New to hand loading.

[Nobeard]

Ok, I'm practically new to reloading and I am new to this forum.

I have a question or two about a batch of ammo that I reloaded. It seems that when I chamber the rounds in question, the bolt requires a little extra effort to close.

Here's the scoop:

So far, I've fired my first 50 handloads.  The first time around, I full length sized and trimmed all the brass.  No problems...

I just got one bag of brass when I began so I am now starting to reload my fired cases. 

The second time arount I full length sized the brass.  I measured it and the length of the brass was still within tolerance(within .006"). I decided not to trim the cases again.

I have the bullet seated about .024" off of the lands. 

My questions are:
Is the extra effort required to close the bolt just something that happens from time to time?  Closing the bolt is by no means hard.

Should I always trim the cases?

These rounds just have me a little unnerved. 

Thanks for the input.

[longwinters]

When I have had this situation it was either because my cartridges were too long or had a very tight chamber.  I am sure there are other reasons though.

Long

[Nobeard]

That was my first thought, but the rounds are .04" under the maximum length.

[Snowshoe]

You may not be re-sizing ALL the way. Try screwing your die down just a tad more. I load a couple of my rifles so that the bolt is just a little snug. That means the brass is not quite full length sized, and fits the chamber tight.

[KN]

Your not setting the shoulder back enough. As was said earlier, turn your sizing die in a little farther. Check a sized case in your chamber before continuing.   KN

[PA-Joe]

It would also help if we knew what rounds you were reloading. The WSMs have tight chambers and you must cam the shoulders back. This means turning the dies in so that you have a little pressure at the end of the press handle cycle (cam).

[VTDW]

Nobeard,

I am glad you posted this question.  You may have a short chamber which is causing your bullet's ogive to engage the rifling when you chamber and close the bolt.  This many or may not be cause for alarm.  I suggest you chamber an unloaded round with the bullet barely crimped and see if you can tell if the rifling shows marks on the bullet.  If so, you need to seat a bit deeper until you see no marks from the rifling.  When I do this I use steel wool and remove the marks, seat a bit deeper etc., until there are no marks on the bullet.

Dave

[tvc15]

How did you determine you were .024 off the lands? I have a very tight chamber in my .270. I bought a stoney point oal gauge and solved the problem. I also trim the brass back .005 smaller than the trim length. good luck.  TVC15

[Swamp Yankee]

I have to agree with VTDW. If the fired case came from the same rifle it should go back into that rifle. I neck size my bolt rifle cases and have never had a problem chambering fire formed brass. Try bringing a round back to factory overall legenth and chamber it, that should tell you if that is the problem. [my two cents]......Jim

[victorcharlie]

Try feeding an empty resized case with no bullet or primer and see how that fits......then try a case that's been fired in that rifle, but not resized........

Also, before you resize, see if a bullet will fit in the neck.....it should.....if it doesn't then the neck need to be turned as it's to thick......

[Nobeard]

Sorry guys, I am referrng to a 270 WSM.

Thanks for all the input.

I stopped in at Cabelas just yesterday and talked to one of the gentlemen working in the reloading department.  He agrees with KN, PA-Joe and Snowshoe.  He beleives that since the brass and cartridge are both under maximum length then I must not have the sizing die turned in quite enough.

As far as the determining how far off the lands I am, I took it straight out of the Nosler Reloading Guide.  Here is a link to the same instructions. Look to the bottom of the page.

http://www.nosler.com/faq.html