cases won't fit in chamber

[Deleted old_dood]

I'm not speaking of hard bolt close. what's happening is the area of the case just above the head has gotten too wide and the bolt can't push the case all the way in. this also happens after FL sizing. I can predict when it will happen by using the sleeve on my Redding micrometer seater. the case can't be pushed all the way in. Savage 12LRPV with a Pacnor barrel chambered in 223ai. I'm not sure how many times the cases have been reloaded but 20 wouldn't surprise me. are these cases candidates for the garbage? Could this have been caused by very hot loads? I've never noticed any pressure signs.

 

[Ggmac]

Have you changed ANYTHING ? Bolt head , barrel removal ? Are you fl resizing . If not you need to .
Fl resize with imperial every 5-8 firings . These cases are most likely ready for the recycle bin .

 

[243winxb]

Seems like many maximum loads have expanded the web area, over time. Any gas leakage from the primers?

 

[scott_at_vortex]

Are you sure you havent accidentally picked up someone elses brass on accident?

 

[savagedasher]

Your chamber could require the small base dies Larry

 

[Rsadams]

Time for small base dies...You have gotten you moneys worth at 20 reloads.. Just my 2cents...

 

[Cuando]

A carbide .357 sizer works great for ironing out the bases on a .223AI.

But at 20+ loads, I might start from scratch.

 

[Sundown]

An older Gentleman at our range was experiencing the same thing a while back. It turned out he had changed bullets and was seating the new bullets to the depth of his previous bullet. It was easy to spot because the new bullets had a serration at the ogive where the case neck was supposed to be seated to. After seating to that depth the cartridge chambered just fine. Just something to check.

 

[Preacher]

Small base die, or trim the shell holder down.....

 

[eric32]

What brand of FL DIE are you currently using?

 

[Ggmac]

Since no reply from the OP , I researched some of his posts . He seems to have had a die made by whidden , don't know if it's a full length or not .

 

[Fotheringill]

I believe he is using a Whidden die and I can assure you he didn't pick up anyone else's brass accidentally. His spent cases go directly from the port into his hand.

 

[Milo 2.0]

Measure the opening of the die, it'll tell a story.

 

[Deleted old_dood]

Yes, it's a Whidden fl bushing die. I've got about 250 Lapua cases that I rotate. All are not the same age I regret not keeping them separated by age now. I can fl size many of them and not have the problem. When I do have it I've found that if I resize with the Redding body die they'll fit fine. The later sizes further down the case than the Whidden. At this point, based on the replies I've received, I believe that it's brass related.

 

[Brians356]

At this point, based on the replies I've received, I believe that it's brass related.

Not sure why you conclude that. At this point, based on your replies, I believe it's die related. The brass just flows where it will, either outward (expanding in the chamber), or inward (squeezed in the FL die). If you knew exactly which cases had been FL sized by which die (Redding or Whidden) you might have a good clue in hand. But it seems like the Whidden is perhaps not small enough to size the web area. And you must be shooting some pretty hot loads, in a generous chamber.
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[Juma]

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com...-die-fit-diagnosing-stiff-bolt-lift-problems/

 

[Deleted old_dood]

I'm not speaking of hard bolt close. what's happening is the area of the case just above the head has gotten too wide and the bolt can't push the case all the way in. this also happens after FL sizing. I can predict when it will happen by using the sleeve on my Redding micrometer seater. the case can't be pushed all the way in. Savage 12LRPV with a Pacnor barrel chambered in 223ai. I'm not sure how many times the cases have been reloaded but 20 wouldn't surprise me. are these cases candidates for the garbage? Could this have been caused by very hot loads? I've never noticed any pressure signs.

well, this is embarrassing. after FL sizing all the cases, they all worked. My mistake was using the sleeve on my seating die to determine if they were sized enough. you see, the cases were stopping in the sleeve in almost exactly the same place as in the chamber even after FL sizing. It wasn't until I pulled the bullets and saw that they would easily fit in the sleeve that I figured my methodology was out to lunch. sorry for wasting everyone's time.

 

[Preacher]

Alls well that ends well, never forget that .........

 

[Brians356]

I doubt anyone here feels their time was wasted. Consider how much you probably learned from this discussion. I know I learned a few things.
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[Fotheringill]

Old-dood-

I am absolutely shattered. You WERE my hero.