Fired Brass in Case Gauge

dbemery · May 29, 2011, 08:18 PM

I began to notice that it is difficult to fully close the bolt of my Savage model 12 (.223) and I realized that the brass doesn't fully seat in a case gauge. No matter how much I turn in my seating die, the rim of the brass remains higher than the top of the gauge. Even with once-fired brass from the same gun. Not sure why that is... Has anyone else had the problem?

wncchester · May 29, 2011, 08:28 PM

We can't shorten cases with a seater die; need a case trimmer. Lee's system works fine and is inexpensive.

Sport45 · May 29, 2011, 10:19 PM

Welcome to The Firing Line!

Flip the case over and see if it will fit in the gauge base first. It might be an extractor bur on the rim that's keeping it from going all the way in.

straightShot · May 30, 2011, 08:53 AM

Can you chamber a factory round properly and is the problem only with your reloads?

Is your chamber clean on your rifle? Are you sure that you don't have any crud built up in your resizing die?

CherokeeT · May 30, 2011, 09:26 AM

Welcome to the forum. Couple of things, assuming factory ammo will chamber easily, its clean, etc. If you neck size, try chambering a sized case. If it chambers easily, then your load OAL may be too long. If it does not chamber, then check the case length (max 1.76"), trim if necessary and try chambering test again. If that does not work, try full length sizing and repeat chambering test. If that does not work, try turning the FL sizing die in a quarter turn and repeat the chamber test. Repeat until a case fully chambers easily.

May 29, 2011, 08:18 PM	#1
dbemery Junior Member Join Date: February 18, 2011 Posts: 1	Fired Brass in Case Gauge I began to notice that it is difficult to fully close the bolt of my Savage model 12 (.223) and I realized that the brass doesn't fully seat in a case gauge. No matter how much I turn in my seating die, the rim of the brass remains higher than the top of the gauge. Even with once-fired brass from the same gun. Not sure why that is... Has anyone else had the problem?

May 29, 2011, 10:19 PM	#3
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	Welcome to The Firing Line! Flip the case over and see if it will fit in the gauge base first. It might be an extractor bur on the rim that's keeping it from going all the way in. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

May 30, 2011, 08:53 AM	#4
straightShot Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2000 Location: MI, USA Posts: 668	Can you chamber a factory round properly and is the problem only with your reloads? Is your chamber clean on your rifle? Are you sure that you don't have any crud built up in your resizing die? __________________ Take a kid shooting.

May 30, 2011, 09:26 AM	#5
CherokeeT Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2008 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 273	Welcome to the forum. Couple of things, assuming factory ammo will chamber easily, its clean, etc. If you neck size, try chambering a sized case. If it chambers easily, then your load OAL may be too long. If it does not chamber, then check the case length (max 1.76"), trim if necessary and try chambering test again. If that does not work, try full length sizing and repeat chambering test. If that does not work, try turning the FL sizing die in a quarter turn and repeat the chamber test. Repeat until a case fully chambers easily. __________________ God Bless America US Army, NRA Endowment TSRA Life, SASS

May 29, 2011, 08:28 PM	#2
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	We can't shorten cases with a seater die; need a case trimmer. Lee's system works fine and is inexpensive.