Bolt hard to shut

[zahc]

I recently got into reloading, and people told me that for the most part, buying the Lee collet neck sizer die should be fine, since for bolt actions full-length resizing is not necessary. However we've loaded a hundred rounds or so now, and noticed that sometimes the bolt is hard to shut, giving anything from slight resistance to refusing to shut.

Is this dangerous, and/or does it just mean we need to buy a full-length sizer die? If so, how often should we use it, just use it every time and forget the neck sizer? This is happening sometimes with once-fired brass.

 

[DUCKNDAWG]

is the brass your loading been shot in that gun? if not then yes you need to full length size the brass. did you trim the brass to length?

 

[Cypress]

Are you using the brass in the same rifle it was originally fired in? If not, that is likely the problem. Another problem may be that the chamber is not perfectly round and is sweeling the brass on one side more than another. Even when used in the same rifle, eventually neck sized brass will need the shoulder bumped back with a FL die. When.... Depends on the brass.

 

[Shoney]

Sounds like a classic situation of the brass stretching. Measure the brass and trim if it is beyond the max trim length.

 

[ranger335v]

"... people told me that for the most part, buying the Lee collet neck sizer die should be fine, since for bolt actions full-length resizing is not necessary."

For the most part, people are right. What you have encountered is the other part, the need to FL size cases from time to time. Each firing sort of hammers the brass out a little more until they won't fit the chamber any more. I doubt you need to trim those neck sized only cases but you almost certainly need to set the shoulder back a few thousanths with a Full Length sizer die.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Instead of listening to other people don't you think it's time you bought a loading manual and read it? Your cases need to be trimmed or the shoulder needs to be set back...They are too long...One should reload the old fashioned way with a full length resizing/decapping die. Once you have mastered the basics then move up to advance reloading...

 

[nambu1]

I had this problem with my 243, it was corrected by trimming the brass to specs.

 

[BAT1]

I encountered that reloading for my .308 bolt gun. I tried to neck size with my full length sizer but ended up sizing 3/4 of the shell. Results were a tight bolt, sometimes so tight I had to fire to release the bolt. Go back and pull the loads, [ a small bartenders mix cup helps] and full length resize them. Full length resizing will cure it. Be sure to use the calipers to measure the case again, trimming if necessary. Then charge again. good groups.

 

[.38 Special]

FWIW, you probably have either cases that are too long from base to mouth, or cases that are too long from base to shoulder.

If the latter, you are at least safe, even if you have to force the bolt closed. If the former, you are flirting with disaster, as forcing the bolt closed can crimp the case mouth very tightly into the bullet and pressures can skyrocket.

 

[Griz44]

If it don't fit - don't force it!

Good advice from my Grandpa more than 50 years ago. Still makes good sense.
Get out the calipers and start measuring. Compare to spec, something is WRONG. Then pull them and find fix the problem. It's not worth an eye and/or a hand to find out the hard way. Above all else, be safe.

 

[243winxb]

bolt actions full-length resizing is not necessary.

Soon or later you must FLRS.

does it just mean we need to buy a full-length sizer die?

Yes, you need to buy a Full lenght sizing die.

how often should we use it

If your loading near maximum loads you will need to FLRS ever time. Very light loads about every 3 firings.

Is this dangerous

No, your ammo will just not chamber in your firearm.

 

[zahc]

The cases are trimmed to the proper OAL with a lee case trimmer. Apparently it's the base-to-shoulder length that is too long in this case (ahem). Thanks for the infos.

 

[hms365]

I had the same problem when I started reloading for rifle. Unlike the pistol brass where the resize dies don't touch the shellholder - with rifle, you set the dies to touch the shellholder + ~1/16th of a turn. Without that little extra bump, the shoulder wasn't right. I had to redo about 300 rounds of brass I thought I prepared correctly.

An easy way to check is to "paint" the brass with a magic marker, chamber it, and see waer the marker was rubbed off. With mine, it was a ring around the shoulder.