Chambering issue with .308/7.62

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Trump308

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Hey guys i'm scratching my head a little on what to do here.

I have some ammo i made up for 7.62 chambered semi autos specifically my RFB, it is stamped 7.62 Nato as this is an American imported hunter edition.
I recently received my BCL102 and it is also chambered for 7.62 Nato, the ammo will chamber in the RFB but not the BCL.

I pulled a few cartridges and made some inert rounds, ran them through a collet die to even out any possible bulges then the full length die and rounds will still only chamber in the RFB and not the BCL. I've tried 3 different OAL some which would be unsafe but just to see if they chamber and nothing is working for the BCL, the RFB will take them all.

Hirtenberger and PMC work fine in the BCL just not my handloads i've found.
 
Is the brass full length sized?

When FL sizing, I adjust the die down a full rev deeper than when it first touches. This way the die comes down and hits the shell holder hard. This gives me a 100% size. Have never found a rifle that this did not work to guarantee chambering.

If the brass was sized to fit the first gun, I am not surprised it does not chamber in the second. That is very common. Brass will have to be FL sized.
 
Trump308 said:
Yep these cases were FL sized that's why i'm scratching my head now, what will the small base dies do?
Click to expand...

A small base die reduces the case diameter and pushes the case shoulder back approximately .003 more than a standard die. Meaning the small base die reduces the case to SAAMI minimum dimensions.

The problem is your brass is fire formed for one chamber and does not fit in the second chamber, Make sure the die is making hard contact with the shell holder and pausing at the top of the ram stroke for 4 to 5 seconds reduces brass spring back. If you do not keep the brass separate for each rifle you may need to use a small base die.

It helps with chambering problems like this to have a Hornady cartridge case headspace gauge. And see what sizing is doing to shoulder location.

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Trimmed to length,
I noticed one of the rounds looked like it had marks from the lands even on the inert super short OAL cartridge, but it should be shouldering before that's happening.
 
As one becomes more experienced in reloading, tests and tricks become part of the routine. When resizing a batch of brass, test the first case for chamber(s) fit before proceeding with additional resizing efforts ...
Next trick is to buy a kinetic bullet puller - to be used when you forget to do the chamber test...
 
Chamber casts of both and compare? Might be some difference between them.

I had chambering problems with a .308 (not 7.62). Using mil brass it would chamber sized cases but not once a bullet had been seated. My theory is thicker brass in the neck area was the problem. Never tried anything to solve it such as neck turning, just not going to try mil brass anymore.
 
I'm wondering if the lee dies are ####, i resized what the RFB extracted and the shoulder is much further ahead then what the BCL extracted even after FL sizing! The ram bottoms out in the die leaving 1/4" of the casing sitting out and i'm holding it there for a few seconds to no avail...i'm going to adjust the depriming rod so more of the case fits in the die hopefully. I'm also going to order a small base x-die with the new headspace guages i have coming as the shoulder being further back with allow good extraction and chambering out've both rifles.
I can't keep the spent casings seperate from each other for which gun shot what from the same brand as thats not what i wanted my ammo to do,
 
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Are you sure your dies are adjusted right? When the ram bottoms out I would not expect to still see 1/4 inch of the case. Every FL die I've used needs to touch the shellholder to do a proper FL resize.
 
Trump308 said:
I'm wondering if the lee dies are ####, i resized what the RFB extracted and the shoulder is much further ahead then what the BCL extracted even after FL sizing! The ram bottoms out in the die leaving 1/4" of the casing sitting out and i'm holding it there for a few seconds to no avail...i'm going to adjust the depriming rod so more of the case fits in the die hopefully. I'm also going to order a small base x-die with the new headspace guages i have coming as the shoulder being further back with allow good extraction and chambering out've both rifles.
I can't keep the spent casings seperate from each other for which gun shot what from the same brand as thats not what i wanted my ammo to do,
Click to expand...

If you see a 1/4 gap between the bottom of the die and the shell holder that is your problem. The bottom of the die should be making hard contact with the shell holder.

Question, are you using a Lee full length die?

Sometimes if the decapper clamp is not tight enough the expander will slide down and prevent the die from being adjusted low enough.

Before I got my Redding competition shell holders I would use feeler gauges to adjust shoulder bump. I would start with a .010 feeler gauge between the shell holder and die and work down with thinner feeler gauges until the proper shoulder bump was achieved. Meaning a 1/4 inch gap between the shell holder and the bottom of the die would be "partial neck sizing" using a full length die.


7FfXhJ7.jpg
 
bigedp51 said:
If you see a 1/4 gap between the bottom of the die and the shell holder that is your problem. The bottom of the die should be making hard contact with the shell holder.

Question, are you using a Lee full length die?

Sometimes if the decapper clamp is not tight enough the expander will slide down and prevent the die from being adjusted low enough.

Before I got my Redding competition shell holders I would use feeler gauges to adjust shoulder bump. I would start with a .010 feeler gauge between the shell holder and die and work down with thinner feeler gauges until the proper shoulder bump was achieved. Meaning a 1/4 inch gap between the shell holder and the bottom of the die would be "partial neck sizing" using a full length die.


7FfXhJ7.jpg
Click to expand...

You know thats a good point i had my decapper rod bend way out on a 90 sizing the hirtenbergers last summer i probably set the new one way too low, still learning and didn't even think about the gap in the ram...
 
This is how I set up a full length sizing die in 10 easy steps:
1 Remove the decapping rod from the die
2 Put the ram of the press all the way up
3 Screw the die in until it touches the shell holder
4 Lower the ram a bit
5 Screw the die in further (CW) about a 1/4 of a turn
6 Put the ram all the way up again. The press linkage probably will "toggle" over, kinda like a snap
7 Screw the locking ring all the way down and lock
8 Put the ram down and remove the die
9 Screw the decapping rod into the die until the decapping pin protrudes about a 1/4" beyond the mouth of the die
10. Lock the decapping rod.

Note: If the spend primer doesn't decap properly, re-adjust the decapping rod down a bit at a time until you get a reliable primer decapping. The whole process takes about 10 minutes. Good luck
 
You may also wish to look at the shell holder you are using.
If the full length die is fully screwed down (even past fully down by 1/4 to 1 full turn more as explained above), and you still have issues, try a Lee shell holder (or measure a few for the thickness from the the base of the shell holder to the top that hits the die).
I find they are a little thinner than a RCBS so you get more of the brass into the die for forming.
It may just be enough to get it into the different NEA chamber.

Also, what make of brass is it? Some like used IVI may spring make a little too much and remain too large.
 
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