Question ?
- Thread starter hdbiker
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Not necessarily. Measure the case heads with a micrometer. Measure an unfired case head. Difference? If the case head expands even .001"-.002" the loads are too hot...
When trouble shooting any firearms/reloading problems you'll need facts. Real life measurements (not "about" or "tight/loose", but real measurements) or it's all a WAG!
When trouble shooting any firearms/reloading problems you'll need facts. Real life measurements (not "about" or "tight/loose", but real measurements) or it's all a WAG!
Magnum Shooter
Member
Some shell holder are made a little tight. You might just have a tight one. Check the rim thickness and diameter with your calipers and compare with the dimensions given in your loading manual.
Sunray
Member
Case heads, generally, do not expand. The brass is too thick. Sticky shell holders is usually just crud and they need a bath. Not always though. They are mass produced things.
gamestalker
member
Case heads do expand. This is discussed in my reloading books, as is measuring suspect cases.
But to determine this, first make sure your shell holder is clean, something I do after each reloading session.
Also inspect the rim and case head for any deformations, it's not at all unusual for extractors to mangle them and gouge them up.
GS
But to determine this, first make sure your shell holder is clean, something I do after each reloading session.
Also inspect the rim and case head for any deformations, it's not at all unusual for extractors to mangle them and gouge them up.
GS
tightgroup tiger
Member
Did you just reload these or are the offending cases factory ammunition.
If you reloaded these and they fit your shell holder when you loaded them the last time and don't fit it now, you better stop and start looking around.
You haven't told us this yet. Did you just reload these or is it factory ammo, or range pickups?
If you reloaded these and they fit your shell holder when you loaded them the last time and don't fit it now, you better stop and start looking around.
You haven't told us this yet. Did you just reload these or is it factory ammo, or range pickups?
Slipperhead
Member
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First of all, do you have the correct shellholder? Just checking...I've never heard of this issue.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Have you tried it with more then one brand of brass?
I have two & use two different 9mm shell holders.
Because some brands of brass is either too loose or too tight in the other one.
rc
I have two & use two different 9mm shell holders.
Because some brands of brass is either too loose or too tight in the other one.
rc
the brass is once fired Hornady .308 Win Match ,given to me by a range friend who doesen't reload.He gave me 200 rounds in factory boxes.My regular shell holder is a old RCBS #3.This is the only brass that has been tight.I have a lee shell holder that the brass fits in ok.This RCBS holder has seen much use.Guess I'll just buy a new one and try that.Thanks for your responses . hdiker
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
RCBS shell holders are / or at least were made closer to SAAMI spec then any others I have used.
Hornady brass?
No experience with it at all.
But if it doesn't fit an older RCBS shell Holder?
I would suspect the new Hornady brass is not spec, before I suspected the old RCBS shell holder isn't!
rc
Hornady brass?
No experience with it at all.
But if it doesn't fit an older RCBS shell Holder?
I would suspect the new Hornady brass is not spec, before I suspected the old RCBS shell holder isn't!
rc
Twiki357
Member
Since the initial firing wasn’t in your gun, are the primers by chance slightly protruding? I have a few old shell holders that do not have a relief cut for a protruding primer that can be a problem.
The Hornday brass was factory loaded and once fired in a range friends rifle.It is stamped Hornady above and (.308Win Match) below.Abouit a dozen of the brass won't fit in my shell holder. The primers were not protruding and my shell holder has a relief in it . hdbiker
tightgroup tiger
Member
If this Hornady brass were mine I would just use the Lee shell holder to load it and as long as it worked in my rifle correctly I wouldn't loose any sleep over it. I would blame the brass before I would blame the shell holder.
Most of my shell holders are 50+ year old RCBS passed down from my father and sometimes I do find cases that won't fit them. It was rare but it did happen. Most of us segregate our rifle brass by headstamp anyways.
Most of my shell holders are 50+ year old RCBS passed down from my father and sometimes I do find cases that won't fit them. It was rare but it did happen. Most of us segregate our rifle brass by headstamp anyways.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
I would, as suggested earlier, using your calipers measure the rim thickness and thoroughly inspect the case rims for uniformity. Place a case on a flat surface and using your finger at the case mouth try and rock the case. A bent or distorted rim should become obvious. The rim thickness for a 308 Winchester according to SAAMI Specification should be .054" - .010" so to be in specification between .044" and .054". When measuring the rim thickness measure at several points around the rim and make sure they are about equal.
Looking at a RCBS #3 shell holder the one I have laying here would accept a rim thickness maximum of .056" and the same holds true for a Lee #2 shell holder I have laying here. Measuring the rim thickness of some Remington unfired 308 cases and some new unfired Lapua cases they have a typical rim thickness of about .050" allowing me to insert a .006" feeler gauge into the shell holder with a case installed.
My guess is your brass may have been fired in a semiautomatic rifle like an M1A as Chuck suggested and had a rough day during extraction. Unless there is dirt or foreign matter in the shell holder I don't see the shell holder as a problem.
Ron
Looking at a RCBS #3 shell holder the one I have laying here would accept a rim thickness maximum of .056" and the same holds true for a Lee #2 shell holder I have laying here. Measuring the rim thickness of some Remington unfired 308 cases and some new unfired Lapua cases they have a typical rim thickness of about .050" allowing me to insert a .006" feeler gauge into the shell holder with a case installed.
My guess is your brass may have been fired in a semiautomatic rifle like an M1A as Chuck suggested and had a rough day during extraction. Unless there is dirt or foreign matter in the shell holder I don't see the shell holder as a problem.
Ron
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