.308 reloads sticking?

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ginnz

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Hi guys,

I need some help here.... I just started reloading for my .308 (Savage Model 12, 26" heavy stainless fluted). And my first rounds i did, some of them won't eject after firing. I have to use a rod to push 'em out. I had this issue with my .223 when i first started reloading, but i sorted it out right away, as i wasn't re-sizing properly.

I'm using the LEE RGB die's, and when i re-size, i screw them down flush with the case holder, as instructed. I have no issue re-sizing them (sticking in the die). And not every one sticks, I'd say one out of three, or so. All my .308 brass is Winchester, and once fired, some twice. (in my mossberg ATR-100). Can anyone suggest a cure, or a reason for this? I measured them up after my last range session with my micrometer, and their basically all the same! Is there something i can adjust on my sizing die, that will insure this doesnt happen?

I ordered a new extractor and ball from Jerry at Mystic Precision last week.... maybe that'll help.

any advice appreciated!

Ginnz.
 
If the brass is less than 2.015 inches in length, there should not be an issue there....but please check anyway.....Next, cartridge overall length---stay within factory specs here.....I would say 2.77 inches for spitzer bullets as a general rule of thumb to start out...

You did not say you were having any issues "chambering" the cartridges, only trying to extract them......and that leads me to believe you are having pressure issues.......as the previous poster stated, a list of the components used and what powder charge you are using will go a long way to shed some light on what is wrong......

rojogrande
 
Oh, yeah! sorry guys, i should have given you all the info! my loads were as follows. 45 gr Varget/155 gr A-max/COAL 2.800. My trimmed brass length is 2.010. I made a dozen or so like this, and a dozen or so with 45.5 gr Varget. And then a bunch with the same powder specs using 168 gr A-max. I'm using factory Winchester brass (150 gn Power Max Bonded-i bought 5 box's originally). I'm using Federal 210 large rifle primers.

I noticed a few seemed a bit tight chambering them, then i tried the factory Power Bond ammo, and they were the same, so overall, tyhe rifle is pretty tight. The bolt closes fine on all of them.
 
So your saying even factory loads stick in the chamber after you fire them?

If so clean your chamber well with a brush and solvent first before you do anything drastic and check fired brass for scratches incase your chamber has a rough spot.

I have loaded hotter then that in a couple .308's with no issue but every rifle is different and all my loads were worked up from around 42gr
 
I think your just pushing it a bit too hard... I would drop 2 grains and see what happens...

I get sticky cases about 1gr under max with one particular rifle but I also get the published velocity with that 1gr less.
 
ginnz said:
No, the factory loads dont stick at all... what i meant is they close kinda tight. they eject fine. And not all my reloads stick, just the odd one.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you may have a minimum spec sized chamber. These chambers are usually a shooters dream.

If this is the case, you will need a set of small base dies to size the cases small enough to chamber/eject smoothly in your rifle.

You might want to check your case length and shoulder length. As the brass is reloaded and fired it will eventually work harden.

This may cause extended shoulders and extra long necks, from stretching.

Are the case butts marked with shiney marks from turning the bolt??? If so, you are more than likely loading to hot for your rifle. Just because someone else can get away with a hotter load, doesn't mean your rifle will allow you to get away with it.
 
bearhunter said:
It sounds like you may have a minimum spec sized chamber. These chambers are usually a shooters dream.

If this is the case, you will need a set of small base dies to size the cases small enough to chamber/eject smoothly in your rifle.

You might want to check your case length and shoulder length. As the brass is reloaded and fired it will eventually work harden.

This may cause extended shoulders and extra long necks, from stretching.

Are the case butts marked with shiney marks from turning the bolt??? If so, you are more than likely loading to hot for your rifle. Just because someone else can get away with a hotter load, doesn't mean your rifle will allow you to get away with it.
Click to expand...

well, i don't see any marks on the case's...And regarding the small base die's, what would you suggest? What are they? Does Lee make such? I'll reload a couple dozen this week, and drop down the charge a bit, something like 43.5 and go up from there.... I'll see what happens.

Thanks for now,

Ginnz
 
45.5grain of Varget under a 155gr bullet in .308 is not a heavy load unless the bullet's ogive is too close to the lands or the neck has stretched out into the chamber throat and is giving some bullet pinch. Based on the stated COAL it seems unlikely there is a bullet jump issue; I'd recommend using a shouldered case gauge to check the neck length. If both the bullet jump distance is reasonable and the neck isn't too long then overpressure with that load is unlikely to be the problem.

edited 45grain to 45.5grain
 
Well, I'm using a Lee case trimmer. there all trimmed exactly the same. All the brass for my 308 is once fired as well. I initially bought 5 box's of Winchester 150 gr power max, and thats the brass im using. And as far as COAL goes, I find that the Lee RGB die never seats the bullets exactly the same, and i'm a stickler as far as tolerance goes, so i measure each bullet as i go along and make tiny adjustments if needed as i go along.... For example, i try and set the seating die up so i end up with a COAL of 2.800, and if i manage to do one like that, the next one will be almost never be exactly that, it'll be 2.810 or something like that, so i'll bump it down till its 2.800.... all of my bullets end up between 2.795 and 2.800, they NEVER exceed 2.800. I use my digital caliper on each one....

ginnz.
zuke said:
Are you sure you completely sized the case's and followed the set up instruction's?
All your case's trimmed to minimum?
Click to expand...
 
if the cases feed ok, you are way too hot in your loads. unload the remainder and start lower. I wold drop down to minimum spec and work up to find an accuracy node. Drop is easy to account for, but worn out barrels can't

by the way, COAL is a completely useless measurement for anything except whether they will fit in a magazine. buy a bullet comparitor for your calipers and measure off the ogive.
 
It's not the Lee die that is causing the bullets to not seat to the same over all length. It's that the ogive (first part of bullet large enough around to touch the rifling) is not in the same spot on every bullet. Normal dies seat the bullet but pushing on the ogive or close to is as opposed to the end of the bullet. This is ok because it puts the ogive in the same spot on every round. If you re-adjust the die each shell it will not be in the same place or consistent. I would compare this to 5 people all being the same hieght but their shoulder levels are all slightly different.

If a die seated by the end of the bullet they would all be the same overall length (and there are dies like this) but I believe even the competition seaters offered by most brands seat by the ogvie like your Lee RGB die.

Lee does not make small base dies. RCBS does, but I think they are only needed in a few cases and people recommend them for problems related to other issues most of the time.

The instructions for sizing dies in Lee's RGB die set for Lee presses say rais ram all the way and screw die in until it touches shellholder. Lower ram and screw die in 1/4-1/3 turn more. Then size lubed cases with a full stroke of press ram.
 
Thanks for all the advice guys. In the mailbox was my new extractor and ball. I installed that right away... I loaded 5 rounds with 43 gr Varget, and today it was finally dry enough to head out to the range. First off i shot the new loads with 43 gr, they all shot a bit low, and grouped fairly well, it was super windy, and i didn't even bother to use bags, just a bi-pod and one bag for the rear of the stock. Anyways, they all ejected fine.

Then i loaded up with the 46 gr loads, they grouped super fine, and all ejected fine as well. it looks like a new ejector did the job. I shot 5 rounds with the 46 gr, and there 3 holes touching.... nice, the other two went through the same hole. 46 grains with the 155 gr A-Max is the load i'll be setting my ART II M-1000 scope around. Hopefully sunday is windless, so i can set up targets at 250m/300m/m350/400m.... on and on till 800m, and dial this M-1000 in! looks like i'll load up a wack more of the 46 gr loads !!

Thanks again guys, i appreciate all the reply's.

Ginnz.
 
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