[cpatbay]

Thanks for the info. I think my FL die wasn't all the way down + 1/8 to 1/4 turn more. I replaced the set screw and lock ring with a new one.This is working a lot better.

If this is the case, your cases were not sized correctly. How then did they pass the case gauge check???

[AG166]

If this is the case, your cases were not sized correctly. How then did they pass the case gauge check???

That's what is throwing me for a loop. They fit in the case gauge just fine but didn't chamber. It's a Wilson case gauge so I know it's a reputable company that made it.

[unobvs]

Chamber Them after Sizing

I have learned that it is best to chamber each piece of brass after sizing, rather than encounter a few later that fail to chamber when you are on a mountain top freezing your butt off!

[bender152]

I had the same exact problem and it's just like the others have said, I didn't have my sizing die all the way down.