Author Topic: Hard to chamber - What does that mean? (Read 790 times)

BattleRifleG3 · « **on:** November 03, 2005, 08:17:43 PM »

I have friends who handload a number of rounds, and I've bought dies for a couple of my rounds for us to reload together along with theirs.

I've come to wonder if they may be missing an important step.

The way they reload, they deprime the old ones in what I presume is a resizer die as well. They then lube the cases and toss them in a tumbler. Next they prime them, fill with the proper amount of the correct powder (that they do just fine), and seat the new bullets. I don't think they crimp but I could be wrong.

Far as I can tell, they don't segregate brass on how many reloads they've been through. And they do not trim as far as I know. I don't think they have a dial or digital caliper in their household or know what I'm talking about when I use the terms dimensional tolerances.

Concern - Years back I was shooting his 30-06 handloads through my Rem 710. At a couple of points, it was dang hard to chamber, ie took a lot of force. He of course blamed it on the stiff bolt of the Rem 710. I didn't think to argue. But lately we were shooting his Rem 700 with similar reloads, and dog gonnet that too was darn hard to chamber once in a while - this has always been on a round by round basis.

Question - Could this mean that the neck of the brass is too long due to being untrimmed, and is being forced too far into the throat of the rifle? And would this possibly result in excess pressures due to unusual constriction or even obstruction of the bullet?

Not only do I care greatly for the safety and accuracy of my own reloading, but dog gonnet these are my friends and if they're ignoring a vital safety related step in the reloading process I'd hate to just wait for an accident.

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #1 on:** November 03, 2005, 11:02:09 PM »

He might have not bumped the shoulder back enough and it's the long shoulder you're forcing against the chamber. What I'm wondering is why he is lubing his cases and then putting them into the tumbler.

Ian

BattleRifleG3 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 04, 2005, 12:43:19 AM »

Ok, I could be wrong on the order of lube and tumbler. I thought the shoulder was what was dimensioned in the resizer die?

George Foster · « **Reply #3 on:** November 04, 2005, 12:44:54 AM »

It would seem to me that they would have to lube before they resize or they are going to stick cases in the die. If they are only using a universal decapping die then they aren't resizing at all and they wouldn't have any tension on the bullet when they seat them. Yes it could be a too long case and it could be that the cases aren't sized enough to fit the individual chamber. I would think they are tumbling to remove the lube from the case though I just use lighter fluid on a paper towel for that purpose.

Questor · « **Reply #4 on:** November 04, 2005, 01:09:12 AM »

The lubricant needs to be applied before sizing. The original post said that lube is being applied after sizing. That would certainly account for stickiness. He's lucky that none of the cases have siezed in the die.

Lone Star · « **Reply #5 on:** November 04, 2005, 01:49:49 AM »

Quote

The original post said that lube is being applied after sizing.

And then he corrected himself. I think it is safe to assume that over the years they have been reloading they figured out to lube prior to sizing. :wink:

Why are the loaded cartridges hard to chamber?
* Cases are only neck sized, eventually growing too large to chamber.
* Insufficiently FL sized - improper sizing die adjustment/out-of-spec die.
* Case length too long, cases need to be trimmed. Potential for excessive pressures.
* Bullets seated out too long, contacting rifling.
* Overly-expanded brass base - diameter not reduced enough by standard dies - use Small Base dies.

jgalar · « **Reply #6 on:** November 04, 2005, 02:24:50 AM »

BattleRifleG3, you are a big boy, start reloading your own ammo. I don't trust shooting anyone's reloads except my own.

lefty o · « **Reply #7 on:** November 04, 2005, 06:19:10 AM »

either they are not resizing the cases enough, or they need to trim . brass that is too long coupled with a tight chamber will make it difficult to close the bolt, along with screwing with your accuracy.

ButlerFord45 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 04, 2005, 01:40:03 PM »

PRIMARY RULE NUMBER 1 FOR RELOADING:

Get at least one NEW reloading manual and READ it!!!

PRIMARY RULE NUMBER 2 FOR RELOADING:

Get another NEW manual and READ it!!

Reloading doesen't have to be rocket science (it can be if you want to take it that far) but it can be very unforgiving of improper procedures.

PRMARY RULE NUMBER 3 FOR RELOADING:

KNOW what you are going to do and WHY before you ever pull the handle on a press!!

Even if you have old experienced reloaders to help you along, don't do anything before reading the reloading manual.

If it seems that I'm harping on READING AT LEAST TWO RELOADING MANUALS, I am.

With the knowledge you get from READING TWO NEW RELOADING MANUALS, reloading can become a pleasing passtime and an means to an even more important end.........Shooting More!!

kombi1976 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 04, 2005, 03:32:10 PM »

I've been FL resizing my 8x57 cases for my k98 sporter and I find that while they chamber fine afterward I'm still left with a tiny little bulge just in front of the shoulder after resizing.
I'm wondering if the military chamber, which huge incidentally, is making it difficult for the dies to neck size properly.
Any ideas on why this is occuring?
I hope these aren't unsafe.
I'm always careful the loads are under max and that there are no splits.

cal sibley · « **Reply #10 on:** November 04, 2005, 08:21:08 PM »

More often than not a case that's hard to chamber after resizing indicates the shoulder is not being set back. Often the expander button will pull the shoulder out of position so it needs to be bumped back by the die. You can avoid a lot of heartache if right after resizing, you chamber an empty resized round to make sure the bolt will close on it. If your cases were too long to chamber you'd see the land and groove marks on the case neck. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

lefty o · « **Reply #11 on:** November 04, 2005, 10:12:47 PM »

you will not see land and groove marks on brass that is too long.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 05, 2005, 01:50:16 AM »

Quote from: kombi1976

I've been FL resizing my 8x57 cases for my k98 sporter and I find that while they chamber fine afterward I'm still left with a tiny little bulge just in front of the shoulder after resizing.
I'm wondering if the military chamber, which huge incidentally, is making it difficult for the dies to neck size properly.
Any ideas on why this is occuring?
I hope these aren't unsafe.
I'm always careful the loads are under max and that there are no splits.

To much lube.

scratcherky · « **Reply #13 on:** November 05, 2005, 01:53:42 AM »

Another rule for reloading should be: DO NOT SHOOT ANOTHER PERSONS RELOADS; SHOOT ONLY YOUR OWN RELOADS!

myronman3 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 05, 2005, 03:22:53 AM »

my dad was/ is my primary reloading mentor. i also have a secondary mentor, i have learned alot from both. these are the ONLY two people i would trust to shoot their reloads.

Lone Star · « **Reply #15 on:** November 05, 2005, 06:42:08 AM »

Quote

If your cases were too long to chamber you'd see the land and groove marks on the case neck.

Uh, no you won't. Because there is an unrifled section called the throat ahead of the chamber, you will not see any land and groove marks. Before that could happen the case would have to be forced past the chamber's neck cutout and through the throat. What you will see is a slight marking/crimping of the case mouth caused by the end of the chamber cutout.