cant chamber once fired brass

N

neotekz

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
15   0   1
i just got a neck sizing die for my stevens .308 and having some problems with the once fired brass for this gun. im sure that all the brass i used had been fired from this gun. im using hornady 165gr interlock. the brass chambers fine without the bullet but as i found out yesterday after making 50 rounds that half of them wont chamber. this one got me stumped, can you guys help me out?
 
no lands on the bullet, i tried shorter OAL on some of the brass that wont chamber and still it was a no go.
 
Last edited:
Mount Sweetness said:
The shoulder/neck of case could be slightly mushroomed, the die might not be set up properly....ramming too far.
Click to expand...

My money's on this as well. Check if the case is slightly expanded just below the shoulder. The shoulder angle might be slightly flat as well.

Solution is move the seater pin down and move the die up out of the press a bit.
 
Does the sized brass chamber with no bullet seated? If not, then your sizing operation is causing the problems. If the sized brass works OK, then your seater is doing it to you.

What brand of dies?

Mark
 
If the brass will chamber without the bullet in it, it has to be at the bullet seating stage. Check to make sure you have the seating die backed out far enough that you aren't accidently crimping without knowing, over crimping, buckleing or expanding the shoulder. Back the seating die out a full turn from shell-holder contact and try again.
 
yes all the brass chambers no problem without the bullet so i thought it was the bullet seating too and i tried to seat the bullet in a bit further but it still doesnt chamber. i didn't try backing the die from the press though, i will try that. im using lee neck sizing die in a lee turret press.
 
Can you measure the brass for us. .308 saami spec for 308 are 2.015 typical trim length is 2.00 to 2.005. if the brass in longer then chamber length it would chamber by itself as the chamber will neck size the brass down. Once the bullet is seated there is no where for the brass to go and it wouldn't chamber.

Also you make it seem like your unsure that all the brass was used in this gun is there any doubt as to what gun the brass came from.

Is it the same brand

Trevor
 
Sounds like you are crushing the case when sizing or seating. Are you using the Lee Collet dies?
If so, you are applying too much force. Size a case, then try to chamber. If that works, then seat a bullet without powder and check.
 
im sure that all the brass is fire formed from this gun and they are less than 2.015. i didnt check if the ones that wounldnt chamber are closer to 2.015. i will next time. yes it could be possible that i am using too much force, but if i dont use a lot of force with the lee dies then it wont neck size small enough to hold the bullet. what should it do if this is the case?

all the brass chambered fine without a bullet but half wouldnt after i seat the bullet.
 
neotekz said:
i didnt check if the ones that wounldnt chamber are closer to 2.015.
Click to expand...

Does this mean your cases vary in length a bit? If so, the longer one's may be contacting the seating die as some have mentioned, while the shorter one's are not.

Paint up one of the rounds that won't chamber with a marker and try and chamber it. When you extract it, there should be some marks on it that will help narrow down where the problem is. My money is on the seating die suggestion.:)
 
so what should i do if its the seating die? if i dont press hard enough it doesnt close the case mouth enough to hold the bullet
 
Back the seating die out so that you seat the bullet without a crimp. The brass should hold the bullet without any crimp. If not, you have other issues.
 
Spin the expander button on a little very fine wet sandpaper to reduce the size a little, then polish it up again with crocus cloth or 1000 - 2000 grit paper.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom