plunk test

You might still have a very slight too much remaining case mouth flare or the chamber is slightly dirty.
Plunk Testing:
The solution to chambering problems is to determine the cause:
Take the barrel out of the gun. Drop rounds in until you find one
that won't chamber. Take that round and "paint" the bullet and
case black with Magic Marker or other marker. Drop round in
barrel (or gage) and rotate it back-and-forth a few times.
Remove and inspect the round:
1) Scratches in the ink on bullet--COL is too long
2) Scratches in the ink on edge of the case mouth--insufficient
crimp
3) Scratches in the ink just below the case mouth--too much
crimp, you're crushing the case
4) Scratches in the ink on case at base of bullet--bullet seated
crooked due to insufficient case expansion (not case mouth flare)
or improper seating stem fit
5) Scratches in the ink on case just above extractor groove--case has a bulge that the sizing die can't reach. Bulge bust or throw case away.

noylj said:

You might still have a very slight too much remaining case mouth flare or the chamber is slightly dirty.
Plunk Testing:
The solution to chambering problems is to determine the cause:
Take the barrel out of the gun. Drop rounds in until you find one
that won't chamber. Take that round and "paint" the bullet and
case black with Magic Marker or other marker. Drop round in
barrel (or gage) and rotate it back-and-forth a few times.
Remove and inspect the round:
1) Scratches in the ink on bullet--COL is too long
2) Scratches in the ink on edge of the case mouth--insufficient
crimp
3) Scratches in the ink just below the case mouth--too much
crimp, you're crushing the case
4) Scratches in the ink on case at base of bullet--bullet seated
crooked due to insufficient case expansion (not case mouth flare)
or improper seating stem fit
5) Scratches in the ink on case just above extractor groove--case has a bulge that the sizing die can't reach. Bulge bust or throw case away.

Click to expand...

As succinct as I’ve ever heard it said.

noylj said:

You might still have a very slight too much remaining case mouth flare or the chamber is slightly dirty.
Plunk Testing:
The solution to chambering problems is to determine the cause:
Take the barrel out of the gun. Drop rounds in until you find one
that won't chamber. Take that round and "paint" the bullet and
case black with Magic Marker or other marker. Drop round in
barrel (or gage) and rotate it back-and-forth a few times.
Remove and inspect the round:
1) Scratches in the ink on bullet--COL is too long
2) Scratches in the ink on edge of the case mouth--insufficient
crimp
3) Scratches in the ink just below the case mouth--too much
crimp, you're crushing the case
4) Scratches in the ink on case at base of bullet--bullet seated
crooked due to insufficient case expansion (not case mouth flare)
or improper seating stem fit
5) Scratches in the ink on case just above extractor groove--case has a bulge that the sizing die can't reach. Bulge bust or throw case away.

Click to expand...

Very Nice!!

Just something to check... make sure your barrel is clean before the plunk test. Powder residue could stop the round from falling out on its own.

reloaded_in_pa said:

Just something to check... make sure your barrel is clean before the plunk test. Powder residue could stop the round from falling out on its own.

Click to expand...

Also some dust or remaining lube will interfere with fully seating in gage.

noylj said:

You might still have a very slight too much remaining case mouth flare or the chamber is slightly dirty.
Plunk Testing:
The solution to chambering problems is to determine the cause:
Take the barrel out of the gun. Drop rounds in until you find one
that won't chamber. Take that round and "paint" the bullet and
case black with Magic Marker or other marker. Drop round in
barrel (or gage) and rotate it back-and-forth a few times.
Remove and inspect the round:
1) Scratches in the ink on bullet--COL is too long
2) Scratches in the ink on edge of the case mouth--insufficient
crimp
3) Scratches in the ink just below the case mouth--too much
crimp, you're crushing the case
4) Scratches in the ink on case at base of bullet--bullet seated
crooked due to insufficient case expansion (not case mouth flare)
or improper seating stem fit
5) Scratches in the ink on case just above extractor groove--case has a bulge that the sizing die can't reach. Bulge bust or throw case away.

Click to expand...

A post worthy of a screenshot for memory sake.

Small burrs on the case rim can cause rejects when using a case gauge. Testing in a barrel won't catch those, but they normally aren't an issue.

I was messing with some dummy rounds I made and a cartrdige gauge. 2 of the 3 would drop in and out correctly, and the 3rd one would need a little motivation to drop out. I ran a nail around the rim and could feel a little bur. I had a little piece of 400 grit in my kit right in front of me, and I spun the rim around in it a few times, and immediately it would drop in and out. I can tell it is still a bit different than the other ones in how it drops in and out, but it passes. All 3 plunked in and out of the chamber they are designed for before this, so - it would not really matter in practice as far as I can know, but - just practicing and learning.