Brass Won't Chamber - Perplexed

[Coyotefurharvester]

Would it help to rent go-no go, could also use the gauge to "calibrate" the comparator and caliper. Help in setting die.

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

What about new virgin brass ? How much different ? New brass work's good ? You need a piece of new brass to compare.

 

[Bill K]

Maybe the brass is not the issue, but depth of the bullet you are seating. If it is hitting the lands too much and does not slide into the case on closing the bolt, it could be holding you up. Have you changed depth of seating or a different bullet since you loaded last ?

 

[joshb]

Check your rims.

 

[copperking81]

Thanks everyone for your input! I'll try and respond to a few questions and comments in one post here.

1. I don't have virgin brass on hand to use. I'm planning on ordering some today. That said, I have used new brass in this rifle in the past with no problems.

2. It's not the bullet seating depth. Same problem with or without bullets seated.

3. I think the charts with the case dimensions will help a lot. I'm going to compare the charts to the cases today.

4. I agree... I think I just need to shoot this brass out of the Ruger No. 1 and get another set of brass for the M70. That or I may try a base die set first.

 

[copperking81]

I think I see a bulge, look just outside the red box, top right, in your picture. It could just be an optical illusion. Just brain storming here.

Jim

I think you're right. It's hard to make out in the photo but that's also the area that most of the marker is getting rubbed off.

 

[243winxb]

When sizing a case, at the top of the stroke, is the shell holder in full contact with the bottom of the die?
Take a strong light and look.

Many times the fix its simply just turning the fl die down more and putting some muscle into it.

The oval chamber problem can be fixed with small base dies, if available. Or order a custom die using 3 fired brass.

 

[copperking81]

When sizing a case, at the top of the stroke, is the shell holder in full contact with the bottom of the die?
Take a strong light and look.

Yes. The press is a Forster Co-Ax. With those presses, there is room to tighten down the die past just touching the case holder jaws, and really cam over. I've taken it as far down as it will go. The die is driving well into the case holder jaws.

 

[243winxb]

Forster Co-AX

This maybe the problem. I would try a RCBS that cams over. Any reloading buddies have a different press?

 

[copperking81]

This maybe the problem. I would try a RCBS that cams over. Any reloading buddies have a different press?

I'll give it a try on a buddy's press but I don't think this is the issue. I feel like I can get cam over with the Forster and the shoulder is measurably getting more and more bump back as I crank the die down. I think the chambers across the two rifles are different enough towards the end closest to the receiver, to cause a problem when using brass in the M70 that had been fired in the Ruger No 1.

But I will give that a try too.

 

[243winxb]

Headspace = Started at 1.728, took it all the way down to 1.722

Yes, a very strange problem for sure.

 

[Richard Jones]

So what does an inked case look like after you size it?

 

[BillHocker]

I'm having issues chambering resized brass out of my pre-64 M70 .220 Swift and cannot narrow down the cause.

I had reloaded once fired Hornady brass and noticed while at the range, some of them would not chamber in my M70. I figured I didn't have my FL sizing die turned down far enough. I did fire the rounds out of another .220 Swift later. I then cleaned the brass, ran a few through the FL sizing die, measured headspace with a comparator, and proceeded to test. They would not chamber. I then incrementally started to turn the die down to the point where I can no longer turn it down and still get cam over. Still will not chamber.

Fortunately, I was able to find a piece brass that was 1x fired and would chamber easily in the rifle. I proceeded to take measurements of that case and the other cases I had used to test that would not chamber.

Good Case

• Headspace = 1.728
• Case length = 2.196
• Case width at base= 0.442
• Case width at mid point = 0.425
• Case width just below neck = 0.405

Bad case

• Headspace = Started at 1.728, took it all the way down to 1.722
• Case length = 2.196
• Case width at base= 0.440
• Case width at mid point = 0.425
• Case width just below neck = 0.404

In every way I measured, it seems the bad case is smaller so I cannot figure out why it won't chamber but the other case will.

I'm guessing it might have something to do with the brass having been fired out of two different rifles but considering all the brass went through the FL die anyway, I'd think it would get it consistent. Both the good and bad cases all chamber in the other rifle, which is a Ruger No1.

What am I missing!?!?

SInce this is a M70 controlled feed there might be a problem with the extractor snapping over the rim.

 

[Texas10]

I would also grab a borescope and check for a hard carbon build up at the end of the chamber. Mouth of cartridge hitting a stop in one rifle, but not the other?

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

Thanks everyone for your input! I'll try and respond to a few questions and comments in one post here.

1. I don't have virgin brass on hand to use. I'm planning on ordering some today. That said, I have used new brass in this rifle in the past with no problems.

2. It's not the bullet seating depth. Same problem with or without bullets seated.

3. I think the charts with the case dimensions will help a lot. I'm going to compare the charts to the cases today.

4. I agree... I think I just need to shoot this brass out of the Ruger No. 1 and get another set of brass for the M70. That or I may try a base die set first.

You only need virgin brass so as to compare. This comparison will reveal the issue.

 

[pertnear]

I had a similar problem with a Sav 99/.250. It had me really scratching my head for answers. It turned out that the chamber length was out of spec & the brass needed to be trimmed shorter. Worth a try...FWIW

 

[tclaunch]

Well I will offer a bit of advise for something I didn`t see mentioned. Place a piece of brass in your press with the seating die screwed in. See if the seating die is touching the brass. Its very possible it is set to crimp and can distort the case enough to where it won`t chamber. I had this happen with my very first attempt at reloading.

 

[Rustytigwire]

6mm remington
New barrel SAMMI chambered by barrel maker
Factory ammo fits wilson case gauge and chamber
Go gauge fits chamber
RCBS fl die sized ammo fits case gauge but not chamber, bolt wont close.
Rcbs fl die used in factory r700 barrel fine
Bonanza dies from Doug squish it smaller OD. Brass fits now.
New chamber is small end of tolerance it seems.
I guess i should measure. Its gonna work though.
Tight chamber, bigger but in tolerance dies.

 

[Albany Mountain]

You might check lengthwise up the side of the case to see if the shoulder is collapsed at the start of the shoulder. This can be caused by the seating die set too close to shellholder

 

[CTK]

When stuff like this happens I feel like an idiot and wait too long to ask questions. This site is a Godsend for enthusiast level reloaders like me. OP is obviously a seasoned reloader with a perplexing issue. Just wanted to point out how cool it is to have such a resource of experts willing to help.