hard closing bolt???

dolecs · January 20, 2008, 09:51 PM

i have a brand new remington sendero SF 2 .264 and i reload my own shells, When i insert a shell into the chamber and go to close the bolt, it goes down quit hard. Any suggestions would help

Scorch · January 20, 2008, 10:04 PM

Possibly need to bump the shoulder if you want the bolt to close easily. As long as the original rounds are fired in the rifle you are using, you should be OK. FWIW, I neck size many of my reloads, and the bolt closes hard on them.

dolecs · January 20, 2008, 10:12 PM

what do you mean by bump the shoulder?

kkb · January 20, 2008, 10:34 PM

1) Check case length and be sure the case isn't too long.

2) Adjust your sizing die a smidge to bring the shoulder down.

Those are my guesses.

Dlr8 · January 20, 2008, 11:40 PM

and make sure you bulllets are seated right... check one for marks

Scorch · January 21, 2008, 12:15 AM

Quote:

what do you mean by bump the shoulder?

When full-length resizing, making sure the die touches the shoulder of the case and sets it back about .001"-.002". Don't want to set it back too much, though, so be careful.

Horseman · January 21, 2008, 05:05 PM

You should experiment with a fired case. Start by sizing it with your die set right where it is. Now chamber that case in your rifle. It will probably close hard. Now adjust your sizing die body down 1/16 of a turn and size it again. Try to close the bolt on it now. Continue this process until the bolt closes the way you want. Just remember the tighter the case fits your chamber the better accuracy will be. I prefer on my guns to just barely feel some tension as the case chambers. Good luck.

kingudaroad · January 22, 2008, 01:35 PM

Dolecs, I had the same problem with even new brass in my Remington VLS in 6mm rem. When full length resizing you need to screw in the die until it touches the shell holder on the upstroke, then screw the die in another 1/4 to 1/2 of a turn.

This will give the press a full stretch up into the die and should cure your problem.

You don't want to have tightness problems in the field on a cold morning.

Gbro · January 23, 2008, 12:07 AM

I always use a tight load. A dime is used between the case holder and the die in setup.
This fall my Grandson was unable to close the bolt. I had to run almost everything i had loaded to find enough that would chamber easy for him.
I will have to make some adjustments for next year.

On the flip side, When i was new to reloading I would set according to the book . I was getting very short case life, maybe 4-5 reloads and i would see cracks at the web. Now i only toss for loose primer pockets and that isn't often.
And i only load for MOA not FPS like i used to.

thekyrifleman · January 23, 2008, 11:16 AM

Just one more thing to check...you didn't mention but are you trimming the cases..if not that will also create the situation you are describing.

Pathfinder45 · January 23, 2008, 11:50 AM

I also think you need to trim your cases; maybe every time.

mag41vance · January 31, 2008, 10:46 PM

I had the same issue, and purchased a Redding Body die and was able to resize the loaded rounds with it. They are about $23.00 at Midway and I now own one for every cartridge I load for because ammo chambering in 1 rifle dosen't always mean it chambers in another.

I just lube the cartridges that won't chamber for a particular rifle, and resize them a little at a time until they chamber. I then set the die and resize all to that length.

Great care should be taken with loaded ammo. The best method is to resize the brass so it chambers before loading a cartridge.

January 20, 2008, 09:51 PM	#1
dolecs Junior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Jamestown NY Posts: 2	hard closing bolt??? i have a brand new remington sendero SF 2 .264 and i reload my own shells, When i insert a shell into the chamber and go to close the bolt, it goes down quit hard. Any suggestions would help

January 20, 2008, 10:04 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Possibly need to bump the shoulder if you want the bolt to close easily. As long as the original rounds are fired in the rifle you are using, you should be OK. FWIW, I neck size many of my reloads, and the bolt closes hard on them. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

January 23, 2008, 12:07 AM	#9
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084	I always use a tight load. A dime is used between the case holder and the die in setup. This fall my Grandson was unable to close the bolt. I had to run almost everything i had loaded to find enough that would chamber easy for him. I will have to make some adjustments for next year. On the flip side, When i was new to reloading I would set according to the book . I was getting very short case life, maybe 4-5 reloads and i would see cracks at the web. Now i only toss for loose primer pockets and that isn't often. And i only load for MOA not FPS like i used to. __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

January 20, 2008, 10:12 PM	#3
dolecs Junior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Jamestown NY Posts: 2	what do you mean by bump the shoulder?

January 20, 2008, 10:34 PM	#4
kkb Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2004 Location: Western Slope, Colorado Posts: 403	1) Check case length and be sure the case isn't too long. 2) Adjust your sizing die a smidge to bring the shoulder down. Those are my guesses.

January 20, 2008, 11:40 PM	#5
Dlr8 Member Join Date: December 6, 2007 Posts: 34	and make sure you bulllets are seated right... check one for marks

January 21, 2008, 05:05 PM	#7
Horseman Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 1,067	You should experiment with a fired case. Start by sizing it with your die set right where it is. Now chamber that case in your rifle. It will probably close hard. Now adjust your sizing die body down 1/16 of a turn and size it again. Try to close the bolt on it now. Continue this process until the bolt closes the way you want. Just remember the tighter the case fits your chamber the better accuracy will be. I prefer on my guns to just barely feel some tension as the case chambers. Good luck.

January 22, 2008, 01:35 PM	#8
kingudaroad Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Location: austin Posts: 735	Dolecs, I had the same problem with even new brass in my Remington VLS in 6mm rem. When full length resizing you need to screw in the die until it touches the shell holder on the upstroke, then screw the die in another 1/4 to 1/2 of a turn. This will give the press a full stretch up into the die and should cure your problem. You don't want to have tightness problems in the field on a cold morning.

January 23, 2008, 11:16 AM	#10
thekyrifleman Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2007 Location: Northern Ky Posts: 254	Just one more thing to check...you didn't mention but are you trimming the cases..if not that will also create the situation you are describing.

January 23, 2008, 11:50 AM	#11
Pathfinder45 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2008 Posts: 3,224	I also think you need to trim your cases; maybe every time.

January 31, 2008, 10:46 PM	#12
mag41vance Member Join Date: August 5, 2005 Location: Central VA Posts: 23	I had the same issue, and purchased a Redding Body die and was able to resize the loaded rounds with it. They are about $23.00 at Midway and I now own one for every cartridge I load for because ammo chambering in 1 rifle dosen't always mean it chambers in another. I just lube the cartridges that won't chamber for a particular rifle, and resize them a little at a time until they chamber. I then set the die and resize all to that length. Great care should be taken with loaded ammo. The best method is to resize the brass so it chambers before loading a cartridge.