.223 rough chambering..

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broken_line

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when i go to close the bolt it takes a bit to get the bolt down shut.. all my bullets are at 2.20 with hornady hpbt 52gr match bullets out of a savage axis. i full lenght resize
 
What gun?

What dies?

How are they set up?

How do the cases measure in a case gauge?

Is the brass new or once fired?

From your gun or a different one?

We need lots lots more info than you've provided to even start. But this said 9 times in 10 this comes up is the result of an improperly adjusted sizing die.

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It sounds like a improperly adjusted sizing die. I had that problem several years ago.When I closed the bolt it went off that was a scary feelen. My die wasnot turned down enough. Now I have case guages for everything I load. Also after I size my case I try It in my rifle and make sure it will chamber.Then I finish reloading the cases. When you set up your sizing die make sure its cams over slightly. That pushes the shoulder down to the right spec.
 
If it went off by closing your bolt then something is wrong with your rifle.
 
kingmt The bolt was hard to close when I forced it the gun went off. After adjusting the sizing die it was just fine.Shot several hundred rounds after that with no problem.
 
littlegun223,
Sounds like the trigger is so sensitive that it fired because of the additional ‘bump’ from the hard chambering. IMHO, you have a dangerous rifle.
 
Take a UNLOADED rifle safety off and bounce it on a table or floor with the buttpad from a few inches high. Then cycle the bolt as vigorously as you can.

If at any part of this process the striker is released you have a dangerous rifle in need of repair.
 
where are you guys getting this idea that the OP's gun went off ??????
All he said was that it takes a bit to close the bolt.

But I do agree, it sounds like the sizing die isn't adjusted properly, or the cases aren't being trimmed.
 
littleguns223 = Post #6 said HIS gun went off when he closed the bolt.
Not the OP's gun.

Yes, littleguns223 has a unsafe rifle that needs to be repaired before it is used again.

rc
 
yeah i trim all of my cases when they get to 1.755.. i will try adjusting my sizing die.. the other thing is how do you adjust the bullet seating die properly? ive heard a few ways about it just want a few other imputs.. right now i let the handle all the way down with a casing in it and turn the die till it stops then another 1/16th of a trun and lock it down.
 
If your seat die is too far down, or if the brass is too long, the seating die can cause the case shoulder to buckle slightly, which would make the round difficult to chamber.
 
Bullet Seating Die Adjustment

right now i let the handle all the way down with a casing in it and turn the die till it stops then another 1/16th of a trun and lock it down.
This will put a crimp on the loaded round. To much crimp will produce a bulge. This bulge can cause hard chambering & hard extraction.
 
I seen a picture on here that I believe Walkalong posted where the neck donuted from the crimp.

I don't know which dies you have. I have never crimped a rifle cartridge. If your die crimps I would back it off no less then a half turn from brass contact before setting the seating die. If it doesn't crimp then set it to contact the shell holder.
 
the other thing is how do you adjust the bullet seating die properly?

Place a sized, trimed case in the shellholder. Operate the ram all the way. Screw in seating die till it touches the case mouth and back it off a turn. Lock the die down and then adjust the bullet seating depth. Best way IMHO is to create a dummy round w/o primer/powder. Turn the seating stem adjustment all the way to the top. Insert bullet and operate press ram and measure. Keep doing this until cartridge measures your target length. Mark this dummy and keep it for future die setup.
 
That is how I do it. Just pop the dummy in & crank the seater down tight. All set up & ready to load.
 
Walkalong's Photos > http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=7348031&postcount=11
attachment.php
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Broken line - the thread seems to wonder off your question. You need to use a case gauge to make sure that your sizing die is set properly. If your chamber is a bit oversized you will need to full length size fired rounds. The shoulder needs to be in specs, if it isn't your bolt won't close or be hard to close. Bullet seating should be first done with no crimp. Insert primed, powdered shell in case holder rise it up then screw in seating die until it touches the case. lower the case, turn out die 1/4 turn so no crimp is applied, making sure the seating stem is turned out so that it will not touch the bullet when put in the case. Put bullet on case, raise it up in the die and turn down the seating stem to set the bullet to the proper depth and COAL you are looking for. Once everything is the way you want it you are done. If you want to crimp the case, raise the stem and turn the die down to apply the crimp. One of these shells can be used in MtnCreeks's method listed above. I personally like to seat and crimp in two separate operations, but if you want to do it all at once, with a crimped finished shell in the up position, just run your seating stem down and lock all the rings. But in any case, invest in a case gauge.
 
you haven't told us how you set up your sizing die. that and the die manufacturer would help here.

murf
 
for my sizing die i set it down to the shell holder and adjust the depriming rod till it barely pops the primer out.. its a rcbs die nothing special..
 
Size a case w/ the die setup this way, wipe off the lube and see how it chambers. If it's a little stiff, adjust the die in another 1/8 or 1/4 turn till the bolt closes easier. You'll likely end up with the die adjusted below first contact with the shellholer, but that's OK. That just gets the slack out of the press.
 
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