How do I avoid stuck cases

TheCanAm

TheCanAm

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I'm brand new to reloading.
With my brother's experienced help I reloaded my first batch of 30-06 ammo with various powder levels to work up for accuracy.

[Irrelevant to my question, but for those who want to know the data: I used Hornady Interlock 180gr in front of H4831SC at powder levels between 56gr and 59gr in .5gr increments (5-6 rounds each). I used heavy Remington cases with the first half of lower powder levels and lighter Federal cases with higher half of powder levels, all weighed and grouped in ascending weight. I also made a simple seating gauge to seat the bullets to fit within .02" from the rifling.]

This was manufactured ammo, once fired from my gun, so we just neck sized them. Now, as I shot through the first 3 groups of powder levels I consistently had 1 case out of 5 get royally stuck. It started to stick as I closed the bolt and even if I stopped then, it was too late. I fired the stuck round then pounded a cleaning rod to get it out! No signs of pressure.

Obviously, case length is an issue, but I trimmed every single one using the Lee case length gauge.

Any ideas as to how 1 out of 5 could consistently get stuck after trimming?
I don't want that problem when I'm hunting!!!

Thanks!
 
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Getting stuck before firing is a different problem than getting stuck after firing. You may have at least two problems to contend with. What is the rifle?

~ Trim after sizing.
~ Deburr.
~ You may not be sizing enough. Full length size a couple of cases and try them for comparison.
 
TheCanAm said:
I'm brand new to reloading.
With my brother's experienced help I reloaded my first batch of 30-06 ammo with various powder levels to work up for accuracy.

[Irrelevant to my question, but for those who want to know the data: I used Hornady Interlock 180gr in front of H4831SC at powder levels between 66gr and 69gr in .5gr increments (5-6 rounds each). I used heavy Remington cases with the first half of lower powder levels and lighter Federal cases with higher half of powder levels, all weighed and grouped in ascending weight. I also made a simple seating gauge to seat the bullets to fit within .02" from the rifling.]

This was manufactured ammo, once fired from my gun, so we just neck sized them. Now, as I shot through the first 3 groups of powder levels I consistently had 1 case out of 5 get royally stuck. It started to stick as I closed the bolt and even if I stopped then, it was too late. I fired the stuck round then pounded a cleaning rod to get it out! No signs of pressure.

Obviously, case length is an issue, but I trimmed every single one using the Lee case length gauge.

Any ideas as to how 1 out of 5 could consistently get stuck after trimming?
I don't want that problem when I'm hunting!!!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I certainly hope your loads were between 56 and 59 grains of H4831, NOT 66 to 69 as you posted.
If it IS 66+ grains, stop right there and back down 10 grains immediately!!!
In a 30-06, the very highest I have ever loaded H4831 was at 62 grains behind a 180 grain bullet.
If your loads are too hot, you will stick cases...so be careful!!
Eagleye.
 
Did you check the flux capacitor? LOL!

Remington and Federal brass are the two which I avoid. I find them inconsistant when I weigh them. There is much better and consistent brass cases on the market such as Lapua and Norma.
If isn't the brass, then I would full length size instead of neck sizing to bring the case back to SAAMI specs.:D
 
I neck sized some .223 fired from my Savage, but the bolt wouldn't close all the way. Turns out the shoulders were just a couple thou over specs, and that was enough to jam it. Now, I full-length everything.

Check your sizes. According this this page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-06_Springfield), you want .441" at the shoulders for that round. If you have the same problem I had, I'd expect to see yours start jamming at around .443" or .444", or something.
 
TheCanAm said:
I'm brand new to reloading.
With my brother's experienced help I reloaded my first batch of 30-06 ammo with various powder levels to work up for accuracy.

[Irrelevant to my question, but for those who want to know the data: I used Hornady Interlock 180gr in front of H4831SC at powder levels between 66gr and 69gr in .5gr increments (5-6 rounds each). I used heavy Remington cases with the first half of lower powder levels and lighter Federal cases with higher half of powder levels, all weighed and grouped in ascending weight. I also made a simple seating gauge to seat the bullets to fit within .02" from the rifling.]

This was manufactured ammo, once fired from my gun, so we just neck sized them. Now, as I shot through the first 3 groups of powder levels I consistently had 1 case out of 5 get royally stuck. It started to stick as I closed the bolt and even if I stopped then, it was too late. I fired the stuck round then pounded a cleaning rod to get it out! No signs of pressure.

Obviously, case length is an issue, but I trimmed every single one using the Lee case length gauge.

Any ideas as to how 1 out of 5 could consistently get stuck after trimming?
I don't want that problem when I'm hunting!!!

Thanks!
Click to expand...


Is this a semi/ bolt or pump rifle ?

Are you crimping the necks?

Could you have used brass fired in some other gun?

are you over neck sizing the brass (pushing the sholder back)-- then trimming the brass and when it is fired brass will be very long and maybe stick

I have fired cases reloaded for two different guns (Chambers/ headspace) are very close what I had to do was wait about 20-30 seconds and bolt would lift

Are you using all the same head stamp?

Carefully check the brass that you had to remove with a cleaning rod
it will give you clues to your problem
 
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If you are putting as much powder in the cases as you stated the bullets are probably being pushed out of the case after being loaded causing them to jamb into the leade. This will cause difficulty in chambering such as you have experienced.

BTW, Cases stuck in the chamber after firing IS a sign of excessive pressure. Also - "pounding" a cleaning rod down a barrel will f**k-up the rifling in very short order.
 
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'Boo said:
If you are putting as much powder in the cases as you stated the bullets are probably being pushed out of the case after being loaded causing them to jamb into the leade. This will cause difficulty in chambering such as you have experienced.

BTW, Cases struck in the chamber after firing IS a sign of excessive pressure. Also - "pounding" a cleaning rod down a barrel will f**k-up the rifling in very short order.
Click to expand...

Excellent point!
 
Don't want to sound snotty but are you sure you are looking at 30-06 data?None of my manuals show that much of a load for this caliber with the powder mentioned.
 
Before anyone else gives advice listen to eagle eye if you are loading that much into 30-06 then that is your problem if it is 56-59 as he stated it should be then you need to bump the shoulders back a little until you feel slight resistance closing bolt.
 
Sorry for my delay in responding! Work has been NUTZ!!
Yes, you're all correct. I meant 56-59 grains! I will edit the original post so I don't give anyone else a heart attack.
I don't even think 66+ grains would fit in the case... maybe.

I reloaded 10 more, stepping up to 59.5 grains with no trouble from stuck cases. I will check the length and specs on those stuck cases shortly.

I read about RCBS 3-way trim tool. Does anyone swear by it? It sounds like trimming & chamfering can really affect accuracy. True?
 
If I were you, I would take a bunch of your neck-sized cases (with out primer/powder/bullet) and try and chamber them.

If they dont chamber well, you have your answer. (If some do/some dont you are not sizing them or trimming consistently)

If they all chamber ok, I would take one of them and seat a bullet in it (no primer/powder) the same length as you did before

Now try and chamber this one. If it chambers ok with out getting stuck, then you have eliminated that source.

You might try cleaning the chamber to see if there is something in there....dirt, grease, whatever.
 
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