SCAR 17 Help

[Wilburt]

Back again for some help. So I just started cooking up some loads for my new 17. I had some components in house so this is my load:

M80 147 GR FMJBT
2.78 OAL
Mixed brass, trimmed to 2.007
43 grs IMR4895 (higher charge based on suggestions for my fal last time I was here)
Small Base RCBS X-Die Sizer (only 308 sizing die I have)
Rem 9 1/2 Primers
NO crimp

Problem: sometimes the round will stick in the chamber when trying to unload. Meaning am clearing the SCAR and hand cycle to eject the round and it takes a lot of force. It doesn't always happen, just sometimes.

So I went home and made a batch (8) of dummy rounds. 7 hand cycled fine and one did not. My first thought was that the bullet was seated too far out. Someone suggested this to me at the range. So I started seating the bullet deeper. At 2.50, it was better, but still stuck a tiny bit. This lead me to believe it was not at all related to OAL. I then took my sizing die and completely reset it. Screwed it all the way down, then 1/4 turn more to remove linkage. After resizing, still the same problem.

I'll confess that most of my reloading has been pistol and a little of 308. I like to shoot and reload for that, not the other way around. I do remember have the same problem loading 308 for my FAL, but never really investigated back then. Don't have a case gage...

Could my sizer be out of spec? Any thoughts?

P.S. Good to see Walkalong is now a MOD.

 

[Wilburt]

Wanted to add that I removed the mandrel that does the de-prime and X-portion. I've read that if it is screwed down too far it can make the cases hard to chamber. So it doesn't appear to be that either. However, after repeated re-sizings, it seems to go away.

 

[MikeOBWan]

Any extraction problems I have had with Semi-Auto Rifles has been because I pushed the neck back while seating the bullet. Make absolutely sure that your seating die is not touching the case neck when fully pressed..

I have a 17 also and I've not had any problems with my reloads at all. The gun if extremely forgiving.

By chance does the brass match on any of the ones that stuck (same brand).

Also remember that the brass will not last long on a semi-auto. My understanding is your lucky if you get 5 reloads out of a piece of brass.

43 grains looks to be right around high middle as far a charge goes.. I assume there are no pressure signs. Also check for swelling around the base of the brass.

Love this gun.. It is the greatest gun EVAR...

Thanks
Mike

 

[rcmodel]

+1 on whether or not it is always the same brand of brass.

It may be one brand is harder then the others and isn't getting the shoulder pushed back far enough.

You might want to invest in a L.E. Wilson case gage.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/880646/le-wilson-case-length-headspace-gage-308-winchester

They solve a lot of problems before they start with semi-autos.
You can check headspace on every round at the reloading bench before they get stuck in the rifle at the range.

rc

 

[Wilburt]

Thanks, I'll try picking up a case gage and checking my seating die. I'm so busy these days throughout the week or I would have posted sooner.