308 case will not fit into chanber

[lal357]

i think i already know the answer but gonna ask anyway .
picked up a 308 pistol and i'm having trouble with the cases fitting into the chamber i have used a foster f/l sizing die as well as mt rcbs f/l bushing die it doe this when using lapua,lc,hornady match and remington cases i'm thinking i will need a small base sizing die for this pistol since factory cases drop right in. all cases have been trimmed cleaned and sized.

am i thinking right ?

 

[fdshuster]

If the brass will not fit, 3 possible causes. (1) Case length is too long for the chamber length. (2) headspace length needs setback. (3) Case head in front of the extractor groove is a larger diameter than your chamber. A small base body sizing die will reduce that diameter. It only takes as little as .002" larger for the case not to fit.

You did not say if the brass was originally fired in your chamber, or if it came from another chamber. Very important consideration.

 

[lal357]

all fired in different rifles all had shoulders bumped back and full length resized,and all brass trimmed to 2.005 debured and chamfered. i use 2 different f/l sizing dies to try on them. the brass fit the other 3 rifles just not the pistol so i'm thinking the chamber is either at the bottom of sami spec or just below like i said factory brass drops right in just not anything i have resized . i tried it with and without a head in them incase there was a buldge from the bullet head.

 

[Shynloco]

..... Case head in front of the extractor groove is a larger diameter than your chamber. A small base body sizing die will reduce that diameter. It only takes as little as .002" larger for the case not to fit.

Based upon my experiences and especially with a .308, the small based die is the answer OR a Redding Body Die did the same thing for me. I bought the Small Base Die and used it, only to find later that the Redding Body Die does the same thing (reduced the case head size a few thousands) as is cheaper.

Alex

 

[fdshuster]

Factory brass will fit in all chambers, since it is undersized for that very reason. Use a small base die, and lube generously or you will get the "squawking" when trying to size. Even with my RCBS Rockchucker it takes some serious pressures to reduce the case head diameter. You will also get a lot of carbon flakes that will come out of the case after a small base sizing, since it breaks off the case inner walls.

Be very careful with the first 2 or 3 cases when attempting to size. If you get a lot of resistance, do not force the case or you could get a stuck case in the die. Take the case out & apply a little more case lube. After sizing the first 3 or 4, required pressures will be closer to normal.

The brass will then fit in your chamber.

I recently had the same problem when my son gave me several hundered 308 Lapua cases that had been fired 3 or 4 times in his rifle. Ran them thru the small base die & they now fit in my chamber, the same as new brass would.

 

[ALBULLET]

You say a factory 308 round will chamber.... But have you fired a factory round in this 308 you picked up?(CAREFUL). First I would adjust my FL die down to touch my shell holder at the top of the stroke and apply 30 to 40 lbs of pressure against the bottom of the die. If this 100% FL sized case will not chamber in the 308 chamber I would be afraid to shoot it.
Is this a factory action and chamber or a custom job?

Scotty g

 

[lal357]

not worried about carbon flakes to much i media tumble then ultrasonic clean all my brass . yes it shoots fine i have ran 2 boxes of factory ammo that i had for my ptr91 thru it without a problem in my 26 years of reloading this is the first time i have came across this.i know all about lubing and taking my time sizing it ya'll should try making 6.5 creedmoor brass from some lc lr 308 brass it takes alot of patience to do so i dont stick a case i ordered a small base die last night. thanks for everyones replies i'll at the end of the week if it fixes the problem.

 

[amlevin]

Before running out and buying different dies first find out exactly where the problem is.

Try marking up a case that won't fit with a Magic Marker. Cover the case with the ink. Then try and chamber it. The point(s) of interference will show up immediately.

May be at the base, may be near the shoulder, and it might be the shoulder itself. Identify the problem so you can take the corrective action in ONE try and with the proper tool.

 

[bigedp51]

What type pistol, bolt action or break open Thompson Center Encore pistol, the Thompson Encore "MUST" have the proper shoulder bump/head clearance to be able to close the action.

You have mixed brass and varying rates of brass spring back "AFTER" sizing, take a case that doesn't fit and full length resize it again and "PAUSE" for three seconds at the top of the ram stroke. Lower the ram and rotate the case 180 and size again pausing again, now check and see fit the case will fit and the action close. You will need to find out if the problem is cartridge headspace length (head clearance) or cartridge case diameter causing the problem.

The cases you are using were fire formed in someone else's chamber and made by different companies, pausing at the top of the ram stroke is telling the brass who's the boss and to stay put after sizing. Your in a wrestling match with your brass and you have to pin the brass to the mat and make it scream uncle, tap out and give up.

The official Mike Bellm's
TC Contender, G2, Encore/ProHunter, & CVA Apex Performance Center

"This Page Can Save You Thousands of Dollars!

Correct headspace is essential to accuracy, reliable functioning, and good case life. Here is how you measure it, make corrections, and also measure throat length."

http://www.bellmtcs.com/store/index.php?cid=172

Remember Google is your best friend for getting answers, I Googled "shoulder bump on a Thompson Center Arms Encore pistol" and it took me to the web page above.

Bottom line, the case must have the correct shoulder bump to enable a break open pistol to close.

P.S. If your going to hunt with this pistol in the woods or dry grass, bring a fire extinguisher along to put out the fires.

 

[lal357]

it was at the base i marked up a dummy case last night to see also use my chamber guage to get the correct bullet seating off the lands. i'm also going to run a headspace guage on it to make sure of the headspace is correct . the different brass is becuase i have 4 308's (ftr,tactical bolt, ptr91 and this one (ssp91)) i each one gets different brass ie ptr91 sling brass a mile so it get free lc lr brass and my ftr rig gets lapua for the pistol i'm probably going to use hornady match (have 400 sitting around).
i was just trying different brass to see the results eventually when i settle on a brass/primer/bullet /power combo it likes i will turn the necks to get the most out of it .

 

[bigedp51]

This is just a wild A$$ guess but if you had started with new brass only fired in your chamber you would not be having this problem.

Your problem is the brass you are using has been formed in another chamber and when resized it springs back "BIGGER" than your resizing die.

Its like going to Good Will and buying cloths that are too big for you and wondering why they don't fit, you need to go to a tailor and have the cloths taken in to fit you.

This means having the die make hard contact with the shell holder (cam over) and pausing at the top of the ram stroke. This should bring the case into the proper dimensions, "BUT" no two dies are the same and we live in a plus and minus manufacturing world. The key words here are brass spring back, your dies, your chamber and beating your brass into submission. (and you might not have a big enough hammer)

 

[lal357]

lol got a big enough hammer .. i have tried leaving them in longer than normal with the ram stroke going over cam its funny i got my forster F/L die just for my lc lr and lc match brass and its worked for everything except this pistol hell i'm even using the lc lr brass and making 6.5creedmoor brass without any problems(getting good longevity out of them also before the primer pockets give out).
thanks for everyone input

 

[Wisconsinner]

Something is missing here? Try adjusting the die down just a smidge more. I had the same problem with a sticky bolt on one of my rifles. just that little turn on the die made all the difference... Good luck!

 

[lal357]

small base die did the trick spent shell shoots about 2 feet in the air when i turn the breech to open it up