My bolt is hard to close on some reloads?

Irish80prf · June 6, 2010, 06:36 PM

Ok so I have been reloading some once fired .243 brass and I'm having trouble closing the bolt on some of my reloads. I full length sized all the brass and went through all of the normal steps. trimmed, de-burred, cleaned the primer pockets, primed, added powder then seated bullet to 2.600". I'm shooting a savage 111 that has only been shot about 100 times and it's good and clean. When I started reloading the shells I checked to make sure they would chamber fine and they did. After I got done with 250 shells I went to test some out and about 9 out of 50 are really hard to close the bolt. What could be the problem? I can't find any pattern as to why they won't chamber well. I checked the shoulders and it doesn't look like they have been pushed back to far. Maybe I'm missing something simple here but I'm at a loss. Thanks for any help. Oh I can get the bolt shut on all of them it's just really stiff, should I avoid shooting any of these rounds or will they fire form to my chamber after I shoot them.

kraigwy · June 6, 2010, 07:15 PM

This is common in gas guns. Get a Case Gage, that messures the case from the rim to the shoulder. Use this gage to set up your sizing die. They are reliatively in-expensive and worth their weight in gold for gas guns.

Sounds like you are not setting the shoulder back far enough.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=653047

mrawesome22 · June 6, 2010, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Sounds like you are not setting the shoulder back far enough.

What he said. Screw your size die in another quarter turn.

Quote:

Get a Case Gage

These are OK if you wanna make generic ammo that should fit in every 243Win ever made. If you want a custom shoulder bump, get one of these.

50-BMG · June 6, 2010, 07:49 PM

I have just started reloading 300win doe's anybody reload that and if you do what is the best load if you don't mind me asking.Im shooting the rem700 sendero with hevy barrel.

kraigwy · June 6, 2010, 07:53 PM

whats the BEST load for my gun may not be the best load for your rifle.

I would recommend you get a Good reloading manual (or several). Find one that list the "most accurate load", start with that, then tweque your loads to fit your gun.

50-BMG · June 6, 2010, 08:05 PM

Thanks kraig for your help.Sould i stay off the high grain loads like rigth now im loading 168 grains just to get a fill for things and i think the starting grain for that bullet was 71 and the max was 75 is it ok to load the 75 grain or is it better to to stay back.

m&p45acp10+1 · June 6, 2010, 08:11 PM

50-BMG I would recomend starting at the start load, and working up slowly. Most of the rifle loaders usualy work up 1 tenth of a grain at a time. Watch for sighns of high pressure, and back off the powder charge at sighns of pressure.

50-BMG · June 6, 2010, 08:27 PM

Thanks M&P for your help like i sad im just geting started. How do you now when you are getting to much pressure what should i look for.

snuffy · June 6, 2010, 08:33 PM

Quote:

This is common in gas guns. Get a Case Gage, that messures the case from the rim to the shoulder. Use this gage to set up your sizing die. They are reliatively in-expensive and worth their weight in gold for gas guns.

Gas guns? The Savage 111 is a bolt action rifle.

Something happened while you were seating the bullets. You may be too close to the crimping area of your seater. A couple of cases that didn't get trimmed completely ran into the crimper shoulder, it buckled the case right at the shoulder/case junction. It's real hard to see, but it causes hard closing of the bolt.

Forcing the bolt closed, then firing the shell, will fire form the cases back where they belong. BUT it causes wear on the bolt lugs, don't do it often.Start by backing the seater die off a full turn, then adjust the seater back to where you want the bullet seated.

kraigwy · June 6, 2010, 08:47 PM

I'm aware that he was talking about a bolt gun, however you can still fail to property set the sizing die for loading bolt guns also.

Using a case gage to set up your sizing die makes, consistant, propertly sized cases, be it gas or bolt gun. Conistancy = Accuracy

Irish80prf · June 6, 2010, 10:09 PM

Thanks guys I will check out the things you suggested to see what I come up with. I used a lee case trimmer so they should all be short enough but I'll double check. If it's not a case that is to long why would it only be doing it on part of the loads and not all of them? I've always neck sized so full length is kind of new to me so I guess I'm learning as I go.

Toddco · June 6, 2010, 10:12 PM

Is it also possible that the ammunition you make are to long? Maybe you are pushing the bullet in to the lands, have you looked to see if there are marks on you bullets if you take one that is tight out again after chambering.

Irish80prf · June 6, 2010, 10:21 PM

That's one of the first things I thought of. I thought maybe my C.O.L got off but it is still right at 2.600" which is the COL off of Hodgdon's website for the 65 grain V-Max. I've reloaded for my .243 with everything the same except I was using brass that had been shot out of my gun so I only had to neck size it. I trimmed all my brass with the same trimmer so that's why I'm thinking I have my full length sizer set up wrong.

Thanks

mrawesome22 · June 7, 2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

I've always neck sized so full length is kind of new to me so I guess I'm learning as I go.

Right there is your problem. After a few firings using a neck only size die they will become EXTREMELY hard to chamber. This is from the brass springing back less and less. It's time for you to get a FL die or a shoulder bump neck die.

Irish80prf · June 7, 2010, 06:17 PM

Bumped the shoulder back a touch more and the shells are chambering smooth as silk. Thanks for all of the help guys another lesson learned.

June 6, 2010, 06:36 PM	#1
Irish80prf Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2010 Location: north country of Missouri Posts: 245	My bolt is hard to close on some reloads? Ok so I have been reloading some once fired .243 brass and I'm having trouble closing the bolt on some of my reloads. I full length sized all the brass and went through all of the normal steps. trimmed, de-burred, cleaned the primer pockets, primed, added powder then seated bullet to 2.600". I'm shooting a savage 111 that has only been shot about 100 times and it's good and clean. When I started reloading the shells I checked to make sure they would chamber fine and they did. After I got done with 250 shells I went to test some out and about 9 out of 50 are really hard to close the bolt. What could be the problem? I can't find any pattern as to why they won't chamber well. I checked the shoulders and it doesn't look like they have been pushed back to far. Maybe I'm missing something simple here but I'm at a loss. Thanks for any help. Oh I can get the bolt shut on all of them it's just really stiff, should I avoid shooting any of these rounds or will they fire form to my chamber after I shoot them.

June 6, 2010, 07:15 PM	#2
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	This is common in gas guns. Get a Case Gage, that messures the case from the rim to the shoulder. Use this gage to set up your sizing die. They are reliatively in-expensive and worth their weight in gold for gas guns. Sounds like you are not setting the shoulder back far enough. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct...tnumber=653047 __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

June 6, 2010, 07:53 PM	#5
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	whats the BEST load for my gun may not be the best load for your rifle. I would recommend you get a Good reloading manual (or several). Find one that list the "most accurate load", start with that, then tweque your loads to fit your gun. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

June 6, 2010, 08:11 PM	#7
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	50-BMG I would recomend starting at the start load, and working up slowly. Most of the rifle loaders usualy work up 1 tenth of a grain at a time. Watch for sighns of high pressure, and back off the powder charge at sighns of pressure. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

June 6, 2010, 08:47 PM	#10
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I'm aware that he was talking about a bolt gun, however you can still fail to property set the sizing die for loading bolt guns also. Using a case gage to set up your sizing die makes, consistant, propertly sized cases, be it gas or bolt gun. Conistancy = Accuracy __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

June 6, 2010, 07:49 PM	#4
50-BMG Member Join Date: June 6, 2010 Posts: 18	I have just started reloading 300win doe's anybody reload that and if you do what is the best load if you don't mind me asking.Im shooting the rem700 sendero with hevy barrel.

June 6, 2010, 08:05 PM	#6
50-BMG Member Join Date: June 6, 2010 Posts: 18	Thanks kraig for your help.Sould i stay off the high grain loads like rigth now im loading 168 grains just to get a fill for things and i think the starting grain for that bullet was 71 and the max was 75 is it ok to load the 75 grain or is it better to to stay back.

June 6, 2010, 08:27 PM	#8
50-BMG Member Join Date: June 6, 2010 Posts: 18	Thanks M&P for your help like i sad im just geting started. How do you now when you are getting to much pressure what should i look for.

June 6, 2010, 10:09 PM	#11
Irish80prf Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2010 Location: north country of Missouri Posts: 245	Thanks guys I will check out the things you suggested to see what I come up with. I used a lee case trimmer so they should all be short enough but I'll double check. If it's not a case that is to long why would it only be doing it on part of the loads and not all of them? I've always neck sized so full length is kind of new to me so I guess I'm learning as I go.

June 6, 2010, 10:12 PM	#12
Toddco Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2009 Location: Stony Plain, Alberta Posts: 108	Is it also possible that the ammunition you make are to long? Maybe you are pushing the bullet in to the lands, have you looked to see if there are marks on you bullets if you take one that is tight out again after chambering.

June 6, 2010, 10:21 PM	#13
Irish80prf Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2010 Location: north country of Missouri Posts: 245	That's one of the first things I thought of. I thought maybe my C.O.L got off but it is still right at 2.600" which is the COL off of Hodgdon's website for the 65 grain V-Max. I've reloaded for my .243 with everything the same except I was using brass that had been shot out of my gun so I only had to neck size it. I trimmed all my brass with the same trimmer so that's why I'm thinking I have my full length sizer set up wrong. Thanks

June 7, 2010, 06:17 PM	#15
Irish80prf Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2010 Location: north country of Missouri Posts: 245	Bumped the shoulder back a touch more and the shells are chambering smooth as silk. Thanks for all of the help guys another lesson learned.