AJC1
Member
Forester makes good dies for base adjustment, it's the national match series. Not terribly expensive either.
help! 308 sizing issue with my new xbolt
- Thread starter greyling22
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243winxb
Member
Small base die https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-Small-Base-Sizer-308-Win/dp/B000NTMK10
Midwayusa has the on sale also.
Midwayusa has the on sale also.
OP
OP
greyling22
Member
I did find an open bag a new brass in my stuff. cycled a couple cases through the gun and they ran fine.
also found a small base die on amazon for $27. I think I'll give it a try. if it doesn't work I can always return it.
also found a small base die on amazon for $27. I think I'll give it a try. if it doesn't work I can always return it.
Blue68f100
Member
With the tighter chamber you may want to workup a new load. Make sure your not getting into the lands too.
Browning has been know to have tight chambers. I was hand loading for the BAR, BLR back in the 70's. Most said you needed a SB sizing die. I never did with my RCBS set. And still have not found a gun that I can not load with a good quality die set. Lee has a history of being all over the spec range, in spec but you never know which side, tight or loose. You way want to look at the Redding Type S die. This is a body sizing die that uses bushing's to size the necks. Keeps from over working the brass. And the body die tallows you to size loaded ammo.
Browning has been know to have tight chambers. I was hand loading for the BAR, BLR back in the 70's. Most said you needed a SB sizing die. I never did with my RCBS set. And still have not found a gun that I can not load with a good quality die set. Lee has a history of being all over the spec range, in spec but you never know which side, tight or loose. You way want to look at the Redding Type S die. This is a body sizing die that uses bushing's to size the necks. Keeps from over working the brass. And the body die tallows you to size loaded ammo.
Interesting that Lee said they couldn't do anything without even seeing the die.
I would check the bottom diameter of the die. A .467" pin gauge should be able to go in only a very short distance, if at all. More than that, and the die is probably oversize.
I would check the bottom diameter of the die. A .467" pin gauge should be able to go in only a very short distance, if at all. More than that, and the die is probably oversize.
Charlie98
Member
Quite true...
BushMaster-15
member
It's a common denominator of previously mentioned chamber sizes being different .
A SB Die will correct it but before I'd go that route ,perhaps the ole 90 180 degree rotation as in twice resizing a case and seeing " IF " that will chamber ?. In #56 years of reloading ,I've Never had to grind off any shell holder or die . Dies have threads and " IF " screwing the die in more fails , so as to completely bottom out on the shell holder and that fails to properly size a case ?, then two possibilities exist !.
BAD Die or Bad Chamber . ALL reloading component hardware are dialed in on CNC /SAAMI specs ,so measuring and using a case gauge should tell you what's wrong .
A SB Die will correct it but before I'd go that route ,perhaps the ole 90 180 degree rotation as in twice resizing a case and seeing " IF " that will chamber ?. In #56 years of reloading ,I've Never had to grind off any shell holder or die . Dies have threads and " IF " screwing the die in more fails , so as to completely bottom out on the shell holder and that fails to properly size a case ?, then two possibilities exist !.
BAD Die or Bad Chamber . ALL reloading component hardware are dialed in on CNC /SAAMI specs ,so measuring and using a case gauge should tell you what's wrong .
Thanks to Slamfire, Bushmaster and others, I am reminded a case gauge has two ends and measures two things. I mostly use it to see if I need to trim my cases, but tried it on those cases my buddy loaded for me that would not chamber (that was about 5 years ago before I started loading myself), and sure enough, the loaded new brass cases that were not resized first, stand proud of the gauge. Those case gauges work........if you let em. Have one for each caliber I load for. Mine are Wilson.
JFrank
Member
They can hone them out for less sizing but if you want more you’re out of luck
Greyling, I always segregate brass for my rifles. I have multiple 7m Rem Mags and 30.06s. Each rifle has it's own dedicated brass. It's not that big of a deal. None of these rifles shoot the same with the same load, but I've never thought or tried to shoot a round made for one rifle in another. There are just too many variables. I have a Remington 300 RUM Sendero rifle. A friend has the identical rifle. I cannot chamber a round he makes, and he can't chamber mine. He can load to the lands and fit the magazine and I'm a hundred thousands away. Although they are the same rifle in the same caliber from the same manufacturer, they are that different.
FROGO207
Member
Yep a different sizing die that is smaller at the base might do the trick. Conversly have you looked at the first bit of the chamber? If it is rough that might be cured if you get it honed/reamed.
It seems that the most threads on brass not fitting the chamber are for 308. To me this seems odd. I understand when using once fired MG brass with a chamber reamed with a sausage sized reamer but a standard 308 should have a more repeatable result. Guess I just don't understand factory standards, oh well.
It seems that the most threads on brass not fitting the chamber are for 308. To me this seems odd. I understand when using once fired MG brass with a chamber reamed with a sausage sized reamer but a standard 308 should have a more repeatable result. Guess I just don't understand factory standards, oh well.
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
I had this problem with my 308 loads. Cycled, fed, fired out the M1A, the FN FAL, and Ruger GSR with no problems. The AR10 or Remington Milspec wouldn't chamber them right. I got a Gauge and found that my reloads were quite in spec. I used two different dies, C&H and Lee. Same problem with both. Someone here recommended a small base, I got an RCBS, and now the ammo works just fine. Can't say if that's the problem. I would have no issue sending you an empty 308 that has been resized with my small base. Gratis. Saves investment on things that may or may not work.
Lots of smart people here with lots of great answers. Just wanted to give my experience with those answers. I didn't come up with my solution on my own.
Lots of smart people here with lots of great answers. Just wanted to give my experience with those answers. I didn't come up with my solution on my own.
BushMaster-15
member
I believe most of us reloaders have had " issues " with FL ,Neck ,shoulder bump ,resizing in the past .
Anyone can shove an exceptionally larger case say fired from a worn M60 , 240 ,249 or whatever ,into a small base die ( Eventually ) given enough lube and force and time . Doing so shortens the case life if repeatedly needed .
IMO why it's critical to keep cases separated ,for specific Rifles and their respective chambers . Makes life so much easier reloading .
My solution different colored ammo boxes , M14 smoke color , DPMS LR-.308's Dark blue ,Bolt Rifles transparent blue .
Idea is ammo run through Gas guns remain separate ,bolt ammo is just that .
I screwed up awhile back resizing some generous M-80 M-118 M-62 and whatever else was in that door slinger mix . Had one hell of a time getting them back to usable specs . In MY case had to use FL standard and then SB die because some were so far out ,they wouldn't remain sized . Brass spring was just enough and it was the last .250" above the rebated rim ,which is the hardest to resize. IT happens !.
Interestingly enough I've got #8 different factory loading's , including Swiss ,German Austrian PPU ,LC Match , and so forth . ALL are a couple thousandths different Diameter at that .250 " above the rebated rim . ALL are between 0.003-6" UNDER SAAMI specs ,so they go into anyone's chambers .
NO Die manufacturer even comes close to offering a Die in any of those dimensions ,so it's IMPOSSIBLE to get them back too factory original size . FL sized they work just fine but NEVER go back to their original dimension .
This is MY personal opinion as I have cases dating back to 1953-57 in 7.62X51mm regular and match and hands down their the BEST cases ,meaning I've got the most reloads on them and their rims aren't all chewed up . Example LC 1990 less than 1/2 the # of reloads and I've got some split necks already . Yes I do instill ductility aka annealing after 2-3 firing on ALL MY cases and as they're mixed in together ,highly unlikely they had any different treatment . The Older cases are certainly harder around the base and rim .
Anyone can shove an exceptionally larger case say fired from a worn M60 , 240 ,249 or whatever ,into a small base die ( Eventually ) given enough lube and force and time . Doing so shortens the case life if repeatedly needed .
IMO why it's critical to keep cases separated ,for specific Rifles and their respective chambers . Makes life so much easier reloading .
My solution different colored ammo boxes , M14 smoke color , DPMS LR-.308's Dark blue ,Bolt Rifles transparent blue .
Idea is ammo run through Gas guns remain separate ,bolt ammo is just that .
I screwed up awhile back resizing some generous M-80 M-118 M-62 and whatever else was in that door slinger mix . Had one hell of a time getting them back to usable specs . In MY case had to use FL standard and then SB die because some were so far out ,they wouldn't remain sized . Brass spring was just enough and it was the last .250" above the rebated rim ,which is the hardest to resize. IT happens !.
Interestingly enough I've got #8 different factory loading's , including Swiss ,German Austrian PPU ,LC Match , and so forth . ALL are a couple thousandths different Diameter at that .250 " above the rebated rim . ALL are between 0.003-6" UNDER SAAMI specs ,so they go into anyone's chambers .
NO Die manufacturer even comes close to offering a Die in any of those dimensions ,so it's IMPOSSIBLE to get them back too factory original size . FL sized they work just fine but NEVER go back to their original dimension .
This is MY personal opinion as I have cases dating back to 1953-57 in 7.62X51mm regular and match and hands down their the BEST cases ,meaning I've got the most reloads on them and their rims aren't all chewed up . Example LC 1990 less than 1/2 the # of reloads and I've got some split necks already . Yes I do instill ductility aka annealing after 2-3 firing on ALL MY cases and as they're mixed in together ,highly unlikely they had any different treatment . The Older cases are certainly harder around the base and rim .
OP
OP
greyling22
Member
Rcbs Small base die fixed the problem. Resized brass chambers and ejects easily.
I am going to mention, at some level of cartridge brass expansion, a small base die will not reduce a case enough to fit in a tight chamber. So brass fired in machine guns, or huge chambers, may not be useable, because of the limitations of ordinary reloading equipment.
And that is when Roll Sizers are necessary:
http://www.casepro100.com/
nettlle
Contributing Member
With a standard FL sizing die a rifle case can fail a Sheridan case gauge. With a small base resizing die (I have a Redding) it will not fail the case gauge. No grinding required. I have had brand new expensive factory ammo fail the case gauge and not chamber in my rifles so don't be too quick to judge your rifle's chamber.
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