New 6-284 barrel problem HELP!

[1newmexkid]

Well, it took about 5 months to get my new barreled action. Major problem right away. My 6.5-284 Lapua cases resized to 6mm will not chamber! The barrel says 6mm-284 Winchester on the side. From what I can see...It appears that the case is getting "stuck" about 1/4" to 3/8" from completely entering the chamber. Newby question...Is the case supposed to enter the chamber completely? Also, of course, the bolt will not close at all. Stuff like this can only happen to me!!!!

 

[savagedasher]

Well, it took about 5 months to get my new barreled action. Major problem right away. My 6.5-284 Lapua cases resized to 6mm will not chamber! The barrel says 6mm-284 Winchester on the side. From what I can see...It appears that the case is getting "stuck" about 1/4" to 3/8" from completely entering the chamber. Newby question...Is the case supposed to enter the chamber completely? Also, of course, the bolt will not close at all. Stuff like this can only happen to me!!!!

It could be a tight neck . Cut the neck off a piece of brass and see if it chambers. Larry

 

[mr45man]

if you did not full length size, try one.

 

[1newmexkid]

I will cut a neck off a case tomorrow morning and see. I would wish it would be that simple. My cases right now are at .015. Yes, all the cases have been FL sized.

 

[savagedasher]

I will cut a neck off a case tomorrow morning and see. I would wish it would be that simple. My cases right now are at .015. Yes, all the cases have been FL sized.

Till you try it without a neck you won't know .
But the case still can be used for sizing or bump. Larry

 

[dakor]

Like others have said it is probably a tight neck. The 6.5-284 Lapua cases are usually .002 to .003 shorter at the shoulder than a 284 Winchester case so if it was cut with a reamer designed off the Winchester case your chamber would be longer than the lapua brass.

 

[dkhunt14]

Are you trying it without a bullet? Matt

 

[1newmexkid]

I did try it without a bullet, same result. Well, this morning I got up and used the dremel to cut the neck off a case. The case then slid in perfectly! Then I sooted up the neck of another case and tried to chamber it. After I pulled the case out I could see where the soot was smeared about 1/8" from the mouth of the neck. So, I guess you guys are right in saying it probably has a tight neck. Next step will be to neck turn a case until it chambers. So, my question then is...How much smaller should the case neck be than the chamber neck?

 

[JRS]

Have you tried contacting your gunsmith for information regarding the neck diameter? You can easily make a casting of the chamber, or have someone do that for you.

 

[dkhunt14]

The gunsmith should know what reamer he used and what diameter it has. That would be the easiest and best way. Was the neck smeared all the way around or just one place? Matt

 

[1newmexkid]

Have you tried contacting your gunsmith for information regarding the neck diameter? You can easily make a casting of the chamber, or have someone do that for you.

Waiting for them to open so I can call.

 

[1newmexkid]

The gunsmith should know what reamer he used and what diameter it has. That would be the easiest and best way. Was the neck smeared all the way around or just one place? Matt

Yes, the neck was smeared all around.

 

[1newmexkid]

OK. I trimmed case neck down until it finally chambered. I ended up at .013-.0135 on neck thickness. Now I wish I had paid attention to posts asking about neck clearance in the chamber that will allow proper expansion. How thin could a person reasonably go on the neck thickness?

 

[Grimstod]

You need at least .002 of clearance to be safe.

I cannot beleive you smith made you a chamber and did not put the neck dimension on it. Especially since its a tight neck. Thats rather irresponsible.

 

[1newmexkid]

Guys, first of all, thanks for the speedy responses. It gets frustrating to have problems and have to wait all day for an answer. So, I just got off the phone with the gunsmith and right away he said my dies were not set up properly and that it was a headspace problem. He said he would send me an e-mail right away on how to fix it. Unfortunately, I had a very bad phone connection and was not able to ask how come the case chambered properly when I turned the neck down. Let's see what the e-mail says.

 

[JRS]

Safety, if for no other reason, is why knowing the neck diameter is important.

Good luck!

 

[1newmexkid]

Well, the gunsmith called back and this time we were able to have a static free conversation. He ran me through several measurements of a case. He couldn't figure out what is going on. So, he said send it back along with 3 of your cases and it will be fixed. Thanks for all the help folks I really appreciate it.

 

[dkhunt14]

Didn't he tell you the neck size? That was the first thing you needed to know. If it was a no turn or a tight neck. Maybe he made a mistake and wants to cover it up by fixing it. Matt

 

[L.Sherm]

I'm betting to tight neck, Headspace problem did he use gauges? strange the brass chambered after you cut off neck.

 

[wvlongshot]

If it is a 6-284 winchester, as you say, is stamped on the barrel, winchester brass is smaller in the Web than lapua & norma. If it was cut for win brass, lapua won't fit