nofishbob
Member
Hi Guys-
I had a frustrating weekend out in the garage. New rifle, new single stage press, new dies, once fired brass, and no rush to get shooting as I am waiting for a scope to arrive. I am not new to rifle reloading. I am new to bolt action rifle reloading. My plan was to full length re size the cases this time, and then neck size them as many times as feasible.
Brand/caliber info: Lee Classic Cast press, Lee dies, Savage 111 338 Lapua rifle, Norma brass.
I start by installing sizing die as I always do, shellholder hard up against the bottom of the die at the top of the ram stroke. I happily size a case, Trim it to length, and attempt to chamber it in the rifle. The bolt will not close at all. Bummer.
I rechecked the die adjustment with another case in it and the press frame loaded. Still have die/shellholder contact. This case will not chamber either.
Sharpie rub marks show that it is hitting on the shoulder.
I check one more time to make sure the chamber does not have something stuck in it. Nope.
So now in desperation, I take an unfired, factory fresh case and attempt to chamber it. It is better, but the bolt will still not close all the way. What the?
So now the rifle is suspect. I spent hours trying to see into the chamber, with out ever seeing anything that looked out of place.
It turns out that the screws that the factory installed to hold the scope base are a little too long, so that the bolt will operate normally without a case in the chamber, but will stop about 30 degrees from fully closed with a case.
On a side note, the rifle will fire with the bolt in this position, so maybe that is how it was test fired at the factory.
So now the factory case chambers and ejects without drama, back to the dies. I started grinding the bottom of the die to allow more shoulder setback.
I ground a little at a time over and over until the bolt will close with just slight resistance. At this setting, the bolt opens easily, but the case is stuck in the chamber too tightly to eject by hand. A light tap with a mallet frees the cartridge, but I don't like it. It still shows a rub mark at the shoulder.
No Case gages or head space gages are listed for this caliber in Brownell's or Sinclair.
I ground a LOT off of the bottom of the die, maybe as much as 0.100 inches. I really do not want to grind it any more. I worry that it may be more out of spec than just the location of the shoulder, and that I will ruin a lot of costly brass screwing with it.
So after all of this, here are my questions:
1.- Do you think that cases will eject easier after firing?
2.-I am thinking that I should get a new sizing die from another manufacturer and see what happens. If I can find one!
Thanks!
Bob
I had a frustrating weekend out in the garage. New rifle, new single stage press, new dies, once fired brass, and no rush to get shooting as I am waiting for a scope to arrive. I am not new to rifle reloading. I am new to bolt action rifle reloading. My plan was to full length re size the cases this time, and then neck size them as many times as feasible.
Brand/caliber info: Lee Classic Cast press, Lee dies, Savage 111 338 Lapua rifle, Norma brass.
I start by installing sizing die as I always do, shellholder hard up against the bottom of the die at the top of the ram stroke. I happily size a case, Trim it to length, and attempt to chamber it in the rifle. The bolt will not close at all. Bummer.
I rechecked the die adjustment with another case in it and the press frame loaded. Still have die/shellholder contact. This case will not chamber either.
Sharpie rub marks show that it is hitting on the shoulder.
I check one more time to make sure the chamber does not have something stuck in it. Nope.
So now in desperation, I take an unfired, factory fresh case and attempt to chamber it. It is better, but the bolt will still not close all the way. What the?
So now the rifle is suspect. I spent hours trying to see into the chamber, with out ever seeing anything that looked out of place.
It turns out that the screws that the factory installed to hold the scope base are a little too long, so that the bolt will operate normally without a case in the chamber, but will stop about 30 degrees from fully closed with a case.
On a side note, the rifle will fire with the bolt in this position, so maybe that is how it was test fired at the factory.
So now the factory case chambers and ejects without drama, back to the dies. I started grinding the bottom of the die to allow more shoulder setback.
I ground a little at a time over and over until the bolt will close with just slight resistance. At this setting, the bolt opens easily, but the case is stuck in the chamber too tightly to eject by hand. A light tap with a mallet frees the cartridge, but I don't like it. It still shows a rub mark at the shoulder.
No Case gages or head space gages are listed for this caliber in Brownell's or Sinclair.
I ground a LOT off of the bottom of the die, maybe as much as 0.100 inches. I really do not want to grind it any more. I worry that it may be more out of spec than just the location of the shoulder, and that I will ruin a lot of costly brass screwing with it.
So after all of this, here are my questions:
1.- Do you think that cases will eject easier after firing?
2.-I am thinking that I should get a new sizing die from another manufacturer and see what happens. If I can find one!
Thanks!
Bob
if I bought a new factory rifle that had a screw intruding where it shouldn't be.
