Author Topic: Hard chambering  (Read 821 times)

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Offline kix

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Hard chambering
« on: December 25, 2008, 04:43:21 AM »
  Hello all. I recently had a Rem. 700 re-barreled with a 6mm barrel off a Rem. 600 Mohawk. I just got it in yesterday, haven't shot it but I've noticed my reloads chamber hard, as in the bolt closes hard. I full-length re-size and am no stranger to reloading-since 1981 and I've never had this experience. I can drop a "fired" case in (not resized) and the bolt closes normally, like I'm used to. So my first thought was the oal. length of the cartridge was excessive so I seated the bullet deeper and deeper trying to figure out the problem but to no avail-same hard bolt closure. I might add a reputable smith did the work. So is this a head-space problem? Thanks for your help

Offline jhm

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Re: Hard chambering
« Reply #1 on: December 25, 2008, 05:10:51 AM »
You might try setting your die down a little your shoulder might be hitting and lube the inside of the brass also as the sizing ball could be dragging and stretching the brass lengthwise.   Jim

Offline trotterlg

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Re: Hard chambering
« Reply #2 on: December 25, 2008, 06:15:24 AM »
First try chambering a sized only piece of brass, that will rule out the bullet being too far out or the neck size being too large when the bullet is loaded in the brass.  If the brass chambers OK then it could be the neck size of the chamber, it it does not then it is probably the sholder not being pushed back far enough.  Larry
A gun is just like a parachute, if you ever really need one, nothing else will do.

Offline John Traveler

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Re: Hard chambering
« Reply #3 on: December 25, 2008, 06:26:38 AM »
Before you start thinking about possible headspace problems, check your fired and full-length resized case length.  Excessively long cases can give hard chambering too.

The Remington Mohawk 600 had a short action and magazine box, as I recall.  Maybe the chamber throat is short as well?
John Traveler

Offline Dave in WV

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Re: Hard chambering
« Reply #4 on: December 25, 2008, 12:58:44 PM »
My first thought is you need to trim your brass after it's resized.
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Offline kix

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Re: Hard chambering
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2008, 03:52:25 AM »
  Hello all and thanks for your replies; I never thought of the cases being too long (although I usually check after re-sizing) so just about 5 minutes ago I rechecked the oal. and everything seems to be within specs. By the way, I have shot the rifle and ejection is perfectly normal, easy as pie. As far as the other suggestions I just haven't sat down to reload as deer season is still going strong here in S.Texas. Thanks again.  Kix

Offline WILDCATT

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Re: Hard chambering
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2009, 08:23:08 AM »
did not you say the empty fits.try expanding the case as you would to reload,try it.if it goes them the bullet is the problem,its either expanding the case or its hitting ont he lead.

Offline epanzella

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Re: Hard chambering
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2009, 11:09:43 AM »
You stated you full length size which says to me your sizing die is already tight against the shell holder. If this is correct it sounds like the headspace on your sizing die is more than the headspace in your chamber. Which is wrong? Only a headspace measuring fixture or a "GO" gage will tell you. Of course fired rounds are fine as they are fireformed to your chamber and will fit perfectly wether the chamber is right or wrong. As far as the neck diameter is concerned, I don't believe this is the problem. You stated the bolt closes hard. By the time the bolt even gets to it's mating recesses in the reciever, you have already pushed the cartridge neck about 1/4 inch into the chamber's neck. If the fit were too tite you wouldn't get the opportunity to close the bolt at all. As far as bullet seating depth is concerned, the bolt would merely push the bullet into the case without much effort and the bullet would likely remain in the rifling upon extraction. Brass OAL could cause this if it was running into the throat but you said you checked it. I would chamber a factory round as this would be the quickest way to see if the chamber's short. If it's short and you don't want to bother sending the rifle back (probably the best course of action) you could have a machine shop surface grind .005 inch off your shell holder to shorten your die headspace. Then you can use feeler gages to raise the sizing die as required to get the length perfect. This would solve your immediate issue but resale might be a problem with a non-standard chamber.
Ed Panzella

Offline gunnut69

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Re: Hard chambering
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2009, 12:32:06 PM »
May ne a maximum tolerance sized die and a minimum tolerance chamber... It's also possible to bulge a case if crimping the bullets and the cases are too long or the bullte has no canelure(sp.).
the bulge will be massaged away by the pressure generated in firing the round..
gunnut69--
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