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Certainly a possibility but we don't know that yet. After firing the cases a second time, test whether they still chamber - if they do, neck size and fire again. Do they chamber after a third firing ? You get where I am going with this. Reload and fire until the cases are fully fireformed and then take the dimensions - then see whether the die is able to set back the shoulder by 0.001 - 0.002. If it does, problem solved, if not, you have to re-assess what to do about the die.....What's the chance my rifle just has a loose chamber and that's what's causing this ?
Ok so question. I don't own a neck sizing die. But since I can't bump these shoulder on my fire formed cases, I should be good to just keep using my full length right ?Certainly a possibility but we don't know that yet. After firing the cases a second time, test whether they still chamber - if they do, neck size and fire again. Do they chamber after a third firing ? You get where I am going with this. Reload and fire until the cases are fully fireformed and then take the dimensions - then see whether the die is able to set back the shoulder by 0.001 - 0.002. If it does, problem solved, if not, you have to re-assess what to do about the die.
Although fired, the cases may not be fully fireformed. The objective is to get them fully fireformed before confirming shoulder setback. Without a NS die, you can partially resize the neck enough to hold a projectile without allowing the die to contact the shoulder - at this stage it seems your die is not contacting the shoulder anyway so this is not yet a problem in achieving a partial NS.Ok so question. I don't own a neck sizing die. But since I can't bump these shoulder on my fire formed cases, I should be good to just keep using my full length right ?
Alright awesome ! Thanks !Although fired, the cases may not be fully fireformed. The objective is to get them fully fireformed before confirming shoulder setback. Without a NS die, you can partially resize the neck enough to hold a projectile without allowing the die to contact the shoulder - at this stage it seems your die is not contacting the shoulder anyway so this is not yet a problem in achieving a partial NS.
Excellent advice, but I would add that if there is a gap when the case is inserted into the die at full stroke, your decapping pin is probably set too long and bottoming out on the case head before the case can fully enter the die. Fought that for an hour with a new set of dies before the light finally came on in my mind! Felt like I hadn't learned anything in 60+ years of loading!
You know actually yes ! I noticed that last night ! Mabye eight of them had the primers sticking out some. I was thinking mabye I just did a crappy job priming but could have sworn everything had been flush. Heck I have even glued a 30cal gas check to my primer arm so it would shove my primers in deeper. Dang I wish I would have set them aside and measured them ! This i getting more and more interesting . And I'm not sure if it's just a typo but you say CBTD. I know about CBTO , what's CBTD?I thought I knew where this thread was going before ever clicking on it . I was happy to see very good suggestions to work out what was actually going on rather then the old "start grinding on something ) lol Lots of good suggestions here and you should not have a problem finding and fixing any issues you "may" have based on the recommendations so far .
Shorter brass CBTD after firing is not all that unusual on low pressure charges which if your chrono numbers are correct seems to be the case . The firing pin strikes the primer pushing the case fully forward . This leaves what ever head clearance there is ( gap between head and bolt face ) do to the difference between the sized case size CBTD and chamber size ( headspace ) . After primer is struck powder ignites creating pressure expanding case sticking it to the chamber walls leaving that head clearance . When the case expands outward the case length can actually get shorter . You only stretch the case longer if there is enough pressure to force the case head back against the bolt face taking up that head clearance discussed earlier . Low pressure rounds will not have enough pressure the stretch the case head back to the bolt face . These low pressure rounds that leave that head clearance while/after firing . Many times the primer will have been pushed out of the pocket a few thousandths and can be seen/measured after ejection . Are your fired primers pushed out of the pockets a bit compared to loaded unfired primers ?
Yep , a perfect indication what others have posted is your problem , which is your cases are not fully fire formed yet . Actually it proves you don't really have a problem other then low charge/pressure .You know actually yes ! I noticed that last night ! Ma ye eight of them had the primers sticking out some. I was thinking mabye I just did a crappy job priming but could have sworn everything had been flush
Hay so another question, I'm also a bullet caster and I'm about to buy some cerosafe to do some chamber castings.yall reckon I should do a chamber cast of this rifle and compare it with a SAAMI spec picture ?
Hmm alrighty then . Well if factory ammo isn't high enough pressure should I just go to the high side of my books charge range and try that ? Reckon starting around mabye23.1 grain of TAC would be a good start to try and get some pressure ? Supposed to get me to 3100fps and I can go up to 24.7gr as my max I know pressure and fps arnt 100% a side by side thing butYep , a perfect indication what others have posted is your problem , which is your cases are not fully fire formed yet . Actually it proves you don't really have a problem other then low charge/pressure .
Gotcha, was thinking along the line it would give me a solid idea of what my brass should be firing to at least in the sese of it proper conforming to the chamberNo not really , I mean it's fun and kinda cool to do but not sure you'll actually find anything out a properly fire formed case wont tell you . In fact because you won't be closing the action to make a proper mold it's not going to give you your chambers headspace measurement . You will see your throat/leade though .
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No , NEVER just start higher Always start at manufactures/manuals start levels . You don't know why that factory load has less velocity . You are almost certainly not going to be using the same components so you will not be comparing apples to apples . Another reason can be you are using a much shorter barrel which will result in anywhere from 40 to 80fps difference every inch less or more of barrel length , never assume anything when reloading . There are really to many variables to name as to why starting higher then recommended charges is never good .Well if factory ammo isn't high enough pressure should I just go to the high side of my books charge range and try that ?