Help With A New Rifle

[brasstacks]

I just picked up a new rifle and I am having trouble closing my bolt upon chambering a round. The bolt is extreemly hard to turn. Upon inspection of the brass I see marks where the neck meets the shoulder and also where the shoulder meets the case wall. Do I have a head space issue? I don't know if I will be able to open the bolt if I were brave enought to shoot it like this. The chamber is for a 280 Ackley and the reamer was built off of a new Nosler case and 140 accubond. Any suggestions?

 

[HillbillySniper]

It sounds like you need to reset your die and bump your shoulders back. If there's marks at base of neck and the case wall id have to say your shoulder needs bumped give it a try on one piece and see what happens. Hope this helps your problem

Hillbilly

 

[TonyR]

You might want to try chambering a case with the firing pin assembly removed from the bolt. The case should chamber with light pressure at the end of the stroke if the headspace is correct.

 

[jo191145]

An Ackley chamber should close fairly tight on virgin brass.
Fire it with standard 280 loads. When you open the bolt it should be nice and easy.
Brass should fall right out.
Keep your bolt lugs greased every ten rds or so is the general consesus.

FWIW I've never used an Ackley anything. I do headspace most of my rifles in that fashion tho.

 

[jo191145]

As I said. AI is something I've never toyed with.
I find it odd your getting marks at the shoulder/body junction.
Its my understanding the shoulders should move forward steepening the angle.
Therefore I would'nt expect to see rub marks there.
The only contact should be at the neck/shoulder junction.
Typically smithed up to a -.004" crush fit.
Just hoping the reamer maker remembered to add the AI on the end of your 280 reamer ;D

Hopefully someone in the know will come along and set me straight.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I am in the same boat as jo191145, I haven't messed with any Ackleys....Yet! It may be possible that the smith short chambered the barrel a little too much? Try what Hillbilly said and bump the shoulders back .001" or .002" and see if the unloaded brass chambers any easier. Try chambering an unloaded piece of brass and see if there are any marking on the case mouth. You may need to trim the brass to length? Good luck!

Mike

 

[Larryh128]

Very possible that the chamber is set up to fire standard 280 & form in AI. It is normal & needed for the bolt to be slightly stiff chambering a round. You need shoulder contact at the junction of the body & shoulder to form the case & not create excessive headspace. What you don't want in an AI chamber is a standard 280 to chamber with NO feel. No feel = brass rattling around in the chamber when fired & exerting a whole bunch of pressure on the bolt lugs. A condition like this results in head/case separation in a few firings. Is the feel on AI brass or standard 280?

 

[Larryh128]

I've done quite a few AI's, PM me if you want. Never met a AI that I didn't like.

 

[brasstacks]

Thanks for the responses. The brass I am using is virgin Nosler 280 AI. The reamer was supose to be built off of this case and a properly seated 140 accubond. I do know that the chamber is very tight due to my smith cutting the chamber with a flushing system. From what I can see here and from what my reloading mentor has told me I need to bump all my new brass back two thousands before I load them up in order to get the correct fire form.

 

[Larryh128]

Using the AI brass, that would be the proper way to start, but if they chamber, it's not going to be an issue. It'll shape to the chamber anyway and a minimum cut chamber is always a +. ;D