Got a new neck sizing die, having a hard time getting the rounds in the chamber?

[flinginairos]

I got a new neck sizing die for my 7mm08 after the last one was leaving the bullets loose in the casing. My buddy loaded up a box for me with the new die and they are nice and tight now but I am having a hard time getting the shells in the gun. I can get them in but I have to shut the gun hard to get it closed. It will cock just fine. When I go to eject the shell I have to push on the barrel rather hard to get the shell out. This is without firing, just pushing the ammo in and taking it out. It is also leaving a small mark on one side of the bullet like its hitting the chamber somewhere, there are no rifling marks that I can see. I would assume that if I can get it closed and the gun will cock that it is fine to shoot? These shells have only been fired once and I dont think the casing is the problem, I think the bullet is hitting for some reason. Any suggestions?

[sweetwyominghome]

Your case length and COAL could both be too long. Also, even though the brass has only been fired once, there's a good chance you may need to full or partially-full length size the brass.

How were you set up for headspace (i.e., did you remove the extractor and check things out)?

[Silvertp]

flinginairos

"I would assume that if I can get it closed and the gun will cock that it is fine to shoot? "

Not a good assumption.  If the bullet is into the lands' and causing the problem with the tight fit, the pressures could be increased significantly over the same load with the bullet seated off the lands. 

You probably already know this, but thought I should mention anyway.

Silvertp

[bilmac]

I doubt that the bullets being seated long would make the gun as hard to close as you describe. I think the cases are long caused by a high pressure load the first time you fired them. I see one of two solutions, either full length resize, or shoot a milder load. the once fired cases you have now will probably fit normally if you full length size them.

[flinginairos]

I doubt that the bullets being seated long would make the gun as hard to close as you describe. I think the cases are long caused by a high pressure load the first time you fired them. I see one of two solutions, either full length resize, or shoot a milder load. the once fired cases you have now will probably fit normally if you full length size them.

I never thought of it but the brass I used was from a box of hornady light mag rounds. So they probably did need FL sized. I shot them yesterday and they did alright. Group size was around 1 1/4-1 1/2. Not all of them loaded hard, I would say about 1/2 the box. The last time I measured the headspace it was dead on, right around the .001 mark. The barrel to frame gap is only .005.