• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

223 hard chambering question

Most likely the problem is over sizing the case.

The flare on the neck happens when it passes all the way through the neck sizing area of the die and flares.

Then with the shoulders pushed too far back, the neck is too long for the chamber, even tho the overall length is correct.

To confirm this, back the die off a turn and see if the flare goes away, and double check base to shoulder datum.
 
Are you measuring a fired case with comparator then bumping .002 according to comparator measement or what is the difference fired vrs sized
When I first set the die up I made sure the brass had stopped growing before I set my bump. I use a hornady comparator. It’s been set at .002 I have not checked the lock ring and made sure nothing has slipped. I don’t feel any play or looseness when screwing the die in and out. When this started I did check my bump and it was still .002. Again though a sized round chambers fine with no bullet. I let my uncle chamber a hard one went outside pulled the trigger into a dirt pile extracted the fired brass and it chambers like a dream. I can usuall diagnose a problem before coming here but this episode is kicking my tail
 
Most likely the problem is over sizing the case.

The flare on the neck happens when it passes all the way through the neck sizing area of the die and flares.

Then with the shoulders pushed too far back, the neck is too long for the chamber, even tho the overall length is correct.

To confirm this, back the die off a turn and see if the flare goes away, and double check base to shoulder datum.
I will have to tomorrow. Unless something moved it’s bumping the correct amount. If that’s the case why would it have took this long to show up ? But I will check it. I do most all my reloading in my uncles basement and I have left to head home.
 
I measured my trim lengths and scoped them while chambered. They are all over the free bore step. I expanded the neck, when I did the bell/flare is gone. I trimmed 1 piece to 1.755 primed, charged and seated my bullet. It chambered fine. Going to do 3 more. Will keep posed.
There’s your answer, the necks are too long.

When the neck passes the end of the sizing portion of the die, it flare due to lack of support. Just because it goes away when seating a bullet, it doesn’t stop being a problem. That’s why in the scope you could see them over the step into the free bore area. That step is a taper and pinching the neck.

It’s possible the shoulder is correct, and the neck and overall length is too long, but if the shoulder moves forward, it will pull the neck back out of the freebore. Without changing overall length of the case.

The reason they chamber before seating the bullet is because the diameter is smaller and it fits it the taper in the chamber at the end of the neck. Seat the bullet, increase the diameter and it no longer fits in the taper.
 
I will. Most all of the 50 I started with is very snug I’ll just have to try that tomorrow evening
You said there very snug? Just the cases?
If your positive its not the cases then has to be a bullet issue, either fat bullets i.e small freebore dia or seating into the lands.
Bump a case back .006 then you know fore a fact its not bump issue. Measure your bullets make sure there's no fat ones, then seat a .224 bullet if it chambers hard seat deeper untill it chambers.
 
If a sized case chambers fine and then it gets tight when you load it I think the donut issue mentioned above could be a possibly also.

When seating a bullet are you feeling extra “tightness” at any point of the process?
 
I would make sure ur lapua brass is trimmed to spec or slightly under. Im woundering if the case is botting out in the bullet seater die. This will cause the shoulder to mushroom out just at the body. I have done this myself. Had some cases too long even though they were in spec. I had set my seater die up on a shorter case with out knowing. So when a longer brass went in there caused a problem. Did not see it untill was at the range. You will not see the issue untill a bullet is seated. Since i learned off this, when setting up a new die i touch brass then back out 1/4 turn to allow some brass growth with out having this issue. Just a thought to look at.
 
If a sized case chambers fine and then it gets tight when you load it I think the donut issue mentioned above could be a possibly also.

When seating a bullet are you feeling extra “tightness” at any point of the process?
I do believe I have felt the 77 get tight now it’s been mentioned. I can feel the obvious start of seating then there has been a tight spot probably about where the bearing surface of the bullet goes through the neck shoulder junction. Could be a stacking of tolerances I have looked at that area and measured but came up empty. I have looked inside the case and can’t see it like I have with other guns. The test would be drop a 77 into a fired case and see if it hangs up ? I can’t feel it when I run my mandrel to open the necks up but I have felt it during seating
 
I would make sure ur lapua brass is trimmed to spec or slightly under. Im woundering if the case is botting out in the bullet seater die. This will cause the shoulder to mushroom out just at the body. I have done this myself. Had some cases too long even though they were in spec. I had set my seater die up on a shorter case with out knowing. So when a longer brass went in there caused a problem. Did not see it untill was at the range. You will not see the issue untill a bullet is seated. Since i learned off this, when setting up a new die i touch brass then back out 1/4 turn to allow some brass growth with out having this issue. Just a thought to look at.
That’s how I set the die up. I did follow instructions on that. I can see where that would cause a big issue
 
Do you still have one loaded to see if it mushrooms out the shoulder?
Yes I have maybe 10. My calipers is at the bench though. I will have mine at work tomorrow morning though I didn’t pick up a bump when i measured them earlier today though. Could have been just the one I grabbed.
Do you still have one loaded to see if it mushrooms out the shoulder?
 
Do you still have one loaded to see if it mushrooms out the shoulder?
Well I do have doughnuts DAMNET. I grabbed a bullet and it slides into the neck and stops at the junction. I have seen them when I have had them in the past. They never did cause chambering issues though. I guess my chamber is just tight enough to where the bullet is pushing on it swelling the back of the neck just enough
 
Sounds like the thicker necks on the Lapua. Neck turn a piece of cull brass from the same lot of Lapua brass enough to clean it up. On the cheap... I'd polish the expander ball on the RCBS sizing stem and use it... add a lil dry lube to size. Better yet, just buy a forster die set.
 
There’s your answer, the necks are too long.

When the neck passes the end of the sizing portion of the die, it flare due to lack of support. Just because it goes away when seating a bullet, it doesn’t stop being a problem. That’s why in the scope you could see them over the step into the free bore area. That step is a taper and pinching the neck.

It’s possible the shoulder is correct, and the neck and overall length is too long, but if the shoulder moves forward, it will pull the neck back out of the freebore. Without changing overall length of the case.

The reason they chamber before seating the bullet is because the diameter is smaller and it fits it the taper in the chamber at the end of the neck. Seat the bullet, increase the diameter and it no longer fits in the taper.
When I said they was all over that step I meant it like they was close to it. Some had a small gap before they reached it while others looked like they all but touched it. None went over it or into it of the ones I scoped. Every single piece I have will chamber either fired or sized. It’s once a bullet was seated into the brass that the problem occurred. But yes your right if the case mouth was to get set inside there it would be big time problems
 
I measured my trim lengths and scoped them while chambered. They are all over the free bore step. I expanded the neck, when I did the bell/flare is gone. I trimmed 1 piece to 1.755 primed, charged and seated my bullet. It chambered fine. Going to do 3 more.
If this is true, then you need to take a look at your base to shoulder length and total neck length. You shortened the neck and the round would then chamber.

This means the neck was too long. This can only happen two ways.
The overall length is too long. 1.755 is not too long for Spec.
Or the base to shoulder is too short, causing the neck to be too long, while overall length is the same.

The only other possibility would be the thick portion of the neck was trimmed off. Not likely since that is normally the thinnest part of the case.

You could also have a short chamber, that’s a real long shot.
 
Someone already asked, small base die? I don't think peening case mouths as it resized. And anneal on the case necks might be a good idea
 

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Forum statistics

Threads
166,297
Messages
2,215,702
Members
79,516
Latest member
delta3
Back
Top