A bullet was stuck in the front of the chamber.

[Ignition Override]

Each powder load (IMR 4064, 37-39 grains) for these Prvi .303 cases is carefully weighed, and only the same bag of 147-grain fmj bullets are used.
This case was already fired five times. The other eleven rounds used the same number of times operated normally.

Shooting at objects in a grassy field seldom indicated where the impacts were. Then after several were used, a round would not chamber at all. There had been No indications of any malfunction.

Removed the bolt and saw only darkness, then the rear of the bullet. Poked the bullet out from the muzzle with the brass rod.

Noticed that a few cases are tighter than others after only neck-sizing.
These bullets are seated within the published (Lee) max. length 3.075" for each round.

 

[243winxb]

Your COL is to long. The bullet stuck in the rifling. Seat your bullet deeper. Light neck tension on the bullet might also be a factor. Make sure your expander button is .002" or move smaller that your bullets diameter. If you using a Lee collet sizer, thats a different problem.

 

[R.W.Dale]

What diameter bullets????

 

[Ignition Override]

Thanks very much for the responses' won't be reloading until back in town in a few days and hopefully receiving more feedback.

They are typical fmj .311 bullets (147 grain only).
I've shot about eighty or so reloaded rounds so far with my "Lee Ann. Kit". The Lee video (on website) says that after neck-sizing, gently push a bullet into the neck, and if it stops, the neck should be ok.
Brand-new at this, and it must be obvious.

There was no gas blowback at all, somehow, or anything else unusual.
The only blowbacks I've ever had were one time with the MN 44, using old surplus Bulgarian x54R, but nothing else with any centerfire rifle (just. cheap Rem. .22 lr).

 

[R.W.Dale]

Ok more info on your dies

what brand type and what size expander/mandrel

 

[243winxb]

a round would not chamber at all. There had been No indications of any malfunction.

Removed the bolt and saw only darkness, then the rear of the bullet.

Was the bullet still seated in the round that would not chamber? Or had you fired a round before with no powder in it , and the primer pushed the bullet into the rifling?

 

[Ignition Override]

They consist only of the Lee .303 neck-sizing die "Lee .303B -J9", and basic .303 "Lee .303 BRIT-H9" bullet seating die both for the LE #4 and #5 "Jungle Carbine".

243winxb:
Can a primer launch a bullet without powder, with so much force? Could a "large rifle primer" force the bullet to be very tight?
It took a good bit of poking with the brass cleaning rod to force the bullet back into the chamber and action.

After shooting a few, at one point it seemed that a round did not fire (really odd). Felt and heard nothing: ear protectors on. But the weird result of having a round blocked by something tangible (Thank God) makes it impossible for me to remember the sequence of events.

Maybe this best explains the most probable cause, and also why there was no indication of gas blowback etc (?). With all the lights on in the den-overhead and two lamps-the powder in the case is fairly easy to see when tilting a case at an angle but not really obvious, and was sure that I double-checked that each case had powder visible. Next time will check each one twice, directly under a bright lamp.

Leaving town early. Will try to get on hotel computer tomorrow pm.
Adios, amigos.

 

[azyogi]

I once had a 30-30 brought to me with the bullet wedged into the barrel 4" deep. I was told that it was fired there by just a primer. Had to drill out the bullet before I could dislodge it. Could be that recoil is loosening or lengthening your reloads, and some MILD crimp is called for. Too much crimp can cause pressure problems, so care is called for in selection, and use of a crimp die.

 

[R.W.Dale]

243winxb:
Can a primer launch a bullet without powder, with so much force? Could a "large rifle primer" force the bullet to be very tight?
It took a good bit of poking with the brass cleaning rod to force the bullet back into the chamber and action.

YES

Primers are quite powerful and should be respected as they're easily capable of blowing a finger off or jamming a bullet in the bore VERY tightly. BTDT (on the bullet jam)

 

[Ignition Override]

BTDT? It must equate to "Develop a safer reloading procedure". I'm a Dummkopf, no doubt about it.

Interesting when solo, as we must be our own "crew resource management". Also won't let anybody else shoot my reloads for a good while.

 

[R.W.Dale]

BTDT? That must mean "Develop a safer reloading procedure".

Interesting when solo, as we must be our own "crew concept", "crew resource management".

BTDT=

Been
There
Done
That



By the way learned a very valuable and injury free lesson on why when shooting factory or reloads you should account for each shot and it's impact or at least recoil. This could have been VERY bad if the bullet in question had got sent 2 inches down the bore so that next round you mention HAD chambered.

 

[atvalaska]

yup,,, u had no powder in that round. BTDT

 

[243winxb]

Can a primer launch a bullet without powder, with so much force? Could a "large rifle primer" force the bullet to be very tight?

Yes, its possible. If you wash your brass in a liquid clean, its possible to contaminate the powder charge that way also, but you should see the bad powder that did not burn. You came very close to having a "KABOOM" See photos of some that were not as lucky as you. http://www.photobucket.com/joe1944usa

 

[azyogi]

BTW I weigh my finished reloads on a cheap electronic gram scale. [bought at 'smoke' shop] it's good enough to spot missing powder, fast enough not to be too tedious.

 

[Ignition Override]

Would large rifle primers only launch the correct (caliber) bullet just enough to leave it where the next round could not easily be chambered?

Can you wash powder at home via the boiling hot water tap (shake and soak/dry) etc, without buying extra equipment?

My solution to the dark case interior is now to use a good flashlight.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Would large rifle primers only lauch the correct (caliber) bullet just enough to leave it where the next round could not easily be chambered?

It depends on the bullet shape, bbl free bore, bore erosion and many other factors.......would you really want to be the first to find out?????

Can you wash powder at home via the boiling hot water tap (shake and soak/dry) etc, without buying extra equipment?

DUDE please tell me you meant to type CASES!

If not you should sell your reloading equipment

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

Had a primer push a 230gn out of a 1911 before. Try and use a pincle mark it with the case empty, then when the case is full this along with the flash light will help reduce the pita things.

 

[Ignition Override]

Quite correct Krochus.

Was refering to the powder residue in those cases, and really tired last night on the hotel computer, due to the early wake-up before leaving town.
My terminology should have been standard, especially when only a literal description communicates reloading procedures and techniques.

 

[redneck2]

It's not uncommon to have bullets pull from cases during bench rest matches where the bullet is seated out to the lands. Powder dumps into the action unless the firearm is held vertical.

As noted several times, the bullet WILL jump into the rifling from the primer. If you doubt this, load an empty case with just a primer and fire it off. Remember that a .22 cb cap is just a bullet and primer.

With a pistol, the bullet can go 1-3" into the barrel before stopping.

 

[fguffey]

There is no such thing as too much crimp, there is a maximum determined by the amount of pressure required to expand the neck, then there is the advantage/disadvantage when time is considered.

F. Guffey

 

[Ignition Override]

My cases have been neck-sized only, then the bullets are only seated, all according to the Lee 'help videos'.
Frankly, was probably spending too much time producing reloads during several days (too many cases in the checkerboard holder) and should have developed a more systematic, gradual approach.

Will use a system suggested by somebody, whereby each round's recoil is accounted for.

 

[sprocket3]

Assuming you forgot the powder. I did that once with a .357 mag. I'm very lucky that it only pushed the bullet far enough to jam between the cylinder and barrel and prevent me from sending a 2nd one down the tube.