Do I have a Chamber Neck Problem

[338WinMag]

I have a fairly new Weatherby Vanguard 338 Win Mag (300+ rounds fired through it).
If I try to load anything more than 70.5 grains RL19, I get ocassional bolt locks or bolt sticky retracting the round. I can still get the same FPS out of 70 grains that many 338 Win Mag rifles need 73-74 grains to get. (2780 FPS). My shoulder is always bumped at .001-.002. I was told I have a tight chamber??

I bought a Lee Collet die and having issues using it already with my RCBS Rock Chucker. One person mentioned to me that I should be able to drop a bullet in my fire-formed un-resized brass. I have never been able to do that. My neck is to tight though using a RCBS reseating dies works very smoothly.

Now I am starting to wonder if I have a problem with my rifle chamber. Should everyone be able to drop a bullet in a fire-formed un-resized brass? I have used Winchester, Federal Premium and Nosler Custom brass with Hornady and Nosler AB bullets.

 

[jonbearman]

What do the necks look like,are there tiny scratches on the neck after hard extraction? What kind of brass are you using,if you cant push the bullet in with your fingers the neck is too tight.I would skim turn some brass only removing the high spots and reload it and see how it extracts.I had a no turn neck in a shilen barrel that was on the tight side.I skim turned the necks and it worked perfectly.A good smith should be able to open the neck up a little to correct the problem.oops I see the type of brass you are using.Just measure the loaded round and compare it to the no turn dimension which I am sure someone can chime in and give you the number.

 

[338WinMag]

thank you for the reply.

No marks on the necks. I am goig to purchase a neck turning tool (most likely the RCBS auto feed neck turning tool to fit on my RCBS trimmer). I do believe your suggestion for neck turning for concentricity is a very valid and excellent suggestion which I do believe I will greatly benefit from as well.

Having said that this still leaves the question that at least for my fire-formed non-resized cases, I cannot drop a bullet in any of them? So this still might be a chamber neck issue. I do believe this coming Monday I will call Weatherby and most likely a local gunsmith here in Cololorado Springs (Need to find a good one)

I am open for any comments.
Thanks all!
338WinMag

 

[jonbearman]

I had shilen select match with a tight no turn neck and used my rcbs neck trimmer to skim them and it worked fine.I want to leave the barrel alone so as not to upset the apple cart.It is 22-250-AI and it tack drives nicely.

 

[davery25]

are you meant to be able to drop bullets in by hand? wouldnt that be far too loose? or are you referring to gently seating the base of them in? in which case - what about an expander die?

 

[Preacher]

I like to be able to put a bullet back into a fired, unsized case with minimum pressure. If it's done slow, air pressure will tend to push it right back out a little ways .. Thats a near perfect fit to a chamber as near as I can tell...
Probably lots less hassle if the cases were just neck turned rather than sending it out again..
A chamber cast is a good way to tell exactly what the neck and chamber size is..
Factory Weatherbys "usually" dont have tight chambers, especially in a 338...
Possible that the brass is a bit thick too...
One way or the other you have a small problem somewhere.....

 

[RonAKA]

The neck in my 6BR seems to be about 0.0025" larger than a loaded round. I have no issues, and can just fit a bullet into a fired but not resized case. It is a bit hard to get the pressure ring part of a flat base started, but after that it is a nice slip fit. Pulls out by finger and makes a bit of pop like a wine bottle cork. So if you can't do this, then perhaps the neck is too tight. What does the OD of a loaded round measure compared to a fired round OD? Check with each brand of brass to see if brands could be different.

I agree that the best way out, if it turns out the neck is too tight, is to turn the necks down.

One other thought based on your velocity with less powder. Have you checked your scale for accuracy? If you have a bullet around 70 grains they make a handy test weight. Generally bullets are within 0.1 grains of the weight stated on the box.

 

[davery25]

Hold up with that one...depends on the bullet, perhaps if its a sierra or berger bullet but ive weighed 55gr hornady v-max bullets that vary between, 54.7 and 55.3, with the majority being either 55.3 or 55.1

 

[RonAKA]

Hold up with that one...depends on the bullet, perhaps if its a sierra or berger bullet but ive weighed 55gr hornady v-max bullets that vary between, 54.7 and 55.3, with the majority being either 55.3 or 55.1

Could very well be. I did say generally. I've only weighed Berger, Barts, and Sierra. The Noslers I don't buy for accuracy, and have never had a Hornady. That sounds brutal for weight distribution on the Hornady.

 

[338WinMag]

Excellent answers and I appreciate everyone's comments.

I did some research on chamber casting and have decided to order some cerrosafe and carefully perform a casting.

The neck turning is definitely something I need to incorporate into my practice but something is wrong. Even if I neck turn, after a firing, the necks on my cases are still tight that I could not ever push a bullet into them them without a seater die.

Thanks and I should have all the materials and perform the work with results by next Thursday or Friday. Unfortuantely I do not have any fire formed but non-resized brass and won't have any till next Saturday.

Thanks all
338WinMag

 

[Preacher]

(Even if I neck turn, after a firing, the necks on my cases are still tight that I could not ever push a bullet into them them without a seater die)

Seems like your not turning them enough to me if it's doing that..
Do the casting and go from there..

DO NOT LET THAT STUFF STAY IN THE CHAMBER ANY LONGER THAN THEY RECOMMEND..