243 won't chamber???

[dlebeck]

I have a stock factory model7 in 243. I have owned the gun since it was new. Right out of the box it needed a new barrel, the first one had a bad chamber and would cause case head separations. I rarely shoot this gun, but have recently decided to reload some 100gr's for whitetails. I have never had a problem with factory ammo chambering, but today I can't get it to chamber a re-sized round to save my life. Tried a Forster FL die and a Redding body die, still no go. Fired a factory round to get a fresh brass, it's fits after firing, but won't fit after resizing with either die. Damn, I think the chamber sucks on this thing still! On some brass it leaves a small shinny ring just ahead of the case web.

Doug

 

[expiper]

welll,,,,Im pretty dummmm but it sounds like something is wrong with your dies or they are not being used rite....if a factory round will go in and fire,,and alos go bak in the chamber ...it makes me think that there is nothing wrong with the chamber....pleas tell us how u ar adjusting the dies,etc...think about it...Roger

 

[billmo]

Roger I agree pal. Something has to be going on with the die. Sounds like the brass is getting enlarged up in the neck or shoulder area. The small shinny ring close to the web area would seem normal. Just my opinion. Bill

 

[dlebeck]

Well Roger, I agree.... But I don't think it's the die,s). Like I said, tried two different dies, a forster FL sizer and a Redding body die. It does seem very much like a shoulder bump problem, but I can't for the life if me see to correct it. If I used a just fired case and use my Lee collet neck die the brass will re-chamber. But the idea behind FL sizing is to return cases back to a standard size that should fit any factory chamber and they don't?

I have tried adjusting the dies from just touching the shell holder to one full turn up.

 

[CPorter]

I had the same problem with a sammi min spec chamber I had made. The head space was a bit short so I ground .002" off the bottom of a RCBS FL die to get things to chamber. Measure your factory cases and then the once fired cases to see if it's the problem.

 

[dlebeck]

that sounds resonable, let me try that

 

[rstreich]

There is nothing wrong with your chamber. At least, not from what you've said.

By just touching, do you mean that when the ram is all the way up the shellholder just touches the die? If so, turn your die down further. You're probably bulging the the shoulder as the side of the case at the shoulder is compressed. Do it a little at a time until the case will chamber. You'd be a lot happier in the long run if you got yourself some tools to measure how much you're moving the shoulder back when you full-length size.

 

[rstreich]

If he really does need to relieve something to get the die down further, wouldn't it be better to grind the shellholder than the die? I know it's not uncommon for those who have a decent set of tools, but a shellholder is a lot cheaper to replace if you mess up.

 

[alf]

I agree, just take 10 or 20 thou off the shell holder.

Al

 

[dlebeck]

UP DATE! It is the CHAMBER! I took the gun to a gun smith that I know personally. He was able to determine that the chamber was on the short side of SAMI specs,spelling). We took a bit off the dies that I will be using and the rounds now chamber fine.

Thanks

 

[Obtunded]

As weird as it sounds, there is a real technique to using a body die.

Take your press and screw in the body die until it touches the shell holder with the lever fully pushed-down,It should be this way due to gravity anyway)

screw the body die 3/4 of a turn more.

NOW run a case through there and make sure that the lever "cams over",push the lever as far as it will go.

Now try the case in the chamber. If it will chamber, this is almost certainly a shoulder bumping matter.

It sounds like a minimal headspace chamber in which bumping the shoulders is needed.