reloading 30 378 weat mag bolt sticking hard after fireing
- Thread starter gregg
- Start date
Manuals list a minimum and a maximum load,but they also instruct you to start with the minimum load and work up towards the maximum load while watching for pressure signs.Well that heavy bolt lift is a pressure sign that is telling you to reduce the powder charge ,because you have exceeded the maximum acceptable load for your rifle.And by the time you feel that heavy bolt lift,you are usually way over the safe pressure limit for your gun.Just because a maximum load is listed,it doesn't mean that your gun can safely use that maximum load.The safe load for your gun may be several grains below the maximum load listed in the manual.
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Also check to make sure your brass isn't too long. That can contribute to high pressure even though your loads are reasonable. - dan
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
The easy test.
Does it stick with Factory loads?
If no, your loads are too hot.
If yes, something else is wrong with your rifle.
Does it stick with Factory loads?
If no, your loads are too hot.
If yes, something else is wrong with your rifle.
Well its a simple test try and chamber them when sized before reloading and you will know right off the bat if they are tight!
If so that is your problem, if they chamber with no hard close like factory you know than there is an issue some place else.' so crank down your die and give it a try if they are tight!
I went through the same thing when I started loading wild cats and high pressure magnums.
I should have mentioned in my previous post what Stubblejumper had said however, its just a test to try it.
Sometimes if you get a hard bolt close on a 60 000 psi load with loaded ammo (reloaded)!!! get out the block of wood to open the bolt!
If so that is your problem, if they chamber with no hard close like factory you know than there is an issue some place else.' so crank down your die and give it a try if they are tight!
I went through the same thing when I started loading wild cats and high pressure magnums.
I should have mentioned in my previous post what Stubblejumper had said however, its just a test to try it.
Sometimes if you get a hard bolt close on a 60 000 psi load with loaded ammo (reloaded)!!! get out the block of wood to open the bolt!
I do not think you understand what I was suggesting or either I did not explain it correct I know you have loaded these magnums, and sometimes its the dies.
If even at 60 000 psi tight going in , its not going to get looser coming out no matter what it is. and yes, how many times I cant say bolt opening was caused by neck sizing or bumping cases in magnums, and it happens more than you believe and requires a tap on the bolt to open.
I have experienced it many times on my long range magnums. after so many neck sizes or bumps the case is really hard to open out of the chamber and yes I tapped lots out with a block!
The fellow said he had no issues with factory ammo only reloads with a hard bolt lift.
I have gone through this myself!! and it was a simple die adjustment..
All I was suggesting is chamber the rounds after they are sized and see how tight they are!!!
Magnums are known for this, and if its fine you know than its your load as suggested your too hot
P.S this is just a hunch it may be a total seperate issue! Like you suggested to much psi!!!! and thats not a good thing in a 64 000 psi chamber!
If even at 60 000 psi tight going in , its not going to get looser coming out no matter what it is. and yes, how many times I cant say bolt opening was caused by neck sizing or bumping cases in magnums, and it happens more than you believe and requires a tap on the bolt to open.
I have experienced it many times on my long range magnums. after so many neck sizes or bumps the case is really hard to open out of the chamber and yes I tapped lots out with a block!
The fellow said he had no issues with factory ammo only reloads with a hard bolt lift.
I have gone through this myself!! and it was a simple die adjustment..
All I was suggesting is chamber the rounds after they are sized and see how tight they are!!!
Magnums are known for this, and if its fine you know than its your load as suggested your too hot
P.S this is just a hunch it may be a total seperate issue! Like you suggested to much psi!!!! and thats not a good thing in a 64 000 psi chamber!
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I have never used a block to open the bolt on any gun,although I have seen it done by other people.If you test your brass after setting your sizing die to verify that the bolt closes properly,and work up loads in reasonable increments from a proper starting load,you should never have to use a block to open a bolt.And yes,if you neck size,you will feel a slight resistance on bolt opening after a few firings,but if you take the hint and full length size the brass when you begin to feel that resistance building,it will never develop to the point where you need a block to open the bolt.The bolt doesn't suddenly lock up between loadings without having felt some resistance on the previous loadings.
And I do shoot the ultramags myself,so they are not unique in that sense.
I agree, but you still need to check that your dies are set correct in the first place!
Actually there are a number of us that ran into this issue by trying to cheet the case by bumping it and infact they are a bit unique in the sence you will get bolt lock up not to the point where its dangerous but to the point it would not be reccomended in a hunting load, that if you take this step to far.
Stubblejumper! I for the life of me, could not get my 7mm rums to chamber with out issues, my 300 rum and at the time my 338 rum was ok!!! I could not for the life of me figure out why????
In the end it was my Hornady die set it was out of spec and was replaced, but only a few thous,, but enough to stop it from allowing the shoulder to bump back enough. I have seen this happen quite a bit if not adjusted perfect on the rums.
But I agree 100% if sized right and you are with in load specs bolt lift should be no issue, and if so there is an different issue that is why I now always set my mags to come down hard on the shell holder to the dies. Unless they are my target guns.
I have never had an issue with my 30-378s either target of my 995 hunting rifle to the extent I could not lift it.
Actually there are a number of us that ran into this issue by trying to cheet the case by bumping it and infact they are a bit unique in the sence you will get bolt lock up not to the point where its dangerous but to the point it would not be reccomended in a hunting load, that if you take this step to far.
Stubblejumper! I for the life of me, could not get my 7mm rums to chamber with out issues, my 300 rum and at the time my 338 rum was ok!!! I could not for the life of me figure out why????
In the end it was my Hornady die set it was out of spec and was replaced, but only a few thous,, but enough to stop it from allowing the shoulder to bump back enough. I have seen this happen quite a bit if not adjusted perfect on the rums.
But I agree 100% if sized right and you are with in load specs bolt lift should be no issue, and if so there is an different issue that is why I now always set my mags to come down hard on the shell holder to the dies. Unless they are my target guns.
I have never had an issue with my 30-378s either target of my 995 hunting rifle to the extent I could not lift it.
Actually the ultramags are not unique in that sense.If you keep neck sizing without full length sizing,most cartridges will begin to display more resistance on chambering.Even the 30-06 and 308win will do this.The key is to full length resize often enough to prevent this from becoming an issue.
I have only used one hornady die set,and only very briefly.When I bought my 257wby many years ago,the only 257wby dies in stock were hornady so I tried them.After one case sizing session the dies were sold because I hated the collet system that kept coming loose.
I have used RCBS dies exclusively ever since with no problems at all.As to the RUMs,I have never had problems chambering any of them,and they have been very easy to find an accurate load for.
If I can't lift the bolt of any of my rifles with two fingers without yanking,I consider it an issue.
Actually the ultramags are not unique in that sense.If you keep neck sizing without full length sizing,most cartridges will begin to display more resistance on chambering.Even the 30-06 and 308win will do this.The key is to full length resize often enough to prevent this from becoming an issue
Not true in my case it would not allow the cartridge to chamber easy after only and some times not at all after the second time fired and bumped. It really was out of spec that bad, even with my new RCBs dies
Anyway I am done!
We are talking about what iffs now, and what iffs dont mean #### from gun to gun!
Regards
Not true in my case it would not allow the cartridge to chamber easy after only and some times not at all after the second time fired and bumped. It really was out of spec that bad, even with my new RCBs dies
Anyway I am done!
We are talking about what iffs now, and what iffs dont mean #### from gun to gun!
Regards
And quite possibly your rifle had a chamber that was not cut properly.A chamber that is not cut true can require full length resizing after every firing,and even then it may not chamber easily.In any case,you are making a generalization about the RUMs based on only one rifle.,when the problem is quite likely the rifle itself.
I think that your statement about your rifle being out of spec is probably true.
Will a bullet fall though the case mouth of a fired case? If not, the case is too long and is crimping in the chamber, raising pressures. Cases need trimming from time to time.
If a case chambers easily, but is hard to extract after shooting, ether:
Your rifle lacks primary extraction.
Or
Pressure is too high.
The loading manual powder weights refer to the rifles they tested. Each rifle is different, and some develop a lot more or less pressure than others. Start low and work up. When you get sign of pressure, back off. The max load listed in the book is NOT the suggested max load for your rifle. I once saw a 6.5x55 rifle where the book Start load was way over max.
The other variable is powder. Powder lots vary. And your powder will get faster as it dries out. Don't leave power in the thrower.
Oh, and don't forget to put a dab of grease on the bearing surface of the locking lugs each time you clean.
If a case chambers easily, but is hard to extract after shooting, ether:
Your rifle lacks primary extraction.
Or
Pressure is too high.
The loading manual powder weights refer to the rifles they tested. Each rifle is different, and some develop a lot more or less pressure than others. Start low and work up. When you get sign of pressure, back off. The max load listed in the book is NOT the suggested max load for your rifle. I once saw a 6.5x55 rifle where the book Start load was way over max.
The other variable is powder. Powder lots vary. And your powder will get faster as it dries out. Don't leave power in the thrower.
Oh, and don't forget to put a dab of grease on the bearing surface of the locking lugs each time you clean.
30-378 pressure
Well I think everyone here has a valid point but we must remember you can't load with more pressure than Weatherby does. Also back to basics nobody has said what bullet but I can tell you from experience make sure you are seating them to factory C.O.L. & maybe not sneaking something like a Barnes bullet out too far this can cause big pressure problems.gollum
Well I think everyone here has a valid point but we must remember you can't load with more pressure than Weatherby does. Also back to basics nobody has said what bullet but I can tell you from experience make sure you are seating them to factory C.O.L. & maybe not sneaking something like a Barnes bullet out too far this can cause big pressure problems.gollum
With the generous freebore in Weatherby rifles,you would have to seat a bullet out a long ways to drive pressure up enough to cause the bolt to stick hard on opening.
He did post:
Did he mean that the handloads were seated to the same depth as the factory loads?Since he hasn't posted again on these forums since his original posts,we may never know.
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Pressure specs for Weatherby cartridges is 65,000 psi, exactly the same as the 6mm Remington, 270 Winchester. (yes the weatherby cartridges and ultramags have greater cartridge surface area. Which could cause greater friction after a high pressure load)
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