HELP!!! Resizing issue!

wslbrandon

wslbrandon

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Hey everyone. I have a mystery and hope there’s someone with knowledge in this. I have been reloading for a few years now and usually don’t have any issues. But now I do.
Here’s the facts:

I have been reloading 308 for Remington 700’s for a while. My first rifle was a used 700P and I reloaded for it for a couple years rounds would chamber and bolt would lock fine. Second rifle was a used 16.5”, rounds chambered and bolt would lock fine.

I tried a buddy’s 20”HB and same thing. I tried my M14 and XCR-M, same thing.

I just got a new 700 and it takes factory ammo no problem. I try my handloads and they chamber but the bolt takes a lot more pressure to turn the handle down to lock the bolt than it should or than it does with factory ammo or my buddy’s handloads.

I watched a video on YouTube that I need to turn my resizing die a 1/4 to full turn past where it comes into contact with the shell holder. I’m at work and haven’t tried this yet. I’m just hoping for reassurance that this is what I need to do or if there’s anything else I need to try.

Could this be happening because this is a new, not broken in rifle?

Thanks in advance.
 
I ran into the same problem with my 308, you need to turn down your die slightly more or get a 308 SB die. The new Rem700 just has a tighter chamber then your other rifles.
 
Thanks. I’m going to try that. I was hoping it was something sort of common. I was considering selling the rifle because of it. Silly I know. Lol
 
I'd try moving the die down a tiny bit at a time, you're probably already close to where you want to be. I marked my die lock nut and die threads with a Sharpie for a reference point. You may find that just a line width or two will be enough. If the round chambers tightly, we're only talking maybe 0.002"-0.003" here.
Keep in mind that unless you readjust the die for each rifle, rounds that will chamber smoothly in this rifle will be a bit loose in the others you mentioned in your first post.
Be careful, a tight bolt closing can also be caused by a bullet jamming into the rifling, which is a potentially dangerous situation.
 
Below the case grows in length as it is resized and "squeezed" in the die. And you must adjust the die down until the case shoulder is pushed below the red dotted line.

Aways remember the brass has only one direction to move in the die when squeezed and that is upward. This causes the case shoulder to move forward and become longer than the chamber until the die pushes the shoulder back down. And in a bolt action you want to bump the shoulder back .001 to .002 below the red dotted line below.

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Svt40 fan said:
this video is what helped me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldtbsym650k
Click to expand...

So many mistakes in that Video I don't know where to start.

The #1 mistake is never cam over the ram using Competition shell holders.
Raise the ram with a standard shell holder turn in the die and touch the shell holder, lower the ram and turn the die in about a 1/2 turn. Then start with the .010 holder.

Always start with another fired case at each change of the shell holder.

I have found that there is a point that when you size a case at one point the shoulder gets pushed forward and then you will set the shoulder back to the correct head space.

I have adjusted dies using feeler gauges and that is when you have to cam over the ram.
You adjust the die so the shell holder is .010" or less from the bottom of the die.

OP, I response to your issue I had a 358 sizing die that I had to sand off .003" off the bottom of the die just to get a cartridge to chamber and another .002 for proper fit. I used it for full length sizing and it worked great.

You might want to pick up another die.

David
 
I have several 308 Norma Mag rifles, and several sets of dies. I have one
FL resizing die that I ground .005" off the bottom of so I can size the fired brass enough to
rechamber the brass with just a slight drag. This applies to 2 of my custom rifles.
Dave.
 
Thanks, that is another option I have considered. If turning the die down slightly more does nothing I’m going to try a buddy’s set before spending money on another set.
 
Eagleye said:
I have several 308 Norma Mag rifles, and several sets of dies. I have one
FL resizing die that I ground .005" off the bottom of so I can size the fired brass enough to
rechamber the brass with just a slight drag. This applies to 2 of my custom rifles.
Dave.
Click to expand...

EE, Dave is the rim recess in the die deep enough to allow you to remove material from the end of the die?
It mush be a guess, I have never reloaded for a belted case.

David
 
Eagleye said:
I have several 308 Norma Mag rifles, and several sets of dies. I have one
FL resizing die that I ground .005" off the bottom of so I can size the fired brass enough to
rechamber the brass with just a slight drag. This applies to 2 of my custom rifles.
Dave.
Click to expand...

I also have custom 308 Norma. My pacific sizer just sizes the case enough that bolt closes with a barely noticeable pressure increase. The rounds are more accurate from that die than others I have tried. At first it bugged me , but now I just turn the die in about 1/2 an extra turn. It works so iam not screwing with it.
 
I had the same issue. Buy an RCBS precision mic, or, start with a case that won't chamber and turn your die down 1/16 of an inch at a time until it does. I did that, and when my precision mic arrived I checked and my cases were bang on.

I also read that it's best practice to buy a shell holder of the same manufacturer as the die you're using. Either way, you're talking about thousandths of inches here.
 
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