Need help!!! .308 reloads for lr-308

[biga972]

Ok I have been banging my head against the wall on this one. I have a DPMS LR 308 that I reload for but I get a lot of cases that will not chamber after I reload them. I am using small base dies from RCBS. The ones that do not chamber get stuck in the chamber. Not sure were my problem lies open for ideas.



This made for a bad day a the range yesterday I think i had just as many get stuck as I was able to shoot. :banghead:

 

[MtnCreek]

What kind of seating die are you using? Is it applying any crimp?

Edit: Also, what kind of press are you using? The powder stem on some progressives can also deform your brass if not properly set up.

 

[Cmeboston]

With my M1A I have to turn the SB die in till it touches the shell holder to chamber well.
are you trimming and deburring fully?
Is the chamber clean?
Have you successfully hand loaded for this gun before?
Does all factory ammo chamber fine?



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[biga972]

rcbs seating die and useing a lee factory crip die in another step. I am using a lee classic turret.

SB die does touch the shell holder, no trimming they seem to been in spec. I have this problem with clean or dirty chamber. I have never successfully load for this gun yet ( I have loaded rounds that would fire but not all the time.) I have only shot rem corelokt in this rifle and it shot fine (was only one box)

 

[MtnCreek]

I don't think it's the sizing, but it could be. More than likely, your brass is not consistant and some of the cases are long enough to produce a over-crimp (in the seat die), causing the brass at the base of the shoulder to swell out a little. Pull a couple of cartridges that would not chamber and see if the brass will chamber w/o the bullet. Resize the brass and see if it will chamber. Charge and seat a new bullet and see if it will chamber. I don't think the Lee FCD is a problem.

 

[popper]

Do you have a case gauge for .308? I have the same problem sometimes with the LR-308. It is usually due to incorrect head-space (die setup - don't depend on touching the shell holder, measure!). Use the chamber brush to clean the lugs. Get a small rubber hammer (AR repair kit), pull the firing pin and cycle your loaded ammo. You can use a felt pen to mark the cases to check for long OAL, tight throat etc. Usually it is head-space - the lugs won't lock or easily unlock(use rubber hammer on charging handle). I don't use the FCD (taper crimp instead) but it MAY be leaving a slight ridge on the case mouth that is too large for the throat. With the floating firing pin, you HAVE to have head-space correct to prevent slam-fires. Are you using DPMS or Pmags? If you have the factory ones, what is the dimension across the lips? I never have been able to get mine to work and don't have a milspec dimension to check.

 

[W.E.G.]

I get a lot of cases that will not chamber after I reload them

What case gage are you using?

Please tell us you ARE using a case gage.

You must use one of these.

 

[biga972]

no I do not have a case gauge for the 308 nor do I for my .223 but I have not had any issues with the .223. I thought I might be able to get by with out one :banghead: but will be getting one now.

 

[MtnCreek]

It's not required equipment IMHO. They are handy tools and really handy with cartridges loaded for AR type rifle because it's tough to use the chamber as a gauge (compared to a bolt action).

Either way, the lack of a gauge is not the problem. Here's a (probably incomplete) list of things that could be causing your issues.

1) Not setting the shoulder back far enough (sizing die). Most of them chamber, so this leads me to think this is not the case, but it could be. If cartridge case X will not chamber prior to sizing, but will chamber after sizing, sounds like the sizer is working.
2) Seating die crimping/over crimping. Loosen the seating die and turn the body of the die out (up) a couple of turns, then adjust the bullet plunger down where the bullet is seated to proper length. Trim your brass where all are within spec and constant.
3) Are you trying to load to the lands? I assume not because your rifle type, but if you are; stop that.
4) I bet it's either '2' or '1'.

 

[biga972]

MtnCreek I to not load to the lands....I will try number 1 and 2.


Still would not mind having case gauge for the rifles I reload for.

 

[popper]

You can use the chamber on an AR, just pull the firing pin if the ammo is loaded. Case gauge is easier. I have 2 uppers, one will take .004 over case gauge max, the other MUST be less than case gauge max. biga972, I assume you don't have forward assist so you have to drop the round in with bolt locked back and then release it. Check that the bolt is locked. If it isn't, adjust your die 1/4 turn, try again. If you can't unlock it with the charging handle, use the rubber hammer or pogo it, adjust the die another 1/4. If the die won't adjust enough, get some 400 emery paper and take some metal off the shell holder. Check the back side of your bolt lugs for burrs -you can clean them off or wait for them to wear down.

 

[popper]

Just checked my RCBS AR .308 die - .003 off. Won't push the shoulder back enough, to max Wilson case gauge dimension Die touches shell holder and is locked down tight.

 

[biga972]

Still looking for a case gauge midway is on back order for the Wilson.....


Popper so what would the fix one that be if that was the issue would I have to send the die in to RCBS.

 

[W.E.G.]

Find a lower shell-holder, or grind 0.010" off the bottom of the die.

I find it hard to believe that nowhere on the internet is there a vendor with a .308 case gage for sale.
Not sure what Midway you are looking at.
Shows in stock here: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/880646/le-wilson-case-length-headspace-gage-308-winchester

I greatly prefer the RCBS micrometer-type "Precision Mic" tool.
Midway has that too: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/574297/rcbs-precision-mic-308-winchester
If you get the RCBS tool, throw away that bullet-looking thing that comes with the micrometer. The bullet-thing is worthless garbage. The micrometer part is excellent.

If you don't have a tool to measure your ammo, you're just guessing.
Just a matter of time until you have an incident.
In this case, it didn't take much time at all.

 

[popper]

I had a 243 that wasn't right so I put a sheet of 400 emery paper on the table and ground down the top surface. I need to do the same thing to my 308 shell holder. The hornady 308 die I use works fine, just got caught when I started using the RCBS one. I suppose you can do the die, I just chose the holder, no warranty on it. I had to bend the mag lips to solve feed problems, still haven't gotten that right for this new upper. Swapped the 6-14 scope to the new upper yesterday and did OK with ARcomp and 168 Amax. Feeding issues are still a PITA.

 

[HJ857]

If the .308 Wilson gauge is anything like the .223 gauge, then it's cut oversize. It's good for checking headspace but probably will not tell you if there's a problem with the brass casing. There are possible issues with the brass being deformed at the base, as well as headspace and crimp problems. The Wilson may work if you get lucky with a tight cut gauge in combination with a looser chamber, but that's far from an ideal situation.

Another gauge that I know for certain works great for an AR chamber is the JP Rifles gauge. The .223 version is cut to SAAMI spec. I use it to test sized cases and again after fully completing a round. If the round passes the JP gauge, then it will chamber, fire and extract every time. You use it exactly the same way that you'd use the Wilson gauge, but with far more reliable results.

http://jprifles.com/buy.php?item=JPCG-308

 

[kingmt]

Is the press camming over hard with a pop when you get to the end of its travel?

 

[zeke]

Is the shell holder the same brand as the die? They are not all the same, and a different brand may not allow sizing down far enough (or too far).

Have gotten to the point of not loading for my semi's without using a case gage

 

[jelenko]

+1 to different shell holder and resizing die. I just had to return some RCBS Xdies because they would not resize below -1 on the RCBS precision mic. My Forster dies have no problem resizing to -5.
In this case, the press is a Forster co-ax.

 

[popper]

kingmt a lot of presses don't cam-over. I chose to fix it myself instead of paying the shipping and enduring the wait. Yes, the Wilson doesn't check diameter, but if the die is off in diam. it always will be, length is dependent on the operator.

 

[kingmt]

I know this because that was the press I ran into the same problems with. All of them fit my sons rifle with a tight closeing bolt but only a few fit my chamber unless I put them in his rifle first but it still took a lot of effort to close the bolt. Started using the other press & problem fixed.

My first thought was bad dies & Lee wanted me to send them back with brass that fit my chamber. I chose to look into it farther first. Glad I didn't waste the money & time shipping them only to look stupid or ruin my die or shell holder.