sizing used brass, need input

ffwd

Regular
Rating - 100%
11   0   0
Location
Calgary
Ok,

I have 57 of my original pcs. of 7mm Weatherby brass that I have been reloading. I bought 40 used pcs. in Feb. Then picked up 40 pcs. at the Easter gunshow. Last, but not least, I traded some 30 cal bullets for 18 pcs of vintage Weatherby brass in the all cardboard container.

I recently re barrelled my Weatherby with a Gaillard barrel and chambered it with a 7mm Weatherby reamer I bought from Guntech. So, naturally, I need to full length resize all my brass to ensure it will all fit in this new chamber. After fireforming, I can revert back to neck sizing only.

I ran all the brass through the FL die and most of my brass will not chamber without resistance. Some will chamber no problem.

What gives?

Some brass harder than others, so more spring back? Should I anneal all the cases, then resize again? Just set the FL die a little smaller?
 
I would check all the cases for overall length. The factory chamber was probably more forgiving than your custom cut one. You may also want to check rim to belt dimensions on the cases that fit vs. the others but I would start with the length first.
 
Come to think of it, when I formed a bunch of 7mm Rem brass to Weatherby dimensions, all of the cases were exhibiting the same thing. The confusing part is that some of the FL sized cases fit no problem.
 
As Denydart said, after checking brass length, check the lenght of the belts, they usually vary from run to run. Some of the best gunmakers will ask your intended brass manufacturer before reaming in order to get the belt to fit the brass. .....just another variance most don't think of!!
 
I have had the same problem with several diff belted cases,if you look real close at the case just in front of the belt you will see the case is a little larger.Your full length sizer cannot size right to the belt,it leaves a small taper.Take one case that chambers hard or not at all and run a file around the case just in front of the belt,if this works if you know some one with a lath he can chuck them up and trim in front of the belt.I have a special collet die I got that will only resize just in front of the belt it works on all standard magnum cases.
 
I've run into this same issue with a 257 WM. Your chamber is on the min side and the die is on the Max side. I bet if you mic the case just above the belt you will find that the cases that fit are around .510" or less and the ones that will not fit are above this. You could contact the die company to see if they could remeady this or you may have to get a special die cut to fit your chamber. RCBS asked me to send the sizer die and 5 fired cases in to them.
I hope this helps.
Have a great day
Piping
 
Thank you for the input. Measured with my metric Vernier calipers

Diameter just above the belt
Cases that chamber: up to 13.06mm (.514")
Cases that will not are all between 13.08mm (.515") and 13.12mm(.516")

I have looked at the Innovative Technologies belted magnum collet resizing die before and have wondered if I will ever need it. I guess I know now. Its $89 US
 
Last edited:
Yeah,

I ran all my cases into the chamber. 65 will chamber.

Some of the cases that will not chamber have no bulge above the belt.

I am starting to think the shoulder needs to be pushed back a bit more. Unfortunately, my RCBS FL die has a brass set screw on the die nut and I stripped it before I could try bumping the shoulder back more.

I tried soot on the shoulders and belts to see where they were contacting, and the 5 times fired cases that will not chamber are showing contact above the belt slightly, but more so on the shoulder. I will turn the FL die down tomorrow and see what happens.
 
Pls. use imperial measure, as most of us, gunsmiths included don't use metric, alot of our knowledge, experience, is based on U.S. data, info., etc. which of course is not metric, doesn't make much sense to ask for help here and then give metric dimensions.
 
Check to see what your overall length is on the cases under .511" that will not chamber. If they are within range of 2.539-2.549" they should be OK for length. If they are in this range and still will not chamber, check to see if you FL die is set up as per manufature directions as you may not be bumping the shoulder back enough to let them chamber in your rifle.
Hope this helps
Piping
 
Wow, do I feel dumb.

I turned the FL sizer down bit by bit until the non chambering brass would chamber. I just needed to bump the shoulders back more.
 
Back
Top Bottom