Barrel Fit / Case Dimension Question

[NMUltra]

I bought a barrel and some primed cartridges from a member here.  The thought was just add powder & lead, they're ready to shoot...

The barrel is loose on my frame, so I followed the barrel fit procedure.  Looks like a 5 mil (0.005") shim will do the trick.  With the shim in place, lockup is good, no visible light between the barrel and frame.

I put an empty primed case in the chamber, lockup is still good but now I have about a 2 mil gap between barrel & frame.  When I open the gun, the primer shows a scuff (bright mark) at the 6 o'clock position.  I tried several more cases, not all show the scuff, but all show the airgap.  After dismounting the barrel, it looks like the case head is proud of the barrel.

This is my first venture into reloading - My first thought is the cases aren't sized correctly.  My next thought is the chamber is dirty and could be cleaned and polished.

I'm off to buy some factory ammo (just empty your wallet over here, sir) to see if the lockup is the same.  If so, the next step is clean & polish.

Should I proceed with loading these cases, or should I remove the primers & start over?

[Mac11700]

I bought a barrel and some primed cartridges from a member here.  The thought was just add powder & lead, they're ready to shoot...

The barrel is loose on my frame, so I followed the barrel fit procedure.  Looks like a 5 mil (0.005") shim will do the trick.  With the shim in place, lockup is good, no visible light between the barrel and frame.

I put an empty primed case in the chamber, lockup is still good but now I have about a 2 mil gap between barrel & frame.  When I open the gun, the primer shows a scuff (bright mark) at the 6 o'clock position.  I tried several more cases, not all show the scuff, but all show the airgap.  After dismounting the barrel, it looks like the case head is proud of the barrel.

This is my first venture into reloading - My first thought is the cases aren't sized correctly.  My next thought is the chamber is dirty and could be cleaned and polished.

I'm off to buy some factory ammo (just empty your wallet over here, sir) to see if the lockup is the same.  If so, the next step is clean & polish.

Should I proceed with loading these cases, or should I remove the primers & start over?

I would remove the primers and start over..What barrel is it..?

Mac

[NMUltra]

.25-06

I kroiled the extractor, it was stiff - it freed up.  After that, it looks like some cases will chamber correctly, and lock up with no gap.  Looks like I need to sort the cases and rework the proud ones.

[Mac11700]

.25-06

I kroiled the extractor, it was stiff - it freed up.  After that, it looks like some cases will chamber correctly, and lock up with no gap.  Looks like I need to sort the cases and rework the proud ones.

Yup..just lay a flat edge across the chamber end across the case..this is a easy way of checking them.

Mac

[stimpylu32]

For the ones that are too long , just run the de-capping pin up so it does not push the primer out and resize the case's , you will be able to bump the shoulder back as needed and not waist a primer . 

stimpy

[NMUltra]

Thanks to Stimpy & Mac for the replies - I removed the decapping rod & resized 40 cases for load work up.  The range report is 87 gr Hornady with 52.5 gr of Reloder 19 put 3 touching & 2 touching for a 0.82" group @ 50 yards - the most repeatable combination of 8 tried.  I used the published max COL for all 8 combos.

The barrel fit was another adventure - the first shim attempt gave me a 3 mil gap, so I dug that one out, the next shim attempt wouldn't close so for the 3rd attempt I decided to try Fred's Devcon putty method.  I wasn't willing to part with $145 for a pound of the Devcon product, so I tried Loctite Metal Magic Steel - no mixing required, the two parts are extruded as a rod, pinch off a bit, roll & knead, spread it into the under lug, lock up the action, open the action & trim off the excess, lock up the action again.  The stuff is hard in 10 minutes, I left it locked up for 24 hours before heading to the range.  The final gap was less than 1.5 mils, my smallest feeler gauge. The 4 oz tube was $12...

Prairie dog report next weekend - I don't think I'll shoot more than 50 rounds of .25-06, the .204 will see most of the duty...

[NMUltra]

As promised, the prairie dog report:

I shot 51 rounds of the .25-06 over the weekend - it took about 8 rounds off the bench & bags before I was happy with the POI.  No red mist, but terminal performance was good - lots of half dogs...  The biggest problem I had was keeping the barrel cool in a target rich environment.  The Loctite putty is holding up well with around 100 rounds fired so far.

77 rounds of .204 went down the tube - I haven't shot this gun very much, since my .223 has been so good.  The .223 receiver was wearing the .25-06 barrel for this trip, though.  I did well with the .204 at ranges under 200 yards - over that, I wasn't making clean kills. Cartridge was 40 grain V-max from HSM.  Now I need a .204 load for all my empty brass...

[torpedoman]

Thanks to Stimpy & Mac for the replies - I removed the decapping rod & resized 40 cases for load work up.  The range report is 87 gr Hornady with 52.5 gr of Reloder 19 put 3 touching & 2 touching for a 0.82" group @ 50 yards - the most repeatable combination of 8 tried.  I used the published max COL for all 8 combos.

The barrel fit was another adventure - the first shim attempt gave me a 3 mil gap, so I dug that one out, the next shim attempt wouldn't close so for the 3rd attempt I decided to try Fred's Devcon putty method.  I wasn't willing to part with $145 for a pound of the Devcon product, so I tried Loctite Metal Magic Steel - no mixing required, the two parts are extruded as a rod, pinch off a bit, roll & knead, spread it into the under lug, lock up the action, open the action & trim off the excess, lock up the action again.  The stuff is hard in 10 minutes, I left it locked up for 24 hours before heading to the range.  The final gap was less than 1.5 mils, my smallest feeler gauge. The 4 oz tube was $12...

Prairie dog report next weekend - I don't think I'll shoot more than 50 rounds of .25-06, the .204 will see most of the duty...

Let us know how that loctite holds up under use please.