30-06 reloads hard to chamber

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Randy1911

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30-06 reloads hard to chamber (UPDATED)

I have just begun to start reloading for the '06. The rifle is a Rem. 700 ADL. The OAL of the loaded bullet is well under the max. The bullet is not touching the rifleing. Even a resized empty case is hard to close the bolt on. I have Hornady Custom Grade New Diamention dies. They are set so the sizer die hits the shellplate plus 1/4 turn. The brass is once-fired military mixed headstamped. It chambers factory ammo just fine.

I called Hornady today and all they could suggest was to send the die in and they would take a few thousandth off the bottom of the die. Any other suggestions?:confused:

EDIT: The bolt will close all the way, it is just hard to push down and lock.
 
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I will assume that factory loads chamber just fine. is that correct?

If so, have you checked to make sure that the brass is trimmed? If the brass itself is too long, it will have chambering issues.

If that's not it, you likely have a tight chamber. I had a Browning like that, and I had to use small-base dies to get reliable chambering from my handloads.
 
Could be the shellplate it to thick. Take measurements, it should measure the same as a shell holder. .125" IMG_2905DILL1.gif Measure like this.
 
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I will assume that factory loads chamber just fine. is that correct?

If so, have you checked to make sure that the brass is trimmed? If the brass itself is too long, it will have chambering issues.
Click to expand...

The factory ammo is no problem. I have trimmed all the brass to 2.484 which is the recommended "trim to length".
 
Make sure your not bulging the neck or shoulder area of the brass when/if crimping when seating the bullet.
The brass is once-fired military mixed headstamped.
Click to expand...
The web area may be expanded to much from being fired in the other rifle. Your rifle may have a tighter chamber. Dies do not size all the way to the extractor groove. Fire factory ammo, resize it, will it chamber?
 
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Make sure you not bulging the neck or shoulder area of the brass when/if crimping when seating the bullet
Click to expand...

The bullet has a crimp cannalure with a very light crimp. There was no bulge of any kind I could see or feel.
 
EDIT: The bolt will close all the way, it is just hard to push down and lock.
Click to expand...
On firing the military brass will expand to your chamber, it may fix you problem. Put some lube on the bolt lugs and shoot them is what i would do. See if they size better after firing. bolts.jpg
 
243 winxb

I use a light coating of RemOil on the lugs. Will that do?

On firing the military brass will expand to your chamber, it may fix you problem
Click to expand...

How do you get the bolt closed the first time? It is very hard to close the bolt completely.
 
Possibly not full-length resizing them enough? Got a headspace gauge?
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Not yet. I was planning on getting one this weekend at the gunshow. The problem is if they won't gage, what's wrong.
 
You need to get a head space cartridge gage. I had the same problem with my 1903. I couldn't close the bolt on my reloads. It wasn't until I got a gage and checked the cartridge that I found my dies needed to be adjusted. I am using the same set of dies as you. Let me guess-you are using a Lee Single Stage Press. Even after adjusting the die like Hornady recommended, I couldn't get the case to size correctly. Then I started noticing the shell holder was moving just a little bit-throwing off my sizing. I cranked the die down until the resized cartrige fit in the gage. I have no more problems and all my reloads chamber like factory. :)
 
The gage checks only 2 things. 1. Head to shoulder/datum line measurement. This tells you how much the shoulder is being pushed back. To much or to little. 2. Trim length. Good reading here> http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=1...nd_Maximum_COL
Click to expand...

Ah yes, but this is very important information to know. Without it he won't know how much he is sizing the case. Without measurements all we are doing is philosophizing.

if they won't gage, what's wrong.
Click to expand...

If the sized cases are too long, then you will need to increase the amount you are sizing them. If your die is already touching the shell holder, then material will need to be removed from the bottom of the die.
 
Let me guess-you are using a Lee Single Stage
Click to expand...

I am loading on a Hornady Lock-N-Load AP progressive.


If your die is already touching the shell holder, then material will need to be removed from the bottom of the die.
Click to expand...

This is what Hornady told me if I couldn't get it to work. They said they could do it for me.

I went to a reloading supplies house tonight and bought some new factory Wichester brass to see if that makes a difference. I'll report back later.
 
I just loaded 50 rounds of new Winchester brass. I ran them thur my sizer die to make sure they were round. They measured 2.485. They all chambered just like the factory rounds. Tomorrow I will go and shoot them and see how they reload after firing.

Could it be that the military brass is "springing back" after resizing? That is the only thing I can think of. I will try the local gun shops and see if they have a case gage.
 
This sounds like a clear case of the case neck/shoulder not being pushed back far enough to me.

I've had this issue and I bring my rifle of concern to my bench when I first set the dies to be sure an empty case properly loads without having to wrench the bolt down. Then I proceed as usual.

Measuring case length is no help when the shoulder is still proud and seating before anything else.

Hope this helps,

jeepmor
 
I have a friend who just bought a new Howa 223 varminter that will not chamber some new brass.
The new brass out of the bag must be measured with a micrometer to see if the base is less than .375".
It would seem that the factory got their reamer sharpened but the new guy, and it is .002" too small.

What does it all mean?
Usually things are my fault, but sometimes not.
 
Could it be that the military brass is "springing back" after resizing? That is the only thing I can think of. I will try the local gun shops and see if they have a case gage.
Click to expand...

No doubt, that is what is happening. Do yourself a favor and buy an RCBS Precision Mic gage, so as to be able to properly adjust your FL resizing die. Installing dies by going 1/4 turn past the shellplate or case holder tells you nothing about your resulting case headspace dimensions.

Don
 
Shell Plate Adjustment.

If your Hornady Lock-N-Load AP progressive is like my old Dillon, try this. Turn the bold in the center of the shell plate down/in till plate can not rotate. Now , back bolt out just enough for plate to turn. This will give you minimum clearance between the rams platform and the shell plate. Hopefully this will let you push the brass shoulder back a tiny bit more when full length resizing. Maybe read the instructions again or ask Walkalong :D http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/manuals-current/metalic-reloading/LNL_AP.pdf :)
 
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I got a case gage today. All the shells that won't chamber fit the gage perfectly. Now what? Like I said earlier, factory ammo is fine.
 
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