Author Topic: chamber problem? (Read 427 times)

**oneshot** · « **on:** November 27, 2004, 01:50:57 PM »

I own an Encore 308. The problem I'm having is after my case is fired it will only fit back in the chamber if I line it up the way it was shot. I thought I had a brass problem because my reloads started separating at the bases, I switched brass. I thought I was overworking the brass in the full sizer so I bought a neck sizer. The neck sized cases wouldn't fit in the chamber most of the time. Thought, trim the case but the cases were fine on the micrometer. While I was out shooting the other day I shot a new case and noticed I loaded it with one of the letters in the 12 o'clock position. I pulled the case out and tried to reload it into the chamber. It would only close up if I put the letter in the same position. I'm not shooting hot loads or seeing any signs of pressure problems other than the cases not fitting back in. The load I'm shooting is 43.5grs H4895 with 150gr hornady heads. I've shot IMR3031 with 150grheads and Varget over 150gr heads and all have the same result with the brass.

Possum · « **Reply #1 on:** November 27, 2004, 03:31:59 PM »

Not a betting man, but if I were, I would say TC will tell you to send the barrel back and they will replace it. Sounds kind of like a chamber alignment problem. Must be kind of bad if you can only put the fired case back in the same postion it came out. Maybe someone with some gunsmithing experience will comment on this.

They are really good at fixing manufacturing error. I have a 30.06 barrel that the base mounting holes were drilled off-center. They told me to send it back and they would send me a new barrel. Waiting till deer season is over to do it.

Steve P · « **Reply #2 on:** November 27, 2004, 04:48:23 PM »

Reality of a lot of Thompson factory barrels. Fired cases only fit in one way. Lots of the silhouette shooters got used to these barrels. They got a neck sizer, sharpie marker and created what they called "indexing". Put the brass into the chamber with a certain number, letter, etc at 12 o'clock. Shoot it this way, put a sharpie mark on the side of the brass and run the brass "indexed" into the neck sizer die. Shoot it nexted time in the indexed position. Shot some great groups that way. Ok for silhouette shooting. Not particularly helpful for a hunting gun, unless hunting prairie dogs where time was not a factor in reloading. Thompson or a smith can fix this for you with a finish reamer. Want a good alignment, send the barrel to Mike Bellm.

Steve

Duffy · « **Reply #3 on:** November 27, 2004, 06:05:54 PM »

My 708 is the same way, but maybe not as severe. It will close on a fired case but you can tell it's tight. I have to use my FL sizer die but have it backed out to just barely touch the shoulder. It's more to size the body than anything else but that makes the case longer so a slight bump on the shoulder is needed also. My first bbl was worse and off center, this ones better but not perfect, but it shoots pretty good.