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6.5 Grendel reload issues

fairly new reloader here. new reloads for 6.5 grendel. using once fired hornady brass, cc#41 primer, IMR 4198 and hornady 95g vmax. in an AR style platform.
my issue is when chambering the brass is really stiff going in and out, the bolt doesn’t hold open on last round, and two of the rounds actually got stuck in the chamber and we’re a pain getting out. is my brass not sized correctly? do i need to adjust my FL sizing die? more powder? (i am on the lowest end) you’ll see on the pics the brass has a scratch line going all the way down
 

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I'll be watching this. My grendel brass took a lot of pressure to resize and are not chambering/ejecting smooth. Upon inspection they are 8 thou over max length.

Check every measurement listed on the brass.

The scratches could be burrs in the chamber/feed ramp ect...
 
Bullet could be getting stuck in the rifling
or
Brass didn't get sized enough
or
chamber has something inside it that prevents the brass from chambering
or
all the above

Always start with new brass unless the used brass you're using only you fired.
 
Regarding that line down the brass - is it being scratched when you are sizing or when the brass is being loaded into/out of the chamber? If it is happening when sizing, you need to inspect your die for foreign debris or otherwise clean it out and/or polish away the speck of whatever imbedded in your die body.

That your brass is going into the chamber roughly and sometimes getting stuck, I'd look at your feed lips and ramp - and polish the sharp edges with a Dremel tool. I do this on all new uppers, regardless. Having the brass get stuck in your chamber - there are a few possibilities that come to mind. You say your brass is once fired. Was that first firing in your chamber? If not, you may need a short-base sizing die as the prior gun could have had a larger chamber than yours. If the brass was first fired in YOUR gun, then I'd look at how you have your sizing die set up, as maybe not sizing all the way to the bottom of the brass - or your sizing button is tweaking your necks or shoulders out of sorts. If your die is set up to where it makes contact with shell holder and you try loading without using the sizing button - and still have an issue, I'd get a short-base sizing die.

Regarding the rifle not extracting, the short-base die might fix the problem entirely, as there is too much friction between brass and chamber on extraction to allow the recoil to push the mainspring back fully. This is called a "short stroke", and assuming your gas block is aligned properly, is usually a result of too light of a powder load. You can either increase the load or purchase a lighter mainspring from Wolff Springs for about $20.00. I'd increase the load, as if the problem persists when you are 3/4+ of the way up the powder charges per manufacturers recommendations, and the problem persists, the lighter spring might not fix the problem.

I'd take a few sized pieces of brass (not charged with powder), and drop them into the chamber, then GENTLY close the bolt to see that the brass will easily allow the bolt to close without force. Then pull charging handle rearward to eject the brass. If it feels as though there is strong resistance to pull the charging handle back - as though something is holding it - that points to a brass problem, possibly the need for short-base die.

If this is a new rifle, pull the bolt carrier assembly out. Push and pull the bolt in and out of the carrier about 150 times to seat the gas rings. it is amazing how much drag on the ejection phase is imparted by new gas rings, especially when using light loads. This can contribute to failure to extract and short stroking - especially with a light load.

There are a lot of other issues that can cause what you are encountering in respect to your handloading practices and your rifle- but these things are pretty common. I think with the scratching and failure to eject, you might have at least a few separate issues going on.

Good luck!
 
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The scratches are from the barrel extension lugs. The ejector spring pushes the case into the right side lugs on entrance and ejection.

A good AR builder will correct all this before putting the rifle in service.

If your sized brass won’t chamber fully using just your finger, it will be problematic. Fix this.

Feed ramps are not part of the equation on the AR Grendel.

I ve burned more than 10k rounds of Grendel in the AR so PM me if you have questions.
 
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The scratches are from the barrel extension lugs. The ejector spring pushes the case into the right side lugs on entrance and ejection.

A good AR builder will correct all this before putting the rifle in service.

If your sized brass won’t chamber fully using just your finger, it will be problematic. Fix this.

Feed ramps are not part of the equation on the AR Grendel.

I ve burned more than 10k rounds of Grendel in the AR so PM me if you have questions.
I might in the future myself
 
Here's what I use for my AR Grendel's to reload, https://sheridanengineering.com/product/65-grendel-ammunition-gauge/ this gage allows you to see if the case is sized correctly, I also use a Redding body die and a LEE collet die to size the neck, I know a lot of folks think this is over kill for a gas gun but to each their own!!! I use this process no matter what I'm reloading for! other than my bolt guns. I bump the shoulders so it not a FL size, the Sherian gages I use for my blot guns is for new brass inspection or when I need to FL size them YMMV.
 

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