Something strange

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Robbs

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Okay so I am testing out different COL of 308 win cartridges. I am making up some dummy rounds, resizing the casings and seating some bullets at slightly different depths. COL range from 2.73 to 2.8. I have not primed the cases nor added any powder obviously. So when I try to feed these unprimmed test rounds in my rifle chamber the bolt will close but not lock down? A live round with COL of 2.81 allows me to close and lock down the bolt. So do the snap caps I have. What is the problem??? It is not that the cartridges are too long. Is it the fact that the cartridges do not have a primer that I am unable to turn my bolt handle down??? I am puzzled. Same thing happens with 2 other rifles Tikka and Steyr. Thanks if you can let me know what my problem is.
 
I have had that with spent cases, but not resized ones. I haave a 7.62x54 nagant and was doing that yesterday no problem.

Maybe it's not resized real good? was it fired in that rifle? are you Full lenght sizing or just neck sizing?
 
Are you using a COL gauge in a vernier dial caliper? Thats the only way to really measure loaded amunition as it measures to just before where the bullet engages the lands rather than the tip of the bullet (which varies). You are likely reloading a different bullet that the one in the live round you tried. Try marking the bullet in one of the reloaded test rounds with black marker, insert the round in the chamber as far as it will go with the bolt (don't jam it) and then extract the round. If the bullet shows the marks of the lands in the black marker, it's too long.
 
Your brass is not sized properly. Put your resizing die back in the press and turn your die down until it touches the shell holder and max stroke. Then try seating another bullet.
Not a big deal at least you found this out before cranking out a couple hundred loaded rounds.
 
Your brass is not sized properly. Put your resizing die back in the press and turn your die down until it touches the shell holder and max stroke. Then try seating another bullet.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help. I did this, the die is right down and touches the shell plate at max stroke. Still same problem. I am going to contact the casing manufacturer tomorrow and see what they say. I cannot measure any differences with a live round that chambers fine?
 
Take a sharpie marker, colour your case and rechamber the round. You will see were your problem is. Your shell holder may be a little on the thick side and taking a few thou off the top may help.
 
I suspect you may have rolled or collapsed the shoulder with improper seating die adjustment.
Pretty common problem when loaded rounds wont chamber and you've done everything else just right with your FL resize die.
Just a thought.
 
DOUGLAS D said:
I suspect you may have rolled or collapsed the shoulder with improper seating die adjustment.
Pretty common problem when loaded rounds wont chamber and you've done everything else just right with your FL resize die.
Just a thought.
Click to expand...

That is just what I was going to say, also.
And yes, it is the most common reason when the sized round won't fully chamber.
That is why, on another thread of this, I highly recommended the trim die, the type that will resize the loaded rounds.
 
DOUGLAS D said:
I suspect you may have rolled or collapsed the shoulder with improper seating die adjustment.
Pretty common problem when loaded rounds wont chamber and you've done everything else just right with your FL resize die.
Just a thought.
Click to expand...

H4831 said:
That is just what I was going to say, also.
And yes, it is the most common reason when the sized round won't fully chamber.
That is why, on another thread of this, I highly recommended the trim die, the type that will resize the loaded rounds.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing...
the shoulder could be pushed back a hair.
is there a cannelure ring on the bullets?
did you crimp them?
 
Thanks for all the good advice! Turned my resizing die a half turn down and this seemed to solve my problem. I did not realize my hornady press could "over bump" as hornady customer service explained it to me. Always little details to learn. I would advise anyone new to reloading to make up a few dummy rounds to test before cranking out live rounds to test.
 
I had the same problem when using brass that was fired in my semi-auto first. The shoulder of the case takes on the shape of the autoloader, which has a larger chamber. Even after resizing these cases they would not chamber in my new Tikka. resized some new brass and I was in business.
 
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