Chambering issue Lapua 6.5-284 brass

[ramrod45]

Issue: When chambering the cartridge the bolt requires much effort to close the bolt handle. Sometimes it well not close. When visually examining the cartridge that would not chamber, there are "scuff marks" at the bottom of the brass, right before the extractor groove.

Info: I've necked up Lapua 6.5-284 brass to .284 Winchester (7mm). The barrel is a drop in Shilen for a Savage action. Most of the brass is once or twice fire, and full length sized with a RCBS full length die.

Why do you think some of the brass are not fully chambering ?

 

[ShootDots]

Issue: When chambering the cartridge the bolt requires much effort to close the bolt handle. Sometimes it well not close. When visually examining the cartridge that would not chamber, there are "scuff marks" at the bottom of the brass, right before the extractor groove.

Info: I've necked up Lapua 6.5-284 brass to .284 Winchester (7mm). The barrel is a drop in Shilen for a Savage action. Most of the brass is once or twice fire, and full length sized with a RCBS full length die.

Why do you think some of the brass are not fully chambering ?

It sounds to me like the once or twice fired brass was NOT fired in your chamber. Am I correct? If I am, that is your answer. The base of the cartridge is a smidgen too large for the chamber as it is now..

 

[FatBoy]

A Redding small base die may fix this short term but I would want to know the reamer used on the barrel. If it was cut for WW brass you need to use WW brass and be real careful with the neck dimensions. I'd also be looking for some new brass once you know for sure.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Yep being a pre chambered barrel id bet its for win brass so start over with new and you should be fine

 

[ramrod45]

Thank you for your suggestions. The brass was new. According to SAAMI the dimensions for area before the extraction groove should be .5 OD. and that's what the brass measures.

What I find puzzling is that there are only a few cartridges that well not chamber. (out of a 100) For the one's that do chamber, there is always an effort to close the bolt.

 

[Dirtball]

You said it was a "Drop in Barrel", who put the barrel on, are you sure it was properly head spaced using a quality Go gage?
Have you trimmed or checked the case length? Max case length should be 2.160"
If all of the above is correct, perhaps your full length die needs to be screwed down another 1/8 turn to bump the shoulder back.
I would check all of this before pulling the barrel to measure the chamber to see if it was cut too tight, Never seen this on a drop in barrel they usually don't use minimum spec reamers.

Dave

 

[bsumoba]

I bet it is partly the brass, partly the headspacing. Make sure that the barrel was headspaced properly.

I find that new brass still needs to sometimes be put through a resizign die as well. Don't assume that the brass comes in perfectly SAAMI spec. I'vd had Lapua 6.5x284 brass chamber tough and some chamber easily.

I now run them all through a die before loading them up.

 

[1shot]

Bryan,
I had exactly the same problem with my 6.5x284. The difference, and I say this without the intention of steping on the toes of any posters.
I purchased a Hugh Henderson reamer from a poster that will remain un-named. Even though I full length re-sized every time opening the bolt was a big be-ouch. So much so that the heel of my hand would be swollen and bruised for a week. I put up a post on here and got the same answers. Measured the reamer and the chamber at the.200 mark, all was good. even ran the case through a small base die and tested it in the rifle, with the brass only and it still closed hard. Then the infamous "click" reared it's ugly head and I took it to my gunsmith Greg Walley. In 5 minutes he had the problem solved. When Redding cut the sizing die, it had a burr on the cutter at the shoulder/body junction. Now everything made sense. Bumping the case more just made it worse. I sent Redding them three fired cases as well as the die, and I had a custom cut die in a week. I'm not saying that it's your problem, but it is something to look at.
I hope this helps,
Lloyd