.338 win mag

[bigcim]

I have a problem with not being able to close the a-bolt on my browning with a finished round. I'm using rcbs full sizing dies and cant figure out what it is. they are trimmed to length. Seated to the oal in my lymans manual. I even measured the diameter to a factory round and cant tell a difference.

Any suggestions

 

[floridaboy]

Check your bullet seating depth, and over-all length. You might have bullets being seated out too far.

 

[ReloaderFred]

If the bullet isn't coming into contact with the rifling, then the problem probably lies in the sizing of the case. You may not be setting the shoulder back enough. Try sizing an empty case and see if the bolt will close on it without a bullet. If it won't, then that's where you start looking for the interference. If it will, then start looking at the bullet seating and freebore.

Just try to eliminate one area at a time and you'll eventually find where it's binding.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[bigcim]

How would adjust that if the resizing die already touches the shell holder. I know its not the oal because its hard to open the action on even an empty case. Factory brass function fine
Thank you

 

[GooseGestapo]

Sounds like you are using brass fired in another gun, and, your dies are not reducing the outside diameter of the cases ahead of the belt/web sufficiently for your rifle. You have a tight chamber in your rifle, too.

Send a fired case from a factory-load along with your RCBS die back to RCBS with a letter stating your problem. They'll fix it for you by sending you a tighter (small base) die.

Or, you could possibly try another mfg. die such as a Lee. I've had this problem crop up from time to time with dies of other mfg. but not with the Lee's. Lee WILL send you a tighter dimension die if you need it. I think RCBS will too, if you return your present die along with a fired case for them to check.

RCBS has a toll-free number. Call them. They're good people.

 

[yongxingfreesty]

brass prob too big, i dont know much about rifles

 

[WmCC]

bigcim,

Obviously, I do not have your rifle and reloads on my bench; however, it is not unusual to have an issue such as you describe with belted mags (among a substantial # of chambers). A standard FL sizing die cannot size the case properly immediately above the belt. It simply can't get there. Anything over about .513 (case dia.) just above the belt may present problems in some chambers even after ONE FIRING.

I purchased a collet sizing die from Innovative Technologies which works beautifully. Here is your reference: www.larrywillis.com/. Read over the entire site carefully. Mr. Willis does return calls if you have a question. He's a sharp fellow.

Let us know how it works out.

 

[ReloaderFred]

bigcim,

You can adjust the sizing by milling off a few thousandths from the shellholder, which will allow the case to go that much further into the die. I've done this with other calibers and it's worked fine. As mentioned above, if the size die doesn't reduce the case enough for your chamber, then another die is called for.

With belted cases, you can't force the case into the die past the belt, but if the shellholder is too thick, and some are, then taking a little off the top will sometimes cure the problem. Shellholders are hardened, so you can't use a file on them. All you'll do is dull the file. I usually use my drill press and a rotary grinding wheel in an arbor and use the traveling drill press vise as a milling machine.

I don't recommend grinding the die at all, since shell holders are cheap and dies aren't.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[bigcim]

thanks guys that sounds like what it is because the bolt has trouble closing at the last 1/2''. Ill call rcbs and see if they'll send me a tighter die. Is a browning a-bolt a tight chamber?

 

[WmCC]

bigcim,

Unfortunately, if our discussion/analysis is correct, a small base die is not going to do any good. If you will read the site I referenced , and its subsections, it will both explain and show the (suspected)problem area. Fred and I are talking about a sizing problem within .030 of the top edge of the belt. We are not talking about the diameter of the case about .25" above the casehead' which is where virtually all FL sizing dies stop, including small base dies. Again, they have to stop there due to the belt which limits the travel of the case into the die. The collet die sizes the unsized area in the expansion ring area at a point below that reached with conventional FL dies.

I can't comment on your chamber. There are many factors which can result in brass growth in that unsized area immediately above the belt... Your chamber is probably OK and within specs. Browning and it's sub contractors/suppliers normally produce a fine product with excellent QC.

A good investment is the Wilson OAL gauge for belted mags available from Midway and elsewhere. Properly set and read it should immediately pinpoint the problem with your fired/sized brass. You can then extrapolate back to your brass, dies or chamber. If the chamber is suspect a gunsmith should be able to check it out. In the unlikely event of a chamber problem, I'm sure Browning will correct it.

Best of luck and keep us informed.

 

[WmCC]

bigcim,

Just a follow up...any luck with that fine A Bolt?

 

[bigcim]

no not yet

 

[bigcim]

I finally got sick of this problem after sending the die and brass back to RCBS two times with the same problem. So I went back to the place I bought the dies from to purchase a Redding dies set to see if I have the same problem. I told the clerk about the problem I was having with the other die and that I didn't know what I was going to do with it. He told me to bring it back and he would give me my money back. When I brought it back to him he told me no wonder you were having problems this is a small base sizing die. I don't really know why he thought the small base was the problem but I will be trying the new die tonight to see if I have the same problem

 

[bigcim]

Can some one explain why he would think this

 

[gipperdog]

A "small base sizing die" simply resizes brass to SAAMI standards. So what the clerk said doesn't make sense. Also, small base sizing dies are marked as such on the body of the die. I'm not sure what's causing your problem but sizing the brass certainly sounds like the problem. If factory ammo works fine, try measuring this unfired & fired with a micrometer just in front of the belt. Then measure the brass you've been having problems with. You might just find your problem there.