encore barrell sticking

[trophyhunter]

when i shoot my encore pistol with 308 military ammo the barrel sticks  and dont open easily reloads and factory ammo are fine also with my 454 casull barrel it sticks with factory ammo any particular reason

[Luckyducker]

I bought a new H&R Handi-rifle in 22/250Rem that was fine for it's maiden voyage, but the next time I shot it the action locked up after the third shot (always shot handloads).     When this occured my mind logically went to temp. sensitivity but I knew that didn't wash as it was a lot colder when it locked up than the when I shot the exact same load the first time.   I tried reducing the load but it just happened after a few more shots.   I don't know what causes this.   If it hadn't happened to me I would swear is caused by too high of chamber pressure, but now I will say it very well might be something else entirely.    I traded the H&R off on an Encore in 204Ruger and haven't looked back until reading your post.   I have heard that factory loaded 454Casull ammo is loaded very hot and maybe the chamber dimensions in your barrel are conservative  to the point that excessive pressure is the culprit.   You could try some Buffalo Bore 45Colt ammo in the 454 and see if it still sticks the action.   Hope you can figure it out and sorry I couldn't be more help.

[epanzella]

when i shoot my encore pistol with 308 military ammo the barrel sticks  and dont open easily reloads and factory ammo are fine also with my 454 casull barrel it sticks with factory ammo any particular reason

Check the primer in your fired cases. If it looks smeared it probably flowed into the firing pin hole, locking the action untill opening it forcefully sheared off the projection. The other possibilty is your firing pin not retracting due to a gunked or broken return spring. Check the end of the firing pin to see if it looks damaged. It should have a nice smooth radiused end with no rough spots. Good luck.

[Grumulkin]

If it's hard to open the action and extraction is sticky, the pressure is too high.  A tiny bit sticky to open might be OK.  If the action is hard to open or extraction is very sticky, do not shoot that ammo in that barrel any longer.  It is entirely possible to have excess pressure in a barrel with the same load that gave very conservative pressures in another gun or Encore barrel.

Rumor, which I believe to be true, has it that some military ammo is loaded to higher pressure than most commercial ammo.  I have also noted sticky extraction with some military ammo when shot in Encores.

[Awger]

7.62 NATO is not the same as .308 Winchester (mini FAQ). They are esessentially interchangeable, but they are different, and rated to different pressures (.308 being higher).

Nota Bene: same case with its little brother, as 5.56 NATO != .223 Remington (but the NATO spec is higher pressure).

This doesn't necessarily mean that you don't have a pressure problem (to wit: the CBC caution in the mini FAQ); if that's the case it should be pretty obvious (mashed primers) and you can verify by firing a string and then removing the firing pin to see if it's any easier to open, but I'm with Grumulkin -- shoot what works and don't worry about it.

[Grumulkin]

Military primers are quite a bit harder than primers used in civilian loads and won't necessarily be mashed with high pressure.

[trophyhunter]

when it locks open the 308 with the military the gun opens half way then sticks the factory no problems at all.  in the 454 it stcks completly closed and you got to pull the barrel down not to hard but more then i thought you should have to.  the are both 15 inch.  Inormally shoot as a rifle and had no problems so now with the pistol i dont know if it is a major issue or not. and thaks for thew info so far