Help please. 243 bolt click

[walley2960]

Hi guys. After the second firing on winchester brass I am experiencing a tight spot near the top of the bolt lift after firing a round.
The rifle......
Stiller action
Krieger barrel
First chamber with a new reamer.

Load....
H4350
105gr berger

While it is a stout load I didn't feel that I reached pressure until 2 grains above the one I am using.
If I can find accuracy at a lower charge and avoid this in the future I would be content with it but did not see this coming and have great accuracy and velocity now.
I may try loading a new piece of brass with a lower charge and see if I encounter the same symptoms but have not done it yet.
Any thoughts regarding cause or fix would be appreciated. I'd rather not scrap the brass or run it like this.

Thanks in advance
Wally

 

[LHSmith]

Neck sizing?

 

[FatBoy]

Time for a small base die if you're FL sizing.

 

[walley2960]

Redding full length bushing die.

 

[LHSmith]

I suppose your reamer is a "match" reamer? In that case your only solution is what Fatboy said.
Unless you have a resize reamer made to closely match your tight chamber reamer ....you will forever be having brass problems. Even with the proper die made by the resize reamer, you'll be fighting the brass and won't get optimum brass life.

 

[walley2960]

While I am not sure the particulars on the reamer. "Match" may describe it best. I had it made for the winchester brass and hybrids. I honestly never considered the body dimensions. I may switch reamers after this barrel is spent. In the mean time I guess I'll give the
small base die a try.
On that note, does anyone know if the ring die that Pbike makes works along the same line?
I'll have to purchase something so just throwing it out there.
Thanks for the input so far.

 

[LHSmith]

PBikes ring die will work....but it costs as much as a new reamer. IMHO a Redding .308 type S small base die will be your best bet. (No one stocks a caliber specific .243 SB die.)

 

[alf]

Any thoughts regarding cause or fix would be appreciated.

Classic example of the reamer/chamber being too tight at at the web.

Best fix is to take the barrel off and hone out the web area of the chamber.

 

[CatShooter]

RCBS makes a small based sizing die:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/123893/rcbs-small-base-sizer-die-243-winchester?cm_vc=ProductFinding



Also, what many people do is run the case through a .45 ACP sizing die - it just sizes the base and nothing else. It acts like a "ring die (cuz it is), and is a lot less than $150 for a custom Pike die. If you don't already have a .45 ACP die set (shame on you ) then you can find one on eBay for $15 to $20.

This is not a "problem" or a bad set-up... it is the consequence of having a very good match chamber... and it is common.

"Classic example of the reamer/chamber being too tight at at the web.

Best fix is to take the barrel off and hone out the web area of the chamber."

That is pure silly!

 

[LHSmith]

RCBS makes a small based sizing die:


This is not a "problem" or a bad set-up... it is the consequence of having a very good match chamber... and it is common.

"Classic example of the reamer/chamber being too tight at at the web.

Best fix is to take the barrel off and hone out the web area of the chamber."

That is pure silly!

"A very good match chamber" ? .....for what? What does a tight chamber offer besides brass problems?
I agree with honing out the base....even if the .45 die works, resizing will always require a 2-die set-up and the associated problems that come with it. If you load to starting load pressures only, you may be able to skip the extra base sizing to every other firing.

 

[Ggmac]

Try a carbide 45acp die . Use it first ,than proceed as normal .. The base of the 243 will be resized to aprx 467 . If you use the Lee die the die would have to be turned ona lathe to remove the internal threads . If you use a RCBS just use as is . It's only worked when the problem is the size of the base is too large .
I know it can not resize any further due to shell holder , but the pistol case die seems to size the case nearer the shell holder than most rifle dies. I hope this makes sense ,no sleep .

SORRY CAT SHOOTER , I didn't see the rest of your post .

 

[alf]

"Classic example of the reamer/chamber being too tight at at the web.

Best fix is to take the barrel off and hone out the web area of the chamber."

That is pure silly!

Another classic example of you not knowing everything........

 

[FatBoy]

I forgot to ask, did you start with brand new brass? A Redding FL sizer should work fine if you start with new brass. I have had similar issues trying brass from one chamber in another, even chambers cut with the same reamer and FL sized. They go in and close fine. By get sticky when the bolt hits the cam point.

 

[walley2960]

Started with new brass. To me it seems like the tight spot is on a part of the brass that should be sized by a standard full length die. At least if the chamber matched the die the way it should.

 

[FatBoy]

You could cast it to find out. Bownells has a kit to do it?

 

[SDWhirlwind]

I forgot to ask, did you start with brand new brass? A Redding FL sizer should work fine if you start with new brass. I have had similar issues trying brass from one chamber in another, even chambers cut with the same reamer and FL sized. They go in and close fine. By get sticky when the bolt hits the cam point.

^^^^This. I shot some hot loads in the very first new blank I chambered, a 6mm Remington. Finally threw the brass away because I couldn't size the base enough to eliminate the 'click' despite several grains lighter powder charge. Took new brass and kept civil with my charge weight, meaning a couple grains less than what I shot with the last first batch of brass. Never ended up or ever had that 'click' with the new lot of brass. Seems the ones I shot the hotter charge in just wouldn't lose the 'spring back' that I ended up with. Tried 3 different sets of dies hoping for a bit tighter base dimension but there is a reason I don't have 'LUCKY" tattooed above the split in the back I was born with. YMMV.

Respectfully,
Dennis

 

[jsthntn247]

I had the same issue in a 300 win mag. I had a competent person set the chamber back and no more issues. The reamer used the first time was dull and cut oversized.

 

[walley2960]

Thanks to everyone who has replied. While the machine work could be an issue, my gut tells me it's not the smith's fault. Visually the chamber looks the same as any other he has done for me. He has cut several for me over the years with great results. I believe a mismatch of reamer vs sizer dimensions to be the issue. Speaking with him today he suggested a small base bushing die in lieu of opening up the back of the chamber. While I haven't looked everywhere I haven't found one yet for .243win.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Ggmac made me a small base sizer out of a Lee .45 acp die. It works great, do as he suggested and purchase a RCBS and your problem will go away. Just my .02.

 

[FatBoy]

Catshooter and other have recommend a fix for this if you can't find a SB die or don't mind adding a step to sizing.