Confusing problem

ryanb

CGN Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
9   0   0
Location
B.C.
Well I've been sitting around trying to do up my first 7mm handloads today, and I've been having a puzzling problem. My handloads are very difficult to chamber. At first I thought maybe the cases were too long since I hadn't trimmed them and a couple were a thousandth or two over the original case length. But even cases that are not too long seem to be difficult to chamber.

Here's what I've tested:

-Empty brass (not run through resizer die) much longer than my the cases containing the reloads - fit no problem
-Factory ammunition - no problem
-emty brass shorter than my reloads (not run through resizer die) - no problem
-empty brass within spec through resizer die, tight to chamber
-empty brass over spec through resizer die, tight to chamber
-loaded reloads, tight to chamber.

EDIT:
I just measured every part of the cartridges, and I noticed the factory ammo has a .015" taper from the base to the shoulder, while my reloads DO NOT, it's more like only .011". This is what I suspect is causing the tightness, but WHAT could be causing this problem?
 
Last edited:
I believe you have not sized the case quite enough.

When you force a case into a resizing die and the neck diameter starts to be sized smaller and at the same time the shoudler diameter is being sized smaller, the actual shoulder of the case bulges forward just a little... not enough to visually see, but enough that the case is too long for the chamber and you feel it when you try and close the bolt.

It is important to make sure when you size these cases a bit more, you only flatten that shoulder out enough so it will fit the chamber more easily. If you push it back too far, you create a shell with excessive headspace.

It could be your press is springing a bit when you size... make sure you lube the cases all the same and set your die down a bit more and see how that works.
 
if you're using once fired brass or more, you'll need to size the brass more, maybe until the die touches the shellholder when fully raised :)
 
I'm a little confused on this issue. Blame the shoddy instructions that come with dies (I think they assume someone is supposed to know what they're doing). The cases I have been resizing, I have beeen raising the shell holder right to the top. Is this not the propper way to do it?

The instructions say to screw the die in till it touches the shellholder with the ram fully raised, then 1/4 turn more. Then place the lubed case in the shell holder and raise the ram till it touches the shell holder. This is what I have been doing. How do you "resize more"?

I must say the 44 is a lot simpler to reload...:confused:
 
Pretty sure that's not the problem, even the empty cases after running though the expander die have the "bulged shoulder".
 
I think he was saying that even without a bullet seated he has a tight close.

I'm thinking it's the die set is out of spec like said above but I'd check the shell holder number first and maybe swap with someone or bring it in to a store and check side by side. But really, since it's not unusual to not seat the die to the shell holder so you get a partial neck size the holder is probably not the problem.

What make is the die set? It's not a neck die is it?
 
It sounds like you have a minimum chamber and a die that was made to maximum specs........It is not uncommon to have to remove a few thousands from the bottom of the sizing die....
 
Are you lubing the inside of the necks when you resize the cases?

And check REAL close and see if the is a slight bulge at the casewall shoulder junction...
 
Yes, lubed case body, neck, and inside of neck as per instructions. Here are the specs:

RCBS full length resize die, in 7mm WSM
RCBS shell holder #43, which is what it says to use on the die box
Trying to chamber in a savage model 16.

Two things stuck me as odd, but since I have no experience in reloading I'm not sure if it means anything.

First, the resizing is obviously missing the bottom of the case, due to the fact that the bevel on the bottom of the die means it doesnt get the last 3/16" or so.

Secondly, even if this was the problem, the taper between the base of the case and the shoulder seems to be ineadequate, like I said it seems there is about .005" too little taper after the resize. I cant immagine why this would be. If the die were made to "maximum specs" so as to allow chambering in more rifles, wouldn't it be the opposite with too much taper towards the shoulder?
 
Last edited:
Just a suggestion:

Try blackening a case a bit by holding it over a candle and getting it sooty.

Resize the case and then pull out. This will give you a bit of an idea where your die is sizing the cases. Maybe you'll find the problem.
Just a suggestion

I had issues with feeding my 22-250 when just neck sizing. I ended up having to set my full length die to just size the neck and a tiny bit of the body and stop just before the shoulder. I found that this feeds the best in my rifle and still maintains excellent accuracy.
 
ryanb said:
Yes, lubed case body, neck, and inside of neck as per instructions. Here are the specs:

RCBS full length resize die, in 7mm WSM
RCBS shell holder #43, which is what it says to use on the die box
Trying to chamber in a savage model 16.

Two things stuck me as odd, but since I have no experience in reloading I'm not sure if it means anything.

First, the resizing is obviously missing the bottom of the case, due to the fact that the bevel on the bottom of the die means it doesnt get the last 3/16" or so.

Secondly, even if this was the problem, the taper between the base of the case and the shoulder seems to be ineadequate, like I said it seems there is about .005" too little taper after the resize. I cant immagine why this would be. If the die were made to "maximum specs" so as to allow chambering in more rifles, wouldn't it be the opposite with too much taper towards the shoulder?


I did not realize it was a WSM we are talking about. that's part of the problem.... crappy too thick heavy brass... but it still can be reloaded.

The bottom of the case is not the problem or none of the cases would go in the chamber and come out again. It is the shoulder. Between the spring in your press (UNKNOWN MAKE) and the heavy, hard to size brass - that is your problem...

A die made to maximum specs might not size cases enough for a chamber made to minimum specs, where a die made to minimum specs will oversize a case for a chamber made to maximum specs.

Nothing is perfect in the world of factory rifles.
 
So now the million dollar question: I can still chamber the rounds, is there any danger in firing them?
 
A problem I discovered when I was making .222 from military 5.56 was that they were hard to chamber, yet fired .222 although tight were not as bad. Brass thickness was not an issue, and all cases were effected. It turns the shell holder was out of spec. Check the depth of your shell holder from the face to the top of the rim, and you might find that the thickness may need to be reduced, or that you should just replace it.
 
Could you measure the diameter of the expander button, please?
Could be an oversized one. If needed, you can sand it down to correct diameter by chucking it in a vertical press drill and using very fine wet abrasive paper.
Ask the manufacturer first what diameter that expander button is supposed to be.
Go easy.
PP.
 
WSM, why did'nt you say that up front.
I had the same problem with my 300WSM.
WSM's seem to need a lot more sizing in the body as opposed to the neck region. You have 2 options you can remove some material from the bottom of your sizing die, or remove about 5 thou from your shell holder, which will allow you to run your cases further into the die. The compressive forces from sizing moves the base of the shoulder out a tad and therefore the resized cases are tough to chamber.
 
Back
Top Bottom