After reloading thousands of rounds of various rifle and pistol cartridges, I am having a problem loading for a .22-250 which I recently acquired. I had no problems loading the new WW brass the first time through (after brass prep and full length re-sizing) but as I'm approaching my third reload of the cases they are getting progressively harder to chamber. I length trim each time and the case neck OD is the same as unfired brass so the problem does not lie there. A sized but unloaded shell has this chambering problem so this eliminates OAL as a factor. It seems like the shoulder is making contact before it should. Any help/suggestions appreciated.TIA.
.22-250 chambering problems
- Thread starter Ruger No.1
- Start date
I would suggest that you have a thou or 2 taken off either the bottom of the die or the top of the shell holder. Sounds like the cases are not getting sized quite enough. A buddy had the same problem with his 22-250, I did not ask him how he remedied it though.
If you know someone with a different 22-250 die set, ask to run a few cases through and see if it's maybe your die before grinding any metal off, then again, shell holders are cheap.
If you know someone with a different 22-250 die set, ask to run a few cases through and see if it's maybe your die before grinding any metal off, then again, shell holders are cheap.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
Could your FL die be out of adjustment ? try turning it down a little ?
I have triple checked the die adjustment and have it set as low as possible.
The shoulder does appear to be different from the unfired brass - almost like it doesn't have the same sharp angle (but not really bulged) as unfired but it looks like it has not been "pushed back " by sizing.
The shoulder does appear to be different from the unfired brass - almost like it doesn't have the same sharp angle (but not really bulged) as unfired but it looks like it has not been "pushed back " by sizing.
Thanks all for your suggestions but I just went to the RCBS website and my problem is the first one listed in their FAQ section. Seems like the die may need to be adjusted so that it better matches my chamber (probably what grinding down the shell holder accomplishes). I confirmed this with a call to their technical help line so I now need to return the die with 5 fired but unsized cases so they can take measurements and make adjustments to the die. I'm posting this in case anyone else comes across this problem.
Thanks again for your help and suggestions as I wanted to make sure it wasn't just something I was doing wrong that had an easy fix
Thanks again for your help and suggestions as I wanted to make sure it wasn't just something I was doing wrong that had an easy fix
They'll likely just ream the die a bit more to match your chamber to the fire formed brass you send them. I'm sure they would of done it for me too but I'd rather grind a shell holder down and keep going then wait for them to fix it and send it back. I'm glad their able to help though.
I had a custom 22-250 with the same issue, could not size a fired case quite enough to chamber even with a firm "bump up." Chucked the sizing die in the valve facer and removed .005" from the bottom of the die...voila! All fixed. Regards, Eagleye.
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
I had exactly the same problem,but I had more than one shellholder that were numbered the same. I measured each one and the smallest one resized the cases enough to chamber properly.
If you only have one shellholder,then I have had good luck with grinding down the shellholder by about 5 thou. I keep the shaved shellholder handy in case it's needed again for another stubborn caliber that uses the same shellholder.
If you only have one shellholder,then I have had good luck with grinding down the shellholder by about 5 thou. I keep the shaved shellholder handy in case it's needed again for another stubborn caliber that uses the same shellholder.
One thing worth checking is to have a look at the top of the ram with a case in the die and the ram all the way up. If there is any clearance between the die and the top of the shellholder, the die has to be turn in a bit further. If there is no clearance, the shellholder or the die has to be shortened.
Generally speaking, the die manufacturers have deliberately made dies so that it is impossible to produce a cartridge below minimum specs. If the die is made short enough to allow the shoulder to be bumped back too far, you can be sure some fool would do so then complain because the die was faulty. The reality is this; if the reloader is capable of setting the die up correctly, it doesn't matter if the die is too short. That's why it has threads and a lock nut; so you can set it where it has to be.
Redding makes shellholders of different thicknesses. This is a product made to correct a problem which should not exist and would not exist were it not for the ineptitude of many reloaders.
I can't see any point in spending a bunch of money to send RCBS some fired cases and the dies when the solution is as close as the nearest grinder. Regards, Bill.
Generally speaking, the die manufacturers have deliberately made dies so that it is impossible to produce a cartridge below minimum specs. If the die is made short enough to allow the shoulder to be bumped back too far, you can be sure some fool would do so then complain because the die was faulty. The reality is this; if the reloader is capable of setting the die up correctly, it doesn't matter if the die is too short. That's why it has threads and a lock nut; so you can set it where it has to be.
Redding makes shellholders of different thicknesses. This is a product made to correct a problem which should not exist and would not exist were it not for the ineptitude of many reloaders.
I can't see any point in spending a bunch of money to send RCBS some fired cases and the dies when the solution is as close as the nearest grinder. Regards, Bill.
