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Advice needed *update*

He should be be using new brass really in the new chamber second He should be able to measure the fired brass and check it against the print And his fresh cut chamber to see if it’s a problem.
 
Fired brass should fit into the chamber exactly as it left the chamber with exactly the same bolt force needed to open or close . . . unless the bolt face is not square and brass not in same orientation.

There is more to this story that we haven’t heard.
I’m afraid the bolt face isn’t square…
New bolt handle was tig welded on, squaring the bolt face would be taking a couple steps back at this point.
 
Good heavens

If fired brass will drop back in the same chamber and the bolt closes without issue……… you are using light loads!

Brass should need full length resized each time to chamber properly if you are using hunting loads in a hunting rifle.

Op
Your rig may be perfect in every way.

CW
 
Good heavens

If fired brass will drop back in the same chamber and the bolt closes without issue……… you are using light loads!

Brass should need full length resized each time to chamber properly if you are using hunting loads in a hunting rifle.

Op
Your rig may be perfect in every way.

CW
Thank you, I’ll take a deep breath and report back when I have more info.
Thanks everyone for your replies, I appreciate your knowledge and insight
 
Good heavens

If fired brass will drop back in the same chamber and the bolt closes without issue……… you are using light loads!

Brass should need full length resized each time to chamber properly if you are using hunting loads in a hunting rifle.

I humbly disagree. As stated earlier, I get 6 or more reloadings on a batch of cases before I notice a few that take a bit more force to close. Then I resize only enough for a few thousandths clearance, then get 6 or more firings again. This seems to be the norm among most of the people I shoot with (F-class).
 
When I fire a chamber for the first times, I use factory ammo. I fire just so I can measure and visually check it for any imperfections, not necessarily for accuracy, as I shoot a few ft in front of me into the dirt, just the barreled action. I 'test fired' a 243 this morning (while it was cool). before I break it down for cut and crown, and Ceracoat, I'll see if those 2 fired cases will chamber. I fired Winchester .243, 100g SP this morning. Measured .469 at the .200L (from the base). I am a firm believer in: new barrel and chamber, new brass.
 
Thank you, I’ll take a deep breath and report back when I have more info
T
When I fire a chamber for the first times, I use factory ammo. I fire just so I can measure and visually check it for any imperfections, not necessarily for accuracy, as I shoot a few ft in front of me into the dirt, just the barreled action. I 'test fired' a 243 this morning (while it was cool). before I break it down for cut and crown, and Ceracoat, I'll see if those 2 fired cases will chamber. I fired Winchester .243, 100g SP this morning. Measured .469 at the .200L (from the base). I am a firm believer in: new barrel and chamber, new brass.
If the fired cases don’t chamber, what is your first suspicion?
 
T

If the fired cases don’t chamber, what is your first suspicion?
Reloaded ammo to test fire with, using once or more fired brass, OR,,,, over sized chamber (in diameter). Fire it, see what the fired cartridge case looks like. Measure diameter just ahead of the extraction groove, if possible. When reloading, the brand of brass will make a difference as to how many loadings before re-sizing. Some makers aren't as 'tough' as others. As mentioned, hard to diagnose without having the rifle in hand. Just guesses without having in hand.
 
I humbly disagree. As stated earlier, I get 6 or more reloadings on a batch of cases before I notice a few that take a bit more force to close. Then I resize only enough for a few thousandths clearance, then get 6 or more firings again. This seems to be the norm among most of the people I shoot with (F-class).
I'd recommend against this for consistency's sake. YMMV and all of that.
 
So I got the rifle back, and bought a box of ammo to sight it in (150gr Winchester PowerPoint) First three bullets went off, followed by three that failed to fire.
Very light marks on all the primers. Fired brass is very tight to go back in.
Difference in shoulder of fired brass to factory is 10 thousandths.
Firing pin protrusion is 50 thousandths.
Firing pin spring looks clean.
Gunsmith doesn’t know what kind of chamber reamer he has.
Thinking this might just be a learning experience.
 
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So I got the rifle back, and bought a box of ammo to sight it in (150gr Winchester PowerPoint) First three bullets went off, followed by three that failed to fire.
Very light marks on all the primers. Fired brass is very tight to go back in.
Difference in shoulder of fired brass to factory is 10 thousandths.
Firing pin protrusion is 50 thousandths.
Firing pin spring looks clean.
Gunsmith doesn’t know what kind of chamber reamer he has.
Thinking this might just be a learning experience.

Does he have a headspace gauge for it?
 
He said he has go/no go gauges.
He did say that he’s had it where a small piece of metal was in the chamber and it gave him a false reading.
 
Find a new gunsmith

edit for context. Not trying to be an asshole. It's one thing to let someone know chips can cause a false reading, and it's something to be careful with. It's another thing to send a rifle out with long headspace, and use chips as an excuse.
 
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