My head is spinning

[Arcaporale]

Something caused the case to bind.

Do your empty FL sized cases chamber freely?

+1!!!

I am trying to keep up with all your posts JDR but I haven't seen anywhere where you have chambered a resized case with no bullet.

You need to do this, not just one but several cases narrow down your issue between a case size issue and a seating issue.


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[Arcaporale]

My head is spinning

I don't have any re-sized full length empty cases as I loaded them all.



I'm going to try what LynnJr was talking about, sanding the case holder so that more of the case around the web gets into the die. The one cartridge that we had to push out of the chamber at the range, it was right at that part of the cartridge where it stopped going into the chamber.



But like I say there is no pattern to follow in this dilemma, that's why my head is just spinning, nothing seems to make any sense.



I can only try one thing at a time and by process of elimination we will find the problem.



thanks

You need to pull some bullets, resize and check several cases to see if they chamber.

I understand your frustrated and your head is spinning but loaded ammo that doesn't chamber does you no good anyways.


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[JDR41]

I going to start pulling bullets and powder tomorrow as it is too late for me tonight.

But I feel very confident that is not a seating issue as if anyone read carefully my original post, I explained that when I got to the range I fired - I said fired three rounds that the bullets were seated out the longest of them all only .010 from the lands.

But yet I have rounds that the seating depth of the bullets are seated .130 from the lands, basically being seated further in the case as the .010 off the lands and they would not chamber.

I'm confident it is not a seating issue because of that.

Like I say starting tomorrow I will start pulling bullets and dumping powder deaden the primers and de-prime them. I have done this before and you can do it if you do it carefully.

Then I will attempt several of the suggestions that have come forth.

will keep everyone posted.

thanks for all you suggestions.

[FLIGHT762]

Your problem may just be that you're not bumping the shoulders of your fired brass enough. 90% of the time this is the issue. The remedy may be just turning your F/L die into your press another 1/12th-1/8th of a turn. 1/8th of a turn will move the shoulder .009", it's a fine adjustment. It can make a difference if you're within a couple thousandths of the proper headspace.

Dissemble one of the cases your sure doesn't chamber, turn your die in the press 1/12th of a turn. Use a good cases lube and F/L resize the case slowly, then try to chamber the case and go from there. If it doesn't chamber, turn the die in a tiny bit more and resize again.

Using a headspace gauge like the Hornady set using your calipers will show you exactly what your shoulder bump is set at. Most of the time this is the issue.

It's rarer, but it can be the case body near the base isn't being resized enough. Since you have cases that won't chamber in either rifle, this may not be the case, but it can happen. If that's the issue, Small Base die is needed. In all of the rifles I own, only one I've needed a Small Base die for a .308 Steyr SSG 69 that has to have the case body sized to .468.5" or less, the case would not chamber.

I would try turning the die into the press first before sanding shell holders or going to a Small Base die. Get a proper measuring tool to see what your cases are being shoulder bumped to by the die.

[J-cat]

I don't have any re-sized full length empty cases as I loaded them all.

I'm going to try what LynnJr was talking about, sanding the case holder so that more of the case around the web gets into the die.

Noooooo!

If you do that the shoulder will be bumped back to an unsafe level.

The correct way to deal with an oversized base is to get a small base die. But before you do that measure the base of one of your problem cases and compare it to one of your fired cases. That will tell you if it's the base.

[Kappy]

How do you "deaden" a primer? I usually just deprime it. Never had one go off... But maybe it's just a matter of time?


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[J-cat]

Primers don't do off unless struck. You can push on them all day and they won't fire.

[mark501w]

If you have your die body touching your shell holder with a little cam over, then try a more conventional lube. I had a issue recently where I handled the cases a lot prior to sizing which made for heavy sizing & made for heavy chambering.

[Bastard]

is it possible that the 3 that you were able to chamber & fire were the first three that you sized - possibly the die came loose.

is the die touching the shell holder? are you setting it at the highest point or after it cams over?

[OpenSightsOnly]

pour some motor oil in a cup then toss the live primers, let them sit for a few days, then toss in the trash.

OTOH, someone told me that you can just flush them down the toilet

How do you "deaden" a primer? I usually just deprime it. Never had one go off... But maybe it's just a matter of time?


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[Bastard]

pour some motor oil in a cup then toss the live primers, let them sit for a few days, then toss in the trash.

OTOH, someone told me that you can just flush them down the toilet

and if you read in to that - there are many that believe that does absolutely nothing... I haven't tried, my luck they would still go off.

just decap them slowly.

[J-cat]

Why not just reuse them???

[JDR41]

Hey guys I measured a good share of my cartridges with the Wilson case gauge and they all seemed to be within tolerances, but very close to the edge, so I pulled several of the bullets.

I then lubed them and proceeded to adjust the die down just about 1/8 of a turn and then re-sized a case, and gauged it and it was better, but I decided to go just a little farther down approximately 1/6 of a turn.

I then measured it and it look pretty good so I did five of them and proceeded to see if they would chamber and they all did.

So I decided to seat a couple of dummy rounds with one the should be jammed into to the lands .005 with it blackened with a marker, and another seated .010 off the lands.

They both chambered and the one I had used the marker on showed where the lands hit it, so I have pulled them all, de-primed and now they are in the tumbler.

Prior to loading them all, I'm going to grab probably ten or more empty and make sure they chamber.

I feel confident I'm on the right track, so I would like to thank all of you as it was a great help!!!!!!!!!!

[bruce381]

gauges are great BUT they sometimes do not reflect what you chamber is cut to, you have to do like pistols shooters and do a "plunk' test in your rifle chamber. good luck

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

There is an old school method for setting your resizing dies that I haven't heard explained yet, so allow me.

First make sure the chambers of both rifles are within SAMMI specs with regards to headspace. Follow this procedure for each rifle if you want maximum accuracy out of each.

Find a couple fired casings that are difficult or won't chamber.
Raise you FL die 1 full turn from how the manufacturer says to set it.
Resize the casing.
Try chambering the case.
If it chambers (it probably won't) set the lock ring and resize another case. If the second case fits as well, time to set up your seating/crimping die.
If it doesn't chamber, lower the FL die 1/8 turn and repeat.

Sounds like you already have a handle on setting up your seating and crimping die. But, if they won't chamber after bullet seating then either your bullet seating depth is too long (different rifles have different throats) or you are collapsing the shoulder (yes, that can happen without crimping but it's unusual)

Since you have two rifles, each chamber will be a little different. You can either set up to load for them individually or use the above to determine which has the tightest chamber and set your dies for that rifle. Your choice.

Case gauges are great but to me, they are a needless expense. Your chamber is the best gauge.

Happy troubleshooting.