Bolt won't cam over with the cartridge fully in the chamber

[Ironworker]

Careful there - removing/shortening 0.020" from the die body, to attain more diameter reduction, may create excessive enough head-space to initiate rapid case-head separations!! The "no free lunch" axiom applies here: a proper die will both bump the shoulder AND sufficiently re-size the .200" DATUM diameter. RG

Do you think .020 is too much? As I said earlier, the cartridge wouldn't chamber, and others chambered hard, so I ran them in a Mighty Armory 6mm sizing die; the two cases that didn't chamber now do, but hard. Once fired, Peterson brass. But the rifle shoots great! Whidden says they size the base more. My sizing die is a Forester non bushing

 

[Charwell]

I resize on the press like you . I have .010 taken off all my redding dies . I haven't had any problems . My widden dies didn't need this mod.

 

[Ironworker]

I resize on the press like you . I have .010 taken off all my redding dies . I haven't had any problems . My widden dies didn't need this mod.

I like that.

 

[Dolomite]

Shaving the base of the die will shorten the die and increase shoulder bump. Too much shoulder bump stretches the brass when fired and short die will bump the shoulder more resulting in case head separation.

Hornady Headspace Comparator, Whidden comparator, or a SAC comparator will work to measure headspace. Get one of these or borrow one from a friend and measure the head space on your hard to close brass and same for the easy to chamber brass. Are the measurements diff? If yes you need to adjust your sizing die to the bump the shoulder a tad more till you get a nice bolt drop when chambering the sized case.

If you are sure its the base that is the issue get a ring die which sizes only the base and doesn't touch any other part of the brass. OR find a larger caliber small base die but within the same size base diameter. That way it will size the base smaller and not bump the shoulder or size the body at all. Whidden's dies usually size smaller in the base, you can send them a couple pieces to measure and see if their die will work. Or a custom Whidden die made from 3 - 3x fired cases. SAC dies size the bases pretty small as well OR Cortina's dies and his mandrel.

Peterson does have a thicker base than other brass. Firing hot loads on the first shot can blow out the base of the brass.

Couple things that may cause hard bolt close.

1. Base too big but that may or may not cause a really hard bolt close, but it will cause clickers when extracting the brass. Dead giveaway.

2. Not enough shoulder bump will cause a hard bolt close and even a hard bolt open. Have you measured the cases that are hard to close vs cases that have a lighter bolt close? What is the headspace difference if any?

3. Brass OAL is too long and hitting edge of chamber. How are the case mouths on the hard bolt close?

Take some pics of the brass and measurements hard close and nice close.

Use a sharpie and mark up the entire brass, chamber the brass and extract it. Look for any wear marks. Post the pictures so every can see what is happening and I'm sure you will get a lot of expert advice on this forum.

You already have a few very knowledgeable guys commenting on this thread who are willing to help BUT they need more data from you.

There could be so many issues that cause hard bolt close and hard bolt lift.

Don't trim the bottom of your die that's the last resort you may want to be fore tossing the die.

 

[Kings X]

Cutting the die or the shellholder probably will not fix the problem. And WILL effetely bump your shoulder back which can lead to case separation.
The die is too large for the brass - period. You need to try other Full Length dies or have a custom one fitted.
Whitten makes a very good case gauge for shoulder bumping. He can also make the custom die.

 

[Kings X]

One thing that hasn't been addressed - is could those two pieces of brass be too long?

 

[butchlambert]

You can shorten the die, but you need to drill or bore the shoulder end to keep from bumping the shoulder. Just bore the hole to the diameter of the shoulder. Now you can crank down your die a little at a time until the web and shoulder diameter works.

 

[Ironworker]

Well, I shaved .010 of the base of the die.( Forester FL die) They now chamber.

Shaving the base of the die will shorten the die and increase shoulder bump. Too much shoulder bump stretches the brass when fired and short die will bump the shoulder more resulting in case head separation.

Hornady Headspace Comparator, Whidden comparator, or a SAC comparator will work to measure headspace. Get one of these or borrow one from a friend and measure the head space on your hard to close brass and same for the easy to chamber brass. Are the measurements diff? If yes you need to adjust your sizing die to the bump the shoulder a tad more till you get a nice bolt drop when chambering the sized case.

If you are sure its the base that is the issue get a ring die which sizes only the base and doesn't touch any other part of the brass. OR find a larger caliber small base die but within the same size base diameter. That way it will size the base smaller and not bump the shoulder or size the body at all. Whidden's dies usually size smaller in the base, you can send them a couple pieces to measure and see if their die will work. Or a custom Whidden die made from 3 - 3x fired cases. SAC dies size the bases pretty small as well OR Cortina's dies and his mandrel.

Peterson does have a thicker base than other brass. Firing hot loads on the first shot can blow out the base of the brass.

Couple things that may cause hard bolt close.

1. Base too big but that may or may not cause a really hard bolt close, but it will cause clickers when extracting the brass. Dead giveaway.

2. Not enough shoulder bump will cause a hard bolt close and even a hard bolt open. Have you measured the cases that are hard to close vs cases that have a lighter bolt close? What is the headspace difference if any?

3. Brass OAL is too long and hitting edge of chamber. How are the case mouths on the hard bolt close?

Take some pics of the brass and measurements hard close and nice close.

Use a sharpie and mark up the entire brass, chamber the brass and extract it. Look for any wear marks. Post the pictures so every can see what is happening and I'm sure you will get a lot of expert advice on this forum.

You already have a few very knowledgeable guys commenting on this thread who are willing to help BUT they need more data from you.

There could be so many issues that cause hard bolt close and hard bolt lift.

Don't trim the bottom of your die that's the last resort you may want to be fore tossing the die.

Thank you for your effort. I shaved .010 off the base before you posted this. I'll get back to you.

 

[Ggmac]

If your case base is 308 size you can get a lee 45 acp carbide case sizer and use it as a ring die . It’ll just resize the .200 line to .455 .

 

[Ironworker]

Well, I shaved .010 of the base of the die.( Forester FL die) They now chamber.

Thank you for your effort. I shaved .010 off the base before you posted this. I'll get back to you.

Today, I shot brand new Alpha brass. Stout load 44.5 grs of H1000 behind a Berger 80. 5 gr(22 Creedmoor)Zero pressure signs on the brass; I just sized the case, and it chambers like butter. So, could there still be a problem? I could send a couple of cases to Whidden for a custom die.