"F"class/Palma tight chamber

flyr

Regular
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
180   0   0
Location
NWO
Hi guys,
I have a recently acquired Mauser actioned/Parker Hale Palma .308 (28")barrelled set up that is giving me a bit of a challenge.
I have Lapua brass and Berger 155.5 Full Bore projectiles.
I full length sized the brass and it fits perfect into a case gauge, but a sized case will not chamber fully in the action.
I smoked the case and found the tight spot starts about 1/4" above the web.(so not a shoulder problem)
I tried a dissembled case from a PMC FMJ and it fit the action with no trouble.
After measuring both cases above the web area I found the Lapua brass to be .470" and the PMC factory brass to be .464"-.466".
This kind of explains why I have difficulty with the Lapua brass
Full length re-sized,once fired PMC brass from a different rifle(Ruger GSR) will not fit in the chamber of the new rifle either, despite fitting in the GSR and gauge.
I am sure once fired(from the tight chamber) PMC brass will fit with only a neck size, but I was hoping to use the Lapua.
I have ordered Small Base .308 win. die and hope this will size down far enough to chamber.
Ideas?
Thanks
 
Just for schist and giggles........try another set of dies,not small base and make sure your shell holder is touching the die when you fl resize...if you are using once fired brass from another chamber,which could be bigger than your fired chamber,a fl sizing w sb dies once,fire it in your chamber... then regular dies after will fix it up just nice.Remember,dies are different internally,if you are a purest,and only use one brand,can't help ya to much.i have different brands,I feel the difference.I hope this helps!!

If for some reason it is still a Parker Hale barrel,some of their chambers are tighter!..I have 3 and they are all the same.

Cheers
 
Thanks!
I'll try to round up some different dies.(though reloads from the current die have fit in 4 different rifles so far)
I should have the small base die in a week or so.
No big rush, as it is still plenty cold up here.(or I'd be out generating some once fired PMC brass:d)
It is a PH barrel.
Match chamber?
 
You can bet on it. I've got a lot of mileage out of my small base dies in various calibers. Tight chambers and especially brass from other rifles don't get along 100%. I've got a factory Cooper that needs the small base die for its own brass after they've been fired a time or three.
 
Last edited:
Parker-Hale 1200 or 1200TX. These were made to chamber and shoot military issued ammo. Small base dies should solve your problems.
 
I would also suggest to get new brass, and only use it in that rifle.
I had a lot of the above issues stated - and once new brass was used in only one rifle, all issues went away.
 
It's new Lapua brass that does not fit.:(
I just ran it through a FL sizer after I ran into the problem chambering it.
Hopefully running it through a small base die will get it to work.
 
Just an update.
The small base die came in.
Ran the Lapua brass through it and it fits the Parker Hale Palma chamber AOK now.
Thanks again Guys!
 
Back
Top Bottom