22-250 issue

ruger357w · July 27, 2014, 06:38 PM

I'm loading for two different 22-250's. Ones a Howa 1500 bolt action and the other is an Olympic arms ar-15. My problem is when I shoot the Olympic I can't resize the brass enough to load it for the Howa, The bolt closes really hard. It's not a shoulder issue, it seams to be near the base of the case. It's a little swelled near the base of the case. So I'm wondering if a small base resizing die will fix this problem? I'm using a Lee full length resizing die right now. The case looks like the die does not touch the last quarter inch of the case and this is wear I can see the swell and feel it with my finger. The die is also turned in to the shell holder so far that my press will not over cam. This spot on the case fire from the Olympic measures .465 and from the Howa is .463. after being resize. So I'm assuming this is my issue.

Barnacle Brad · July 27, 2014, 07:35 PM

My first question was going to be how much clearance between your holder and die, but you state that your die is down far enough to prevent a full stroke of your press.

I think that is your problem. The Speer manual states that your die should be adjusted with the ram in the fully raised position, down to touch the shell holder. Then adjusted down a qtr turn with the ram lowered. Is your press and dies the same brand?

ruger357w · July 27, 2014, 08:01 PM

No my press is a RCBS special 5. I had to turn the die in further because the shoulder wouldn't set back far enough when the press over cams.

Barnacle Brad · July 27, 2014, 08:25 PM

Your problem is beyond my expertise. I would suggest keeping the brass separate and loading each for that specific rifle.

Was your Lee die purchased new?

ruger357w · July 27, 2014, 08:32 PM

yes

Barnacle Brad · July 27, 2014, 08:42 PM

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=473269

This may shed some light on your issue...

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=469020
"Bumping is a sizing technique that's used for cases fired IN YOUR RIFLE ONLY. You're simply setting the shoulder back just enough for easy chambering in your rifle. The reason for doing it is because once the case is fired in your rifle, it's almost a perfect fit the way it is. But to facilitate easy chambering you size the body and just barely "bump" the shoulder enough to, as I've mentioned, chamber easily in your gun."

1stmar · July 27, 2014, 08:42 PM

How do you know it's not a shoulder issue? Do you use a comparator ? How many reloads on the cases? The bludgeon near the bottom could be the beginning of head space separation

ruger357w · July 27, 2014, 09:00 PM

one lots been fired six times and the other lots new once fired now. if I resize the brass fired from the Olympic it will load and fire great in that rifle just not the howa. If the brass has only been fired in the Howa it resizes fine and fires in that rifle, and will run in the Olympic. Its got me stumped. I load for a bolt 308 win and an R-25 308 win and have never had this problem, but I do use small base die's for the 308's.

1stmar · July 27, 2014, 09:07 PM

Are you using the same resizing die for both rifles?have you. Tried smoking a case to see where it is sticking in the chamber? Have you tried loading an empty Olympic case with no bullet in the Howa after resizing!

ruger357w · July 27, 2014, 09:11 PM

Yes same resizing die and I have tried an empty case from the Olympic in the howa after resizing. I'll try smoking a case and see what happens

ruger357w · July 27, 2014, 09:21 PM

Ok I marked a case and it is definitely sticking near the base of the case.

4runnerman · July 27, 2014, 09:24 PM

Buy a small base sizing die and be done with your problem

1stmar · July 27, 2014, 09:25 PM

This was one of the once fired cases? Does the sizing die touch the shell plate when the ram is raised?

Marco Califo · July 27, 2014, 09:34 PM

It sounds like you need a small base sizing die. These are used commonly in 223 and 308 to feed auto-loaders. I do not know if they are made for 22-250. The reason for small base dies is to ensure feeding; it sounds like one would possibly solve your issue. If you REALLY want a small base 22-250 die I understand that RCBS and Lee and others will make you (one for a price).

If one lot loads in one gun and the other lot works in the other gun, just keep the two lots of brass separate.

MightyMO1911 · July 27, 2014, 09:38 PM

Are the cases being trimmed? My bolt 22-250 won't close well if the cases are too long. Just a thought.

ruger357w · July 27, 2014, 10:10 PM

cases have been trimmed. Midway USA has a RCBS small base die listed for it so I will order one and hope for the best. Thanks for all the help.

IllinoisCoyoteHunter · July 27, 2014, 10:18 PM

Sounds like your Oly has a generous chamber while the bolt rifle has a tighter chamber. I had similar issues that a small base sizing die cleared up in an AR10.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/428...-250-remington

Jim243 · July 27, 2014, 11:41 PM

Ruger357w, it will do the job for you, my problem was the same but for 223.

Jim

SVTCobra306 · July 28, 2014, 12:29 AM

They do make small base sizing dies for .22-250. Midway shows them in stock (RCBS). It will likely fix your problem, or you can simply sort brass. I would personally sort it..

July 27, 2014, 06:38 PM	#1
ruger357w Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 161	22-250 issue I'm loading for two different 22-250's. Ones a Howa 1500 bolt action and the other is an Olympic arms ar-15. My problem is when I shoot the Olympic I can't resize the brass enough to load it for the Howa, The bolt closes really hard. It's not a shoulder issue, it seams to be near the base of the case. It's a little swelled near the base of the case. So I'm wondering if a small base resizing die will fix this problem? I'm using a Lee full length resizing die right now. The case looks like the die does not touch the last quarter inch of the case and this is wear I can see the swell and feel it with my finger. The die is also turned in to the shell holder so far that my press will not over cam. This spot on the case fire from the Olympic measures .465 and from the Howa is .463. after being resize. So I'm assuming this is my issue.

July 27, 2014, 07:35 PM	#2
Barnacle Brad Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2009 Location: Greybull, Wyoming Posts: 416	My first question was going to be how much clearance between your holder and die, but you state that your die is down far enough to prevent a full stroke of your press. I think that is your problem. The Speer manual states that your die should be adjusted with the ram in the fully raised position, down to touch the shell holder. Then adjusted down a qtr turn with the ram lowered. Is your press and dies the same brand? __________________ Brad

July 27, 2014, 08:25 PM	#4
Barnacle Brad Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2009 Location: Greybull, Wyoming Posts: 416	Your problem is beyond my expertise. I would suggest keeping the brass separate and loading each for that specific rifle. Was your Lee die purchased new? __________________ Brad

July 27, 2014, 08:42 PM	#6
Barnacle Brad Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2009 Location: Greybull, Wyoming Posts: 416	http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=473269 This may shed some light on your issue... http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=469020 "Bumping is a sizing technique that's used for cases fired IN YOUR RIFLE ONLY. You're simply setting the shoulder back just enough for easy chambering in your rifle. The reason for doing it is because once the case is fired in your rifle, it's almost a perfect fit the way it is. But to facilitate easy chambering you size the body and just barely "bump" the shoulder enough to, as I've mentioned, chamber easily in your gun." __________________ Brad Last edited by Barnacle Brad; July 27, 2014 at 08:54 PM.

July 27, 2014, 09:34 PM	#14
Marco Califo Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2011 Location: LA (Greater Los Angeles Area) Posts: 2,722	It sounds like you need a small base sizing die. These are used commonly in 223 and 308 to feed auto-loaders. I do not know if they are made for 22-250. The reason for small base dies is to ensure feeding; it sounds like one would possibly solve your issue. If you REALLY want a small base 22-250 die I understand that RCBS and Lee and others will make you (one for a price). If one lot loads in one gun and the other lot works in the other gun, just keep the two lots of brass separate. __________________ ............ Last edited by Marco Califo; July 27, 2014 at 10:35 PM.

July 27, 2014, 08:01 PM	#3
ruger357w Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 161	No my press is a RCBS special 5. I had to turn the die in further because the shoulder wouldn't set back far enough when the press over cams.

July 27, 2014, 08:32 PM	#5
ruger357w Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 161	yes

July 27, 2014, 08:42 PM	#7
1stmar Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,378	How do you know it's not a shoulder issue? Do you use a comparator ? How many reloads on the cases? The bludgeon near the bottom could be the beginning of head space separation

July 27, 2014, 09:00 PM	#8
ruger357w Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 161	one lots been fired six times and the other lots new once fired now. if I resize the brass fired from the Olympic it will load and fire great in that rifle just not the howa. If the brass has only been fired in the Howa it resizes fine and fires in that rifle, and will run in the Olympic. Its got me stumped. I load for a bolt 308 win and an R-25 308 win and have never had this problem, but I do use small base die's for the 308's.

July 27, 2014, 09:07 PM	#9
1stmar Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,378	Are you using the same resizing die for both rifles?have you. Tried smoking a case to see where it is sticking in the chamber? Have you tried loading an empty Olympic case with no bullet in the Howa after resizing!

July 27, 2014, 09:11 PM	#10
ruger357w Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 161	Yes same resizing die and I have tried an empty case from the Olympic in the howa after resizing. I'll try smoking a case and see what happens

July 27, 2014, 09:21 PM	#11
ruger357w Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 161	Ok I marked a case and it is definitely sticking near the base of the case.

July 27, 2014, 09:24 PM	#12
4runnerman Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,577	Buy a small base sizing die and be done with your problem

July 27, 2014, 09:25 PM	#13
1stmar Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,378	This was one of the once fired cases? Does the sizing die touch the shell plate when the ram is raised?

July 27, 2014, 09:38 PM	#15
MightyMO1911 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2014 Posts: 122	Are the cases being trimmed? My bolt 22-250 won't close well if the cases are too long. Just a thought.

July 27, 2014, 10:10 PM	#16
ruger357w Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2012 Location: Maine Posts: 161	cases have been trimmed. Midway USA has a RCBS small base die listed for it so I will order one and hope for the best. Thanks for all the help.

July 27, 2014, 10:18 PM	#17
IllinoisCoyoteHunter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2008 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 1,527	Sounds like your Oly has a generous chamber while the bolt rifle has a tighter chamber. I had similar issues that a small base sizing die cleared up in an AR10. http://www.midwayusa.com/product/428...-250-remington __________________ ~~IllinoisCoyoteHunter~~ ~NRA LIFE MEMBER~ ~NRA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR~

July 27, 2014, 11:41 PM	#18
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Ruger357w, it will do the job for you, my problem was the same but for 223. Jim

July 28, 2014, 12:29 AM	#19
SVTCobra306 Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2013 Posts: 434	They do make small base sizing dies for .22-250. Midway shows them in stock (RCBS). It will likely fix your problem, or you can simply sort brass. I would personally sort it..