Hard bolt lift mild load

[PD Gohil]

7mm rem mag rem 700. 24" barrel.
Unknown Round count.

First load development for this rifle
New Norma brass
Fed 215M PRIMER
Nosler accubond 160
RL 22 powder
Book max is 65
.020 off the lands.

I spoke with WVLONGSHOT and he feels it's an issue with the Norma brass being softer.

I loaded up rounds from 62.5 to 65 in half grain incriments to see what this rifle liked. The first couple shots the bolt felt a touch sticky, after that it became very stuck. I did not shoot it past 63.5 grains. No bolt swipe, no flatten primers, no cratered primers. Backed all the way down to 62 grains, I'm getting right at 2900 FPS, and just a bit of bolt stick. I can't understand what's causing this.

Today was hot, upper 80s and I was in the full sun reloading at the range for this development. I'm wondering how much the sun was causing an issue. But still I don't think it should cause extraction problems.
The 62 and 1/2 grain load shot incredibly well sub moa 2936 fps and SD 5 , But it does no good if you can't work the bolt!
I'd appreciate any help thanks.

Another thing I noticed when firing a string of three, the last shot was always the hardest to lift and extract That's one reason why I'm thinking heat is an issue.

PGohil
WV

 

[Homerange]

New un-fireformed brass is likely your problem.
Pop the same load in fireformed brass and try again.
Fired brass capacity will be larger which should result in lower pressures.

 

[PD Gohil]

I thought about that. But even the once-fired brass doesn't want to rechamber easily. I feel I'll have the same issue. Because it's just the very tail end of the brass near the belt. In fact the belt had grown by a few thousands which surprised me

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Your velocity is certainly near the top for a 160 and a factory 24". Have you or did you bore scope it, checking for carbon ring,heavy fowling? Determine how much neck clearance and marker the case and confirm where the fit issue is.

 

[Chiquita]

If the once fired brass had a hard bolt lift,then it probably won't rechamber.
I would full size & bump back the shoulder & retest the same load and see if bolt sticks.

 

[358WCF]

All brass is not equal, either in hardness or in internal capacity. Book max is 65 gr.? What book & what brand of brass? Is case capacity listed in the book? What is the capacity of the Norma brass?

 

[Mike Samer]

I'd look at neck clearance as suggested above. Will a bullet easily slide into the neck of a fired case?

 

[KMart]

7mm rem mag rem 700. 24" barrel.
Unknown Round count.

First load development for this rifle
New Norma brass
Fed 215M PRIMER
Nosler accubond 160
RL 22 powder
Book max is 65
.020 off the lands.

I spoke with WVLONGSHOT and he feels it's an issue with the Norma brass being softer.

I loaded up rounds from 62.5 to 65 in half grain incriments to see what this rifle liked. The first couple shots the bolt felt a touch sticky, after that it became very stuck. I did not shoot it past 63.5 grains. No bolt swipe, no flatten primers, no cratered primers. Backed all the way down to 62 grains, I'm getting right at 2900 FPS, and just a bit of bolt stick. I can't understand what's causing this.

Today was hot, upper 80s and I was in the full sun reloading at the range for this development. I'm wondering how much the sun was causing an issue. But still I don't think it should cause extraction problems.
The 62 and 1/2 grain load shot incredibly well sub moa 2936 fps and SD 5 , But it does no good if you can't work the bolt!
I'd appreciate any help thanks.

Another thing I noticed when firing a string of three, the last shot was always the hardest to lift and extract That's one reason why I'm thinking heat is an issue.

PGohil
WV

The Nosler on line reloading data says that 63.0 grains of RE 22 is MAX with the 160 AB. You are at 62.5. So you are in the ballpark for a max load

 

[Edd]

Regardless of what the book says, your loads are too hot. You are using too much of the wrong powder for that rifle. You need to start over with the load development using H1000.

 

[timeout]

If you can find it, Reloader 26 is the way to go with those 160 AB's. I won't post my load, but getting 3088 MV without pressure signs or heavy bolt lift. This is with once fired PPU cases. Your brass may have less case capacity and bullets seated deeper than mine, so start low. I used Quickload to arrive at my starting charge.

 

[243winxb]

Nosler has 63 grs max.
https://www.nosler.com/7mm-remington-magnum

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Yep H1000. My hunting buddy uses Hornady 162's in his. Originally he used AR2214, before it was replaced with AR2217 - which you know as H1000. He has tried RL22, with the same kind of results. It seems to be better in smaller cases - superb in the 280AI.

 

[Doom]

If you leave loaded brass in direct sunlight for any length it will be much hotter than ambient. This also applies to ammo boxes left in direct sunlight. I suspect that this is the problem here.

I learned this the hard way. Early in the reloading process I had a 223 load that was max per Sierra #5 with H335. It shot great, even in 90F weather. One day I left the ammo can on the tailgate which was in the sun. After about 30 min I pulled the ammo box out of the can and noticed that box and ammo were definite warm. I shot one round, then went on a search to find a 2x4 to pound the bold open on my 700. Lesson learned.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

I thought about that. But even the once-fired brass doesn't want to rechamber easily. I feel I'll have the same issue. Because it's just the very tail end of the brass near the belt. In fact the belt had grown by a few thousands which surprised me

I’m not 100% certain what you mean by “rechamber”. If you are having trouble with closing the bolt afer your cases are sized and trimmed, it’s likely a brass sizing issue. Try chambering your brass after sizing and trimming, before you prime and charge the cases.

 

[butchlambert]

Have you considered not having enough primary extraction?

 

[DaveTooley]

New to you used barrel. First it needs a really good soaking/cleaning. Then clean it again.

Nothing wrong with RL22. I've shot a wheelbarrow full of it. I tend to stay away from the super slow powders. I like to be able to use the powder charge as part of the tuning equation.

I'd say you've exceed the yield point of the Norma brass that means pressure.

 

[bugman]

do not overlook the need for a clean chamber. Even a little cleaning solution or gunk in the chamber or case lube not wiped off can give you that sticky extraction....especially when it gets stickier with repeated rounds. Of course, you will alsohave to check all the usual suspects.....like previously overpressured brass (click at top of extraction related to web OD) and case dimensions versus YOUR chamber.

 

[Big Mc]

7mm rem mag rem 700. 24" barrel.
Unknown Round count.

First load development for this rifle
New Norma brass
Fed 215M PRIMER
Nosler accubond 160
RL 22 powder
Book max is 65
.020 off the lands.

I spoke with WVLONGSHOT and he feels it's an issue with the Norma brass being softer.

I loaded up rounds from 62.5 to 65 in half grain incriments to see what this rifle liked. The first couple shots the bolt felt a touch sticky, after that it became very stuck. I did not shoot it past 63.5 grains. No bolt swipe, no flatten primers, no cratered primers. Backed all the way down to 62 grains, I'm getting right at 2900 FPS, and just a bit of bolt stick. I can't understand what's causing this.

Today was hot, upper 80s and I was in the full sun reloading at the range for this development. I'm wondering how much the sun was causing an issue. But still I don't think it should cause extraction problems.
The 62 and 1/2 grain load shot incredibly well sub moa 2936 fps and SD 5 , But it does no good if you can't work the bolt!
I'd appreciate any help thanks.

Another thing I noticed when firing a string of three, the last shot was always the hardest to lift and extract That's one reason why I'm thinking heat is an issue.

PGohil
WV

Bump the shoulder back .001 to .oo2 . Just my two cents Tommy Mc

 

[Scott haywood]

Does your receiver's serial number begin with a "RR"? If so, you may have to get the bolt handle re-timed in order to get the proper primary extraction. It's a well known but correctable issue with the RR Remington's.

 

[PD Gohil]

I’m not 100% certain what you mean by “rechamber”. If you are having trouble with closing the bolt afer your cases are sized and trimmed, it’s likely a brass sizing issue. Try chambering your brass after sizing and trimming, before you prime and charge the cases.

This is brand new brass, I ran it through my sizing die, wiped all excess lube off then continued. What I mean by rechamber is puting a piece of the fires brass back in the gun and closing the bolt. It's still hard to close and extract.