Reloads not chambering

[jlow]

You are saying that pressure from brass can gall a tool steel bolt? That chambering around made of brass can change the dimensions of a chrome-molly chamber? C'mon...
It should chamber with more room around it than when you extracted it from the chamber after firing. The shoulder is supported by the die as you size, you just aren't moving it back. Think the process through.

The cartridge might have a small chance of being flared by a sizing die if you used it to partially sized the neck without bringing the case and die together at the shoulder neck junction but it would still not damage the rifle. It would just chamber hard or not chamber at all. If the steel in your bolt or chamber can be galled by a brass case you should be using black powder and not smokeless.

Just passing on what I read. I don't see why the brass may not gall on the bolt head? I've seen lots of brass galling steel expanders. Once it starts, it builds on itself.

So at least according to what you are saying, there really is no need to bump any shoulder back?

 

[dkhunt14]

What makes you think you need to push the shoulder back .002"?
Have you had problems with the case to shoulder dimension causing problems?
Do you also trim your cases to the "trim to" length every time?

Pushing the shoulder back, trimming cases and neck turning should only be done as necessary. There is no reason to make the case sloppier in the chamber than it needs to be.

Because it will shoot better. Matt

 

[dkhunt14]

You are saying that pressure from brass can gall a tool steel bolt? That chambering around made of brass can change the dimensions of a chrome-molly chamber? C'mon...
It should chamber with more room around it than when you extracted it from the chamber after firing. The shoulder is supported by the die as you size, you just aren't moving it back. Think the process through.

The cartridge might have a small chance of being flared by a sizing die if you used it to partially sized the neck without bringing the case and die together at the shoulder neck junction but it would still not damage the rifle. It would just chamber hard or not chamber at all. If the steel in your bolt or chamber can be galled by a brass case you should be using black powder and not smokeless.

No it means hard to close bolt galls the bolt lugs. Matt

 

[SheepDog]

Just passing on what I read. I don't see why the brass may not gall on the bolt head? I've seen lots of brass galling steel expanders. Once it starts, it builds on itself.

So at least according to what you are saying, there really is no need to bump any shoulder back?

What I am saying is that unless your load builds enough pressure to over expand the chamber, ie, difficult extraction, then the case should chamber just as it came out and more easily if sized- without moving the shoulder.
I understand that some long range shooters use loads that make pressure higher than "normal" and at those pressures you can experience difficult extraction that require more resizing than necessary within the "normal" pressures.
In either case you want to resize only enough to ensure proper dimensions in your rifle for best accuracy under the conditions that you shoot.

In other words, it may not be necessary to move the shoulder back each time a case is fired in every rifle under the conditions used by that shooter. Just as it may not be advantageous to turn the neck of cases for every rifle or to trim cases every time a case is fired. It depends on the conditions of use.

 

[SheepDog]

Because it will shoot better. Matt

Matt, what works in your gun, under the conditions you set, it may be necessary to push the shoulder back to shoot the groups you do in your gun under your conditions. I know for a fact that what you do with your gun would not work well in my gun under the condition which I use.

I am not saying that my way works for all shooters in their guns - just that shooters and guns vary and may not need the same treatment that your gun does for you.

 

[jlow]

What I am saying is that unless your load builds enough pressure to over expand the chamber, ie, difficult extraction, then the case should chamber just as it came out and more easily if sized- without moving the shoulder.
I understand that some long range shooters use loads that make pressure higher than "normal" and at those pressures you can experience difficult extraction that require more resizing than necessary within the "normal" pressures.
In either case you want to resize only enough to ensure proper dimensions in your rifle for best accuracy under the conditions that you shoot.

In other words, it may not be necessary to move the shoulder back each time a case is fired in every rifle under the conditions used by that shooter. Just as it may not be advantageous to turn the neck of cases for every rifle or to trim cases every time a case is fired. It depends on the conditions of use.

I understand that you may be able to get away without bumping shoulders all the time, but this to me is like not full length sizing every time. Can it be done - yes. Will you eventually have to do both - definitely. So the thinking is if you are trying to get your rounds the same every time you reload and shoot, it makes more sense to make the same changes every time instead of a big change when you have to.

 

[Dranmelex]

What makes you think you need to push the shoulder back .002"?
Have you had problems with the case to shoulder dimension causing problems?
Do you also trim your cases to the "trim to" length every time?

Pushing the shoulder back, trimming cases and neck turning should only be done as necessary. There is no reason to make the case sloppier in the chamber than it needs to be.

Everyone has their preferences. I agree that every step may not be necessary, but my preference is to duplicate the same dimensions and process with each loading. In competition, I have to be assured my cartridge will chamber every time.

I should have full length sized this virgin brass and used my normal loading process after initial firing.

 

[Hoosier]

I know it is a little "overkill", but I drop my finished cartridges in a Wilson cartridge gauge. However, I have never had an issue with Lapua brass.
Hoosier