Brass sticks after firing

[solaction]

I've have a 7MM STW that brass sticks after firing, I have to hit the bolt with my hand to get it to extract. This started after firing some hand loads, factory loads and hand loads are doing this now. I was thinking it was just to hot of a load but the factory loads I shot before with no problems are sticking now too. Thanks for any help y'all can give.

David

 

[GWY]

If you have access to one, check with a bore scope to see if a carbon ring has developed. If so, its cleaning time and then see if pressure problem still there.

 

[bheadboy]

+1 on carbon ring

also take a look at the brass after extraction, do you see "soot" on the case from the shoulder back,

if so the chamber is most likely very dirty from the shoulder back as slow burning powder in abundance will not always seal the case to the chamber.r

Bob

 

[MarkTrew]

Try some lube on the bolt lugs and cocking cam. If the 'factory' stuff does not stick and the handloads stick you have a brass sizing issue.

Mark

 

[solaction]

Thanks guys I'll find a bore scope tomorrow then give it a good rough cleaning.

 

[solaction]

+1 on carbon ring

also take a look at the brass after extraction, do you see "soot" on the case from the shoulder back,

if so the chamber is most likely very dirty from the shoulder back as slow burning powder in abundance will not always seal the case to the chamber.r

Bob

There's not any on the shoulder but the end of the necks are discolored like its tarnished.

 

[DaveMarine1]

I had a Remington action do that to me. Hand loads started to stick slightly, then it got worse. I had a switch barrel 6mmBR and it did not do it noticeably with that cartridge but when the .308 was back in business then I had the same issues again. I looked at all the stuff listed above by the other posts. My particular case was that after the receiver was trued, those few thousands here and there caused the timing to be off with the cam. So, we are cutting the bolt handle off, repositioning it so it cams like it should and we are off and running.
That was just my particular case.

 

[Erik Cortina]

I was thinking the same, maybe his timing was marginal and when he used handloads, he wore down the cam and now he has no primary extraction. Luckily, that is easy to check for. If it's off, which is likely as most are, send it to Dans40X and he will take care of it for you.

 

[artbosco]

Are you one of those who only Neck size? :-\ If so, start Full Length sizing with your next batch of new brass.

 

[Jet]

If the above suggestions don't work a small base die may be needed.

Good Shooting.

Rich

 

[jlow]

It can't be anything to do with his reloads as it stared to affect factory loads too.

 

[clowdis]

Starting at the beginning, does the bolt stick when you try to open it without anything in the chamber? Does the bolt stick when you try to open it with an unfired factory round in the chamber?

 

[M-61]

It can't be anything to do with his reloads as it stared to affect factory loads too.

+1

 

[solaction]

Are you one of those who only Neck size? :-\ If so, start Full Length sizing with your next batch of new brass.

No I always full length size.

 

[solaction]

Starting at the beginning, does the bolt stick when you try to open it without anything in the chamber? Does the bolt stick when you try to open it with an unfired factory round in the chamber?

No the bolt works perfect with anything but fired brass.

 

[solaction]

I ran the bora scope down the chamber and it was a little dirty but not bad. I looked like there was deposits of brass in it. I cleaned and polished a little then looked at it again its clean now, looks a little rough it's not shinny like the barrel.

I loaded a piece of brass that had stuck before and worked it a few times to make it really mark the brass and it is scratched right above and has a ring just above the belt.

Thanks again for the help with this I've been scratching my head with this for a while.

 

[solaction]

This shows a little better. This is each side of the brass.

 

[glockaholic]

I was thinking the trim to length was too long but now, not so much. It's a lot of powder for 7mm. How many grains is that?

+1 for small base die.

 

[Patch700]

Some pics of the bolt might lead to some insight , in particular both sides of the lugs along with the bolt face and also the extraction ramp etc. Perhaps those handloads did some damage and that is why you are experiencing these problems now even with factory loads.

Looking at that brass its hard to be precise in how bad it is but it is noticeable enough to warrant a trip to your gunsmith before either shooting it further or finding the root cause.

 

[Brians356]

Are you one of those who only Neck size? :-\ If so, start Full Length sizing with your next batch of new brass.

But he said factory loads also stick. So ...