1903a3 is bulging brass

[biologicole]

I have a Remington 1903a3 (sporterized stock)that is bulging the brass about 1/2" from the base. The bulge is a small, almost indistinct ring all the around the case. It is more easily felt than seen but it makes re-sizing extremely difficult. I noticed this recently while reloading for the 1903a3 and Garand. Some of the brass wouldn't hardly fit through the re-sizer. I examined the brass and saw where the re-sizer was hanging up at a certain spot on certain brass, but not others. Since I have 1903a3 and Garand brass mixed together I wasn't sure what was causing the problem so I shot them both and kept the brass separate. Sure enough, the 1903a3 brass were bulged. I have checked the headspace and everything is fine. Is it possible that the chamber is somehow ruptured or otherwise comprimised? It looks fine with the borelight, but the brass are telling a different story. Any help is greatly appreciated.

P.S. I bought this gun from a retiring co-worker several years ago and I have no history about the gun.

 

[Fleet]

get a paper clip, straighten it out, then bend a short 90 on one end. Feel inside the case where you see the ring. If you can feel a groove on the inside, you have a problem either with headspace or your sizing die setting. A groove on the inside means that you're close to a case head separation.

 

[rcmodel]

What you describe is pretty normal on a 03A3.
They have fairly loose "military" chambers.
SO, the case web expands to fit the chamber, and the thicker part of the web nearer the head does not expand at all.

I would not expect it to cause any kind of sizing problem though.

What are you using for case lube??

rc

 

[biologicole]

I've tried RCBS case lube and Hornady One-Shot. I had better luck with the RCBS. I appreciate the response that this may be normal with the 1903a3 chamber. My main concern is that the gun is safe for me and my son to shoot.

The barrel is a Remington 2 groove dated 12-43, receiver serial number places manufacture at 4-43, a very nice Weatherby style walnut stock (full glass bed with aluminum pillars) and an adjustable trigger stamped "Armory Inc." It shoots about 1.5 MOA with my loads using 150 gr FMJ and 47.5 gr IMR4895.

 

[Sunray]

"...or otherwise compromised?..." Sounds like it to me. Normally it'd call for a chamber cast, but if there is a wee bulge the casting would likely get stuck. You could buy a neck sizing die for use with the '03 brass only.
Or change the barrel. Gunparts wants $180.30 for a 4 groove, 'milspec', replacement barrel.