[bragood]

Ok I just began reloading and wanted to work up a load for my new remington sps varmint in 308. I have a ton of once fired brass that Ive collected myself, so I know its only been fired once. The problem is this: once finished with one batch and I want to shoot it at the range, its hard for me to close the bolt on most of the cases. Ive read this may be a neck issue, or maybe has something to do with the dies. Please help as I would love to work up an accurate load without the messups.
Thanks!

[308sc]

sounds like you bullet seating die is screwed to far in causing then neck to get flared out a little bit. this happened to me...so you need to try backing out you bullet seating die....then of course you will need to re adjust for bullet seating depth and so on but backing it out should cure your problem.

[45ACPUSER]

How did you size the brass? Did you just neck size?

You need to master loading in steps, and experience will teach you many things!

But, you need to be sure of your process! Get a few books on reloading The ABC's of Reloading, Sierra, and other ones like Reloading for Competition by Zedicker....

[45ACPUSER]

Are you crimping your loads? Gosh I hope not! There is no point in a bolt gun.....

[bragood]

I am indeed FL sizing my brass but the problem was not with my bullet seating die. I think I have a good concept of reloading so far but I still have a few random questions every once in a while. Like, after resizing, should the brass fit in the rifle and will I be able to close the bolt?
Thanks!

[Bullet]

Some things to check

1- Brass to long - needs trimmed

2- Brass not resized enough

3 - Crimp to much

4 - Bullet seated too long


Like, after resizing, should the brass fit in the rifle and will I be able to close the bolt?

Yes, it should fit unless it is to long.

[bragood]

Oh i forgot to mention that I am not crimping my bullets. I feel that that would add another variable to my new experiment and I want to keep it basic. How does brass not get resized enough? The brass is not too long, I double check to make sure my brass is all the same length. The bullet is also seated to the same length as my manual says is the max length and the length of fgm. After I resize, the brass does not fit into my rifle easily. I know for a fact that I have the die set correctly. On a side note, THR is freakin awesome. Thanks for all the help!

[Bullet]

After I resize, the brass does not fit into my rifle easily. I know for a fact that I have the die set correctly.

Even though you think it is set correctly try screwing your sizing die down some more like a 1/8 of a turn and see if it then chambers, if not try again. Some press cam over and require the sizing die to be screwed in a little bit more than just touching the shell holder.

[nicholst55]

First thing is to buy a .308 case gauge from Midway, MidSouth, Natchez, Lock Stock and Barrel, or where ever. Then, following the instructions that came with your dies, adjust the seating die so that the brass drops into the case gauge, and the case head is even with the base of the gauge. If brass protrudes from the top of the gauge, the brass needs to be trimmed.

A case gauge is a simple, inexpensive way to determine if your sizing die is properly adjusted.

Next thing is to choose a bullet and adjust your seating die. I suggest taking a sized case and slitting the neck vertically with your Dremel tool (or a hacksaw). You now have a custom gauge for determining the overall length of your cartridge.

Insert a bullet into the gauge, leaving it intentionally just a bit long. Gently place it in your chamber and carefully close the bolt. Open the bolt and gently remove your gauge, being careful not to let it eject from the gun. You want to remove it by hand, making certain to maintain that overall length.

Measure the overall length of your cartridge and, by trial and error, adjust your seating die so that it gives you a loaded round around .030" shorter than the OAL of your gauge.

You now have a starting point for your rifle. All rifles are individuals, and what the book says the overall length should be may not be right for your rifle. Insure that your loaded ammo will function through the magazine of your rifle - do this with a full magazine, because sometimes the front wall of the magazine slopes inwards slightly towards the bottom. AMHIK. :rolleyes:

You can experiment with slightly different seating depths to discover what shoots the best in your rifle, watching for pressure signs as you go.

[uk roe hunter]

STOP
DON'T DREMEL OR HACKSAW ANYTHING UNTIL YOU HAVE TRIED THIS.

I have a remmy model 7 in 7mm08 and i had the same problem as you. A rimless bottleneck cartridge headsapces on the shoulder. If your chamber is a little tight and you are not using the best possible reloading equipment it won't work. try to cut out a shim from a coke can and insert it on top of the shell holder and below the cartridge case, this will give your cartrge case a very slight raise which should mean the shoulder is pushed back very slightly more.

with cheaper or slightly worn reloading kit there will be a very slight slipping of tolerances which might all add up to not being able to size to your tight chamber.

a coke can shim will cost nothing but a few minutes work please try it before you get the dremel out.

steve in the uk

[NCsmitty]

If your brass is proper length to spec, actually .010 under is best and chamfered inside and out if trimmed, that's one problem out of the way. Were these cases originally fired from this rifle? When FL sizing make sure that you are contacting the shell holder as you are sizing a case. Bullet suggested the 1/8 turn extra and I believe he was talking without a case. Point being to utilize all of the sizing die to make sure the shoulder of the case is proper because as you probably know, that's where they headspace. uk roe hunter's suggestion takes it one step further. The empty sized cases need to fit the chamber to start with, if they don't then something is out of spec. Either the dies are worn or out of spec. Does factory ammo chamber properly? There's got to be a reason for this issue.

NCsmitty

[tlen]

Sounds like improper sizing die adjustment. Bring the ram to full stroke and adjust the sizing die down until it touches the shell holder. Next, turn the die in the opposite direction so it is just off the shell holder. [Assure the primer decapping stem is adjusted so it doesn't bottom out on the inside of the case head]. If this is the problem you should be able to close the bolt on the sized case [as a test]. Also, you may be able to fix rounds already loaded by removing the primer decapping stem and re-sizing the cartridges. It all depends if there is sufficient room inside your sizing die. I had to do this on a pile of .223 ammo once when I discovered my sizing die lockring was not hard up on the press; it saved me removing the bullets and starting
over....

[rcmodel]

Next, turn the die in the opposite direction so it is just off the shell holder.That won't get it with steel bottleneck rifle dies.

Good advice for carbide pistol dies, but you will not get complete sizing with a rifle die backed off the shell holder.

I would adjust the die down until it contacts the shell holder, then tighten it an additional 1/8 turn or so, until you can feel a definite bump at full stroke.

That is the only way you will get complete full-length sizing.

rcmodel

[mkl]

Agree with rcmodel.

You are not full length resizing your case. Adjust sizing die as he says.

An empty, just resized case should chamber easily in your bolt action rifle.

If it does, and then does not after bullet seating, you have the seating die misadjusted.

[30Cal]

Get a case gage. If you try to set a FL die without one, you're doing it blindly.

[rcmodel]

If he has a bolt-action rifle, which he does, he has the best case guage made for that rifle, right there.

Just continue to adjust the sizing die down until the hard bolt closing goes away.

That's as good as it gets right there!

rcmodel

[bragood]

Thanks to all for the quick help. I fixed the issue with 1/8th turn trick and now my cases fit, atleast the ones Ive tried. Now onto the pile of brass I had already worked on...One more question, Ive read that some people have issues with the expander ball, is this true?

[kennedy]

what kind of brass are using? in my rem 700 varmit win, rem and federal don`t cause any binding but privi does, its seems harder

[NCsmitty]

bragood, If you have mixed brands of brass, separate them and load them by brand. Not all brass is made equal. Some are thicker than others and will give different results because of it.
The expander ball can get sticky sometimes due to the residue from firing that adheres inside the case. Tumbling can help sometimes but that can leave residue too. I use a Lyman mica brush when that happens, and sometimes a little lube around inside of the neck too. I'm sure others have their own methods.

NCsmitty

[greg531mi]

I used a black marker, and marked the cartridge all over, chambered it, and then unchamber it, and see where it was hitting...You will find out where your problem is....I found out I needed a small base die.....