What causes difficult bolt closing on reloads?

[REL1203]

Didnt see it mentioned, but could also be your primer is sticking out further than it should. I had 1 out of 200 223s not close in my bolt gun cause the primer was just a litlte further out then it should have been and i couldnt close the bolt without forcing it (which I didnt do). A case guage is the answer to find out for sure

 

[918v]

In recent cases, .243 Win, .308 Win and .270 Win. I am making sure the entire case is making it in and out of the sizer die. Sometimes it seems that it is really hard to close down the bolt handle on these reloads. Other times, not so much. I am wondering if it is changes in temp, etc. like shooting on a hot day, the brass swells. I'm sure it also has to affect accuracy when you really have to cinch down to close the bolt.
Can anyone explain this?

Your case indexes off the shoulder. Your die bumps the shoulder back. Your expander ball pulls your shoulder forward. You should lube the inside of your necks or get a more sophisticated die.

 

[918v]

Didnt see it mentioned, but could also be your primer is sticking out further than it should. I had 1 out of 200 223s not close in my bolt gun cause the primer was just a litlte further out then it should have been and i couldnt close the bolt without forcing it (which I didnt do). A case guage is the answer to find out for sure

No, primers don't present enough surface for the bolt face to drag against. I can seat a primer half way into the primer pocket and close the bolt with ease.

 

[REL1203]

No, primers don't present enough surface for the bolt face to drag against. I can seat a primer half way into the primer pocket and close the bolt with ease.

I sure couldnt cause of a very high primer, so i know it can happen

 

[918v]

Lemme repeat:

I can partially seat a primer in a case, with more than half of it sticking out of the case, and close the bolt with ease.

 

[USSR]

I can partially seat a primer in a case, with more than half of it sticking out of the case, and close the bolt with ease.

Yep, any boltgun has enough camming power to fully seat a partially seated primer.

Don

 

[wethepeople2nd]

Thank you

If you help new reloaders like me and the op, please reach your right arm across your chest and reach over your left shoulder and pat..... I wish I could personally thank all of the "old timers" that post on this site.
A little story; I am a new rifle reloader this year. Started with .223. Had a primer problem that the guys on this site nailed. (Thanks again). Loaded several thousand rounds and shot most of them with no problems. Thought I would branch out and try my hand at 30.06, 9mm .45 .243... Loaded a few "proof" loads for my Rem Model 700 30.06. Took them to the range yesterday and guess what? Couldn't close the bolt. Weird COL was right... hmmm. Case length was right, double hmm....
Went on this site last night, the same day I had this problem and searched "couldnt close bolt". This posting came up and I read through it last night. Stewed on it most of the day at work today. Re-read it tonight and went to my bench. I re-adjusted my fl sizing die to the specs talked about above. I tested the unloaded shells in the rifle chamber. Most were tight so I relubed and resized. Retested the brass in the chamber and VIOLA!
Fits perfect.
Here is a hint for those of you new to reloading. Read all you can, ask questions, and learn.
Thank you again,
Tim

 

[thomis]

This will affect accuracy, correct? I mean the bolt closing tight?

 

[USSR]

This will affect accuracy, correct? I mean the bolt closing tight?

More a question of longer case life.

Don

 

[thomis]

One more question, if I lube the inside of my necks, do I need to remove this lube before I charge the case? And how do I do that?

 

[918v]

It is OK for the bolt to close tight, but not too tight. You don't wanna gall the bolt lugs.

You can remove the lube from the case necks with a solvent on a q-tip and then tumbling the cases again. My new thing is to clean the necks with a nylon brush covered in wet comet. That removes carbon down to the bare brass. I then rinse out the case with water and throw it in the tumbler.