Too Tight handloads

Dave P · June 17, 2001, 02:16 PM

Rifle: Rem 700, 308. Problem: often my reloads are difficult to chamber, and/or difficult to extract. These are Lapua brass, fire formed, neck sized only, used multiple times. Trimmed to 2". Nominal powder loads.

This also happens on other reloads, but factory rounds work fine. I end up with brass shavings on the face of the bolt, sometimes a lot! I think I had similar problems on a previous model 700.

I would suspect minimal headspace on the rifle, but why would this happen with fireformed loads? The brass should fit perfectly!

If I complain to Remington, I would imagine that they would say to stop using reloads!

Any bright ideas?

Thanks
Dave

swifter... · June 17, 2001, 03:28 PM

Dave,

You said necksized, used multiple times...
Without knowing how many "multiple" is, it may be as simple as just needing a periodic trip thru the full length sizer.

Lots of chambers need cases FL sized every 2-5 or ?? necksizings.
Or you may want to magic marker a case all over, chamber it, and see where the rub is... Should give you a better idea, anyhow.
Hope this helps,

Big Bunny · June 17, 2001, 11:24 PM

RE-Check OAL and case length urgently maybe.

Yes- try FLS, I agree Swifter.

[The words 'Head Separation' and KaBoom also comes to mind.]

BB

Archie · June 18, 2001, 01:41 AM

a while will push the shoulder forward.

This does not particularly imply head separation, but I would check all the same.

Try a minor FL size to move the shoulder back a couple thousands. Just so it chambers easily.

bfoster · June 18, 2001, 10:34 AM

Dave,

If the rifle is used in competition, you might want to consider using one of the specialty dies made by Redding which sets the shoulder back without sizing the case.

If the rifle is used for hunting, I'd agree with Archie: simply set the shoulder back with your full length die enough to ensure easy chambering, but not necessarily with the die screwed down until it contacts the shellholder. Do watch for signs of case stretching.

Bob

Dave P · June 18, 2001, 12:34 PM

OK guys, I think I got the picture: neck sizing works most of the time, but a FL re-size may be required every 5th time (or so).

Most of my brass has been used about 8-10 times so far. No signs of head separation at all. Cracked necks also do not happen (knock -on-wood!).

I will try FL sizing a few tonight. And, I have a Lyman case gauge on the way, and I would expect it to show some long cases, too.

Thanks, a bunch! I think I have learned a lot in the 1 yr of reloading, but there is always more!

Bogie · June 18, 2001, 06:44 PM

The correct way to FL resize:

Take the guts out of your bolt. Sinclair sells a tool to do this. Basically, you can then stick your bolt back in your rifle, and it'll just fall into battery - Nothing's getting cocked, etc...

That's how you feel what's going on.

Okay. Now that you've done that, lube up a few cases. Screw your die into your press, and then back it out about a half a turn. Size a case. Chamber it. Does it still go in hard? Tighten your size die down a little, and size the case again. When the bolt will close with just a little finger pressure, that's the perfect amount of sizing. Lock your die down, and size and test a fresh round. Is it good? Cool. That's your setting, and it just "bumps" the case a little, meaning that your brass will last significantly longer.

Dave P · June 19, 2001, 07:43 AM

Bogie, good idea!

I did re-size, and now every case fits just fine.

Thanks again, all!

Dave

June 17, 2001, 02:16 PM	#1
Dave P Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 1999 Location: North Florida Posts: 1,041	Too Tight handloads Rifle: Rem 700, 308. Problem: often my reloads are difficult to chamber, and/or difficult to extract. These are Lapua brass, fire formed, neck sized only, used multiple times. Trimmed to 2". Nominal powder loads. This also happens on other reloads, but factory rounds work fine. I end up with brass shavings on the face of the bolt, sometimes a lot! I think I had similar problems on a previous model 700. I would suspect minimal headspace on the rifle, but why would this happen with fireformed loads? The brass should fit perfectly! If I complain to Remington, I would imagine that they would say to stop using reloads! Any bright ideas? Thanks Dave

June 17, 2001, 03:28 PM	#2
swifter... Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 1999 Location: So. CA Mountains Posts: 540	Dave, You said necksized, used multiple times... Without knowing how many "multiple" is, it may be as simple as just needing a periodic trip thru the full length sizer. Lots of chambers need cases FL sized every 2-5 or ?? necksizings. Or you may want to magic marker a case all over, chamber it, and see where the rub is... Should give you a better idea, anyhow. Hope this helps, __________________ There are damn few situations so screwed up that adding government to them will not make 'em worse... The best homeland security is an armed & informed citizenery! Molon Labe!

June 17, 2001, 11:24 PM	#3
Big Bunny Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 1999 Location: New South Wales - Australia Posts: 606	RE-Check OAL and case length urgently maybe. Yes- try FLS, I agree Swifter. [The words 'Head Separation' and KaBoom also comes to mind.] BB __________________ Bad boys, bad boys...watcha goin' to do - watcha goin' to do when they come for YOU ?!

June 18, 2001, 01:41 AM	#4
Archie Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2000 Location: Hastings, Nebrasksa - the Heartland! Posts: 2,017	Neck sizing only, after.... a while will push the shoulder forward. This does not particularly imply head separation, but I would check all the same. Try a minor FL size to move the shoulder back a couple thousands. Just so it chambers easily. __________________ There ain't no free lunch, except Jesus. Archie Check out updated journal at http://oldmanmontgomery.wordpress.com/

June 18, 2001, 12:34 PM	#6
Dave P Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 1999 Location: North Florida Posts: 1,041	FL Sizinf OK guys, I think I got the picture: neck sizing works most of the time, but a FL re-size may be required every 5th time (or so). Most of my brass has been used about 8-10 times so far. No signs of head separation at all. Cracked necks also do not happen (knock -on-wood!). I will try FL sizing a few tonight. And, I have a Lyman case gauge on the way, and I would expect it to show some long cases, too. Thanks, a bunch! I think I have learned a lot in the 1 yr of reloading, but there is always more!

June 18, 2001, 10:34 AM	#5
bfoster Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 1998 Location: N. of Fords Switch, OK, USA Posts: 299	Dave, If the rifle is used in competition, you might want to consider using one of the specialty dies made by Redding which sets the shoulder back without sizing the case. If the rifle is used for hunting, I'd agree with Archie: simply set the shoulder back with your full length die enough to ensure easy chambering, but not necessarily with the die screwed down until it contacts the shellholder. Do watch for signs of case stretching. Bob

June 18, 2001, 06:44 PM	#7
Bogie Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2000 Location: Job hunting on the road... Posts: 3,828	The correct way to FL resize: Take the guts out of your bolt. Sinclair sells a tool to do this. Basically, you can then stick your bolt back in your rifle, and it'll just fall into battery - Nothing's getting cocked, etc... That's how you feel what's going on. Okay. Now that you've done that, lube up a few cases. Screw your die into your press, and then back it out about a half a turn. Size a case. Chamber it. Does it still go in hard? Tighten your size die down a little, and size the case again. When the bolt will close with just a little finger pressure, that's the perfect amount of sizing. Lock your die down, and size and test a fresh round. Is it good? Cool. That's your setting, and it just "bumps" the case a little, meaning that your brass will last significantly longer. __________________ Job hunting, but helping a friend out at www.vikingmachineusa.com - and learning the finer aspects of becoming a precision machinist. And making the world's greatest bottle openers!

June 19, 2001, 07:43 AM	#8
Dave P Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 1999 Location: North Florida Posts: 1,041	Re-size Bogie, good idea! I did re-size, and now every case fits just fine. Thanks again, all! Dave