338 Edge/Bertrom brass issue

[4xforfun]

I tried this over at LR Hunting and didn't get a response. I figure I would try it here.


A couple of years ago I had an EDGE BBL chambered up for my Rem 700 hunting gun. I started with Rem brass as that is all that was available. Shortly after I started my load development the Bertrom Edge brass became available. Since I had already found a load of H1000 that worked great, my plan was to wait till the "horrable" Rem brass went south and start fresh with new brass and RL33. Well, I just loaded the Rem brass for the 7th time and decided that the pockets, although they still hold primers faiirly well, were loose enough.

When I got my Bertrom brass a couple of years ago I actully got 101 cases, so I loaded one up with my then current load of 91 gr H1000 and fired it. I don't remember if I had any issues at the time.

Today I grab the new brass. I remember that when I got it I ran it through the FL die. I took my bolt apart and cycled the one once fired and sized piece..perfect fit. I tried the new brass and had to stand on the bolt to close it and about the same effort to eject. I ran 4 or 5 through...same thing.

I grabbed my Calipers and my Hornady Head space gauge and set out to do some measuring. Head space was IDENTICLE to the once fired and sized case when measured on three different datum points (.375, .400, .420). I measured case diamater at a couple of points and the new brass was actually smaller by a couple of thou. I measuresd the rim....same. Case OAL the new brass was shorter by a couple of thou. Neck diameter was a couple smaller on the new!!! Every measurement I took would suggest that the new brass should fit as good or better than the once fired and sized piece. I see no shiny spots on any of the brass that I chambered up.

I am now out of ideas. I remember having to run new brass through the die on another Edge to fit right, which worked, but not on this gun. Both guns were chambered with the same reamer (mine).

Also, I just ran some (Bertrom) fired cases and some fired/sized cases from my friends gun. It all chambers smooth as silk in my gun.

Anyone have any Ideas????

Thanks,
Tod

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Id check length and neck dia. Then id bump em back a thou at a time to see if they get better to find out where its hitting

 

[4xforfun]

Id check length and neck dia. Then id bump em back a thou at a time to see if they get better to find out where its hitting

Length and neck diameter are less by a couple of thou on the new brass that does not chamber. I re ran the brass through the die last night. This is about a .001 head space. Still no joy.

 

[4xforfun]

Ok, on Dusty's advice I started to do some testing with my FL die (Redding "S") that came from Defensive Edge.

I measured the headspace an un-fired case with the .420 tool and set that number to zero. I grabbed the shops feeler gauge and slid the .0025 under the case and ran it through the die. Head space INCREASED BY .0020!! I grabbed another case and the .004 gauge......headspace stayed long by .002. Went al the way up to the .007 guage. Brass now fits in gun , but the head space still shows .001 LONGER than before it went into the die!! I tried the .375 tool....same thing!! I bumped SOMETHING back .007, but I don't know what it was.

I got to have a die problem! The die had been set for the old lot of REM brass, locked up, and NEVER adjusted. I got 7 firings on the Rem brass with no case streach and only PP issues. I had a 300 wby that acted the same way....the dies double radius did not match the chamber's and I had an awfull time with that tube/die combo.

Any thoughts?

 

[dkhunt14]

My guess is somewhere on one of the radius junctions is a little big on the case. Probably neck to shoulder. When you bump it more it makes it fit. I wonder if it will be the same after firing in the chamber. I had seen this one time on new 300 WSM brass. After they were fired they fit fine. It would be hard to measure at this point. Matt

 

[4xforfun]

My guess is somewhere on one of the radius junctions is a little big on the case. Probably neck to shoulder. When you bump it more it makes it fit. I wonder if it will be the same after firing in the chamber. I had seen this one time on new 300 WSM brass. After they were fired they fit fine. It would be hard to measure at this point. Matt

The 101st case That I got with that lot of brass that I loaded / fired two years ago had been sized with the original die at the original setting and fits PERFECTLY!! I can't remember if I had any issues with it.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Bump em back and fireform em. Then see if you have a prob

 

[Jason Boersma]

Todd, do you still have the original die that you used to size that case that fits in your chamber?

 

[4xforfun]

I only ever had one die...FL Redding "S". I set the die when I first got the gun and I have never, ever set it again. Locked it up and threw away the key. I got 7 firings out of the Rem brass. The one piece of Bertrom brass that fits is one of the original lot that I tried out way back when I got the gun. I ran it through the die, fired it along with my rem brass, sized it, and put it back in with my unused Bertrom brass. Now, the only case that fits is the fired/sized case....unless I bump them .007.

 

[asauer]

Are you using a different press by chance? That would explain differences if you supposedly never moved the die.

 

[4xforfun]

Are you using a different press by chance? That would explain differences if you supposedly never moved the die.

Nope....been loading with the same equipment forever.