308 loading problem

[303hunter]

I learned long time ago to dedicate a group of virgin cases to a specific rifle. Since then, I have had ZERO problems sizing cases.

Most of my experience has been from an AR10 that I built for longer distance shooting. This is my first “precision type” bolt action and I’m definitely on a learning curve.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Do you have a press that can cam over? Is your die adjusted to touch the shell holder(no case) with the ram all the way up? A 0.002-0.003 piece of shim under the case head while in the shell holder will get you additional sizing(if the bolt closes further after shim sizing that's your sign) Make sure the case is not over max length. Make the sizing die adjustments,gutted.

 

[303hunter]

Do you have a press that can cam over? Is your die adjusted to touch the shell holder(no case) with the ram all the way up? A 0.002-0.003 piece of shim under the case head while in the shell holder will get you additional sizing(if the bolt closes further after shim sizing that's your sign) Make sure the case is not over max length. Make the sizing die adjustments,gutted.

Die is definitely adjusted to touch the shell holder. Press is a Lee Challenger that I’ve had for 20+ years. It’s never failed me in the past.

 

[Edd]

Do what Coyote says with the shims. You can use feeler gauges. Start with a .002" gauge and increase the thickness until the case fits. After that you can make a decision on what to do.

 

[JB10]

Sand down a spare shell holder to get the bump you need. I have had to do this before, and those shell holder are some hard metal. When you got it how you need make sure and dedicate it to just that rifle.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Die is definitely adjusted to touch the shell holder. Press is a Lee Challenger that I’ve had for 20+ years. It’s never failed me in the past.

That's the press I used to use when using those Redding shell holders; I still have it stored away somewhere. When I switched to the Forster Co-Ax, everything got a lot easier.

 

[drop_point]

Die is definitely adjusted to touch the shell holder. Press is a Lee Challenger that I’ve had for 20+ years. It’s never failed me in the past.

Are you camming over or is there a hard stop?

 

[303hunter]

I learned long time ago to dedicate a group of virgin cases to a specific rifle. Since then, I have had ZERO problems sizing cases.

Went to a gun show today and bought 100 new Starline brass for this rifle.

 

[K22]

Went to a gun show today and bought 100 new Starline brass for this rifle.

I believe this a move in the right direction; at least this has been my experience. Rotating their use so the cases received the same workload (i.e., firings and sizing's) will also help maintain uniformity.

 

[CJ6]

Midway had/has Sig brass on sale. I bought 6 bags of 243 for 30$ and change per bag of 50 shipped .$15 cupon for over $75.

 

[Orr89rocz]

Measure a piece of brass that will chamber and one that you have bumped that doesn't. What is the difference between the two? You'll need a comparator of some sort and calipers to do this. Could be you're just not bumping it far enough.

This x2! Do you have the case comparator tools? Absolutely necessary to verify how far shoulder moves with resizing. Sometimes touching shell holder doesnt bump. Sometimes needs 1/8 to 1/4 turn past touch and the press needs to cam over. If it doesnt cam over or it doesnt bump, shave die or shell holder a few thousandths at a time

 

[ORjeff]

I also shoot a savage 308. Savage sets their headspace at SAAMI minimum. It sounds like your once fired brass has a larger headspace dimension than your chamber. I use a Redding body sizing die. I learned the hard way that it can size a case to be below SAAMI if I'm not careful to avoid that so it should have no problem getting your once fired brass working in that gun. You'll need a separate neck sizer.