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308 Brass not fitting into shell holder

Well, we don't know the brand of brass that is all of a sudden not fitting the s/h, don't know the bullet weight, so it's hard to narrow down the culprit. However, new brass often solves a lot of ills. Brass is a consumable - it wears out. Not every piece of brass out of the same lot, fired the same number of times in the same chamber, using the same loads will work harden at the same rate.
 
Not kidding. I'm referring to the important dimensions allowing cases to easily fit holders. They don't touch the upper deck surface.

One more time, I have used gasket cutting hammers to fit the case to the shell holder meaning the case dimensions were larger than the opening of the shell holder. I said I have shell holders that fit the case like a hand me down shirt meaning there is a lot of room between the shell holder and case. I also suggested reloaders use a feeler gage between the deck of the shell holder and case head.

And then there is a remote chance there are forward thinking reloaders that can manage to measure the clearance with a dial indicator, I believe the feeler gage is the fastest way.

F. Guffey
 
Fguffey where have you been? We’ve had all kinds of people and rifles on here calling for help and you havent answered? Again, where would one get those herters shell holders? I cant imagine the amount of vintage equipment you surround yourself with- piles of rejected dies that keep cases and such. I have a vintage herters press but ive never used it. It has a vintage style like an old 50’s ford
 
Well someone has probably said this already but here goes. If I may ask are you FL sizeing if so it may be possible to compress the brass just enough that the Lee holder with its tighter tolerance brings attention.
 
Well someone has probably said this already but here goes. If I may ask are you FL sizeing if so it may be possible to compress the brass just enough that the Lee holder with its tighter tolerance brings attention.
Excuse my ignorance, but what part of the case in the shell holder changes dimensions when sizing?
 
Lapua brass tends to run large. Norma tends to be soft in some examples. I'm not familiar with PPU. Your problem is not unusual and may be solved with a different brand of shell holder or even a little work on your shell holder with a Dremel tool. The interference is likely in the groove. The holder tapers to a fairly thin edge and may just need a little relief.

The only guy who got it right. Something changed is the first clue.
Interference between the extractor groove and the shellholder. I'll bet if you remove the shellholder and insert a problem case the head of the cartridge doesn't touch the bottom of the shellholder. Inspect your cases at the top of the extractor groove for signs of being deformed from contact with the top of the shellholder. Happens more than people realize.
 
Excuse my ignorance, but what part of the case in the shell holder changes dimensions when sizing?
When I FL size there is a fair amount of downwards pressure I can easily see the stress marks on my cases and my words were that it May be possible to compress the cartridge just enough. I'm sure that others are far more experienced than myself
 
A "proud" primer after firing

Lee may be one of the shell makers that does not have a groove cut down below the level of the case head on the shell holder. Most do have that groove to allow a primer sticking out a little ("proud").

If you do not have that groove going out to the primer hole in the shell holder, grind one. +tK3keCfTra+qikLinFZjg by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr

Right one has a factory groove. Middle one does not (Lee?), left one is one I ground a groove to clear a proud primer.
 
A "proud" primer after firing

Lee may be one of the shell makers that does not have a groove cut down below the level of the case head on the shell holder. Most do have that groove to allow a primer sticking out a little ("proud").

If you do not have that groove going out to the primer hole in the shell holder, grind one. +tK3keCfTra+qikLinFZjg by Larry Malinoski, on Flickr

Right one has a factory groove. Middle one does not (Lee?), left one is one I ground a groove to clear a proud primer.

The groove is a good thing but not having it forces you to look at your primers if you were too hot and didnt inspect. Just another safety check
 
If you do not have that groove going out to the primer hole in the shell holder, grind one.

There is nothing like reinventing the wheel. I have shell holders with grooves, before the Internet there was a reason for not having a groove, and now? We have reloaders reinventing the wheel.

F. Guffey
 
There is nothing like reinventing the wheel. I have shell holders with grooves, before the Internet there was a reason for not having a groove, and now? We have reloaders reinventing the wheel.

F. Guffey
And we have individuals who's amenity is so old school, that are basically no where near to being on the same page to modern accuracy and reloading, like is in majority of the discussions here on AccurateShooter.
Betting you know the type well....
 
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