New Guy Question/Problem

[usbone1]

Just started the reloading process...using a Dillon 550 to load 6mm Remington rounds:  completed 15 and only 8 will cycle in the action my rifles action.  OAL's are all verified the same with my caliper.  No apparent deformities in the cartridge walls or bases.  Any suggestions, other than throw out those seven (into the lake by us). 

[Castaway]

1st and easiest check is to mike your bullets.  It's not out of the question they shipped 6.5's and a boattail would allow it to be seated in the brass.  Next, insure you sizing die is adjusted downward as far as possible.  Having that out of the way may mean you need a small base die to size the case lower to the base of the brass.  BAR's are notorious for not chambering for that reason.

[coyotejoe]

I'm not sure just what you mean by "won't cycle". Do they hang up in the magazine, will they chamber but the bolt won't close? It's hard to diagnose problems second hand but impossible without some info as to the type of action and exactly how the rounds fail.

[persistentprogrammer]

I always neck size brass shot out of the same rifle, but I always FL re-size new brass. You may have a few that have fatter case size and they will need the FL die.

[usbone1]

I'm using brass I have previously shot in the same rifle so I'm certain they are 6 mm cases.  The round will chamber, but the bolt will not close.  Maybe I need to seat them a bit deeper, but again there over all length matches store bought (Remington and Winchester) rounds.

What is an FL re-size die?

Thanks for your time.

[persistentprogrammer]

[Full Length Re-size Die]

I had the same thing on my Rem 700, the bolt needed too much force to close and lock. There was a buildup of brass shavings behind the extractor, so the case wouldn't slide all the way into the bolt face. Mine had a fixed extractor, so that's why it occasionally does this. Another idea would be to look into chamber to see if there's a buildup in the neck area, I've seen that too, but only once.

[tvc15]

I have a .270 bolt action that wont allow the bolt to close on some factory ammo. You may have to over-cam your sizer die until the chamber.   TVC15

[Castaway]

Depending upon the particular bullet design you are using, the overall length for one bullet will differ for another due to the shape of the ogive.  Don't know if this is the problem or not.  If the round chambers, and by that I mean chambers fully  and the bolt doesn't close that's another problem and not the brass. What is the rifle?  If you are getting full chambering, as stated by persistentprogrammer, check the extractor.

[wareagleguy]

AOL of the round needs to be considered because you could be pushing the bullet into the lands.  Use a marker and paint the front of the bullet and start to cycle the round until you get resistance and remove the round.  Check the front of the bullet to see if the lands have touched and if so reduce the AOL of the round.  Because you have some that work and some don't I tend to think the second reason below may be the problem.

Second thing, brass grows so make sure your brass isn't too long OR it could be the shoulders need to be bumped back a bit.  Neck sizing will minimize this but will still happen regardless of full length or neck sizing.

Third thing, you may need to turn your necks.  This does need to be done at times.