.338 Norma Mag Brass too small, or Chamber Problem?

[Conrad]

I just received my new .338 Norma and was doing the necessary prep work--installing new grip, bipod spud, checking trigger etc. When it came time to run a dummy round in the chamber to check for length to lands, feeding, etc I found something puzzling.

The first time I chambered the dummy round the bullet engaged the lands and was pushed in a bit, no big deal. Either the 2nd or 3rd time the round would not eject. It was left in the chamber when running the bolt back. I pushed it out with a cleaning rod. I repeated this a few time but no luck on extracting the round with the bolt. Obviously the bolt needed to be able to push the bullet into the lands for the extractor to engage the rim. With that said if I pull the trigger and let the pin fall the extractor engages the rim and I can eject the shell.

Something to note is that when I had Doug Giraud make me the shell holder for my trimmer for the .338 Norma I noted to him that my shell was a loose fit. He told me he used the standard reamer to make the shell holder, and we both agreed that once I fire formed my brass it probably wouldn't be an issue. Because of this I can't really conclude that my chamber is large or not headspaced correctly.

If the rim is not engaged I'm assuming that my firing pin will not reach the primer. Is this correct? Or hard to say? If it is, do you think it would be possible to pull the trigger thus allowing the bolt to engage the rim, lift the bolt to recock the firing pin, and then fire, allowing me to fire form my brass?

I had to wonder if my Norma Brass is too small, but I know other people are shooting the .338 Norma and I can't say that they are having these problems that I know of.

Any ideas? I will contact the smith on Monday, but wanted to kick this around with others as well. I will definitely not be attempting to shoot the rifle until I know things are safe.

Thanks for the help,
Conrad

 

[Jeffvn]

I have some new 338 Norma brass, that is unfired. When I measure it, it is undersaized by a few thousandth as compared to the fired dimensions shown on a drawing. That is not all that unusual, as the same is true of my virgin brass for my 338 Lapua Magnum, my 7WSM and my .284.

JeffVN

 

[Conrad]

Are you able to chamber the brass, and then extract it though? My extractor is not engaging the rim in order to eject the brass, unless I pull the trigger, then it will. I have not gone through all 200 pieces of brass, but I did find about 5 that I was able to chamber and extract. These were hard to pull out of the chamber though.....puzzled. Seems like I have a headspace issue?

 

[Conrad]

It appears that I can put a small piece of scotch tape (.0015" thick)on the shoulder and the extractor will engage the rim and I can eject the shell without pulling the trigger. Seems that the chamber isn't too sloppy....ideas?

 

[Conrad]

Given that I can push a shell into the bolt face and the extractor grabs the rim, I'm starting to think that my counterbore on the barrel face is cut just a hair too shallow.

 

[Preacher]

Sounds to me like the chamber is a tiny bit to long....

 

[CJ6]

Put a false shoulder on a few cases, see if that helps.

 

[Conrad]

I know that will help given that the scotch tape worked, as well as when I was first checking for length to lands the extractor grabbed the rim when the bullet was pushing against the lands.

I don't see that as a fix to the real problem though, and I'd prefer not to do that work to brass that costs 1.80 a piece.

 

[Conrad]

After doing the sharpie trick on the bolt nose to see if it rubbed and finding no evidence of such I also believe that it is the counterbore diamter. I have run my primary dummy round enough times that the extractor now grabs the rim upon closing the bolt. This round does show a good bit of wear on the rim, and I believe I've worn it down just enough for the extractor to have more clearance. The other cases that have not been run as much still do not extract. I think a quick run on the lathe to open the counterbore diameter another .010" will solve the problem....I hope. Thank you for the help and feedback.

-Conrad

 

[Preacher]

Be sure to let everyone know the out come..

 

[buyboysellboy]

Have you tried to full length resize the brass and then try it?


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