I have a 16" .300-221 that has never run right.
It is a 1:8 twist with gas block in the pistol position, and has a High, Low, and Off setting on the block. My 8" gun with the same thing and made by the same manufacturer runs perfect.
The 16" for the longest time would fire, but the cases wouldn't eject. They'd get stuck, bad, and the rim would get ripped off partially (about 20% where the extractor claw tried to pull it out of the chamber). I'd have to use a cleaning rod to tap it out. If I just tried to hand load/eject I'd end up having to really pound the hell out of it to get it out.
I triple-checked all my dimensions on my reloads, and I was still having issues so I sent it back to the maker. He reamed it out to .300 AAC BLK, saying that this should fix the problem.
Well, took it out to the range today to test it. Some strange things are happening.
Before I sent the barrel off, it never had a problem chambering or firing. The problem was occurring when it came to ejecting (either by hand before firing just to see if it would eject, and it wouldn't, since the chamber was too tight) or after firing the case would get stuck and the rim would get ripped off.
Well, when I got the barrel back and put it back together I was hand chambering the cases and they wouldn't eject due to the bolt/extractor apparently not gripping it, but I thought that the gases and recoil would help this. The cases weren't getting stuck at all (they wold fall right out when I tilted the rifle back), and things seemed pretty slick there.
At the range I chambered a round and pulled the trigger - nothing happened. I ejected the round and saw not even a slight dimple in the primer. This is the same bolt/upper I used before that never had a problem getting a round to fire. I then swapped lowers (different triggers in each) - no dice. I then swapped bolts - again hardly a mark on the primer.
Is it possible that somehow now the chamber is too long and the bolt isn't engaging the back of the shell enough to allow not only extraction by hand (as previously written about) and also the firing pin even when fully extended isn't reaching the primer due to a chamber/size problem?
Here are my loads and dimensions:
Load 1: Nosler 125 grn Ballistic Tip, 18.5 grn H110, OAL 2.046", Case Length 1.360" - 1.363"
Load 2: 115 grn. FMJ, 16.5 grn H110, OAL 2.041", Case Length 1.360-1.363"
Is it possible that I cannot use this .300-221 ammo in my newly chambered .300 BLK, but that if I get BLK dies and load those up per spec I can then use the new ammo (as well as factory ammo) in the 16" upper? Would I be able to use my current .300-221 brass and just resize in the new dies?
It is a 1:8 twist with gas block in the pistol position, and has a High, Low, and Off setting on the block. My 8" gun with the same thing and made by the same manufacturer runs perfect.
The 16" for the longest time would fire, but the cases wouldn't eject. They'd get stuck, bad, and the rim would get ripped off partially (about 20% where the extractor claw tried to pull it out of the chamber). I'd have to use a cleaning rod to tap it out. If I just tried to hand load/eject I'd end up having to really pound the hell out of it to get it out.
I triple-checked all my dimensions on my reloads, and I was still having issues so I sent it back to the maker. He reamed it out to .300 AAC BLK, saying that this should fix the problem.
Well, took it out to the range today to test it. Some strange things are happening.
Before I sent the barrel off, it never had a problem chambering or firing. The problem was occurring when it came to ejecting (either by hand before firing just to see if it would eject, and it wouldn't, since the chamber was too tight) or after firing the case would get stuck and the rim would get ripped off.
Well, when I got the barrel back and put it back together I was hand chambering the cases and they wouldn't eject due to the bolt/extractor apparently not gripping it, but I thought that the gases and recoil would help this. The cases weren't getting stuck at all (they wold fall right out when I tilted the rifle back), and things seemed pretty slick there.
At the range I chambered a round and pulled the trigger - nothing happened. I ejected the round and saw not even a slight dimple in the primer. This is the same bolt/upper I used before that never had a problem getting a round to fire. I then swapped lowers (different triggers in each) - no dice. I then swapped bolts - again hardly a mark on the primer.
Is it possible that somehow now the chamber is too long and the bolt isn't engaging the back of the shell enough to allow not only extraction by hand (as previously written about) and also the firing pin even when fully extended isn't reaching the primer due to a chamber/size problem?
Here are my loads and dimensions:
Load 1: Nosler 125 grn Ballistic Tip, 18.5 grn H110, OAL 2.046", Case Length 1.360" - 1.363"
Load 2: 115 grn. FMJ, 16.5 grn H110, OAL 2.041", Case Length 1.360-1.363"
Is it possible that I cannot use this .300-221 ammo in my newly chambered .300 BLK, but that if I get BLK dies and load those up per spec I can then use the new ammo (as well as factory ammo) in the 16" upper? Would I be able to use my current .300-221 brass and just resize in the new dies?