Problem sizing 22BR

[Stonewall]

Get Preacher to rechamber that barrel and provide a reamer print .

Order a block of cerro safe from Brownells.It comes in very handy to measure dies etc.
http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/General/DisplayPDF.aspx?f=bt002015.pdf

Buy a box of new Lapua brass.

Then get a set of dies that match the chamber .
Try : http://www.harrellsprec.com/

Possibly some input and cases from shooters will get Forester producing .22 Br. dies for Lapua brass. How do the 6mm Br dies work ??



Glenn

 

[RePete]

Hey,,,,,,,,, I just may be getting somewhere.
The Redding FL die set I ordered from Midway finally showed up.
It took two weeks to get them but I'm betting that was UPS sleeping at the wheel somewhere in route. Doesn't matter because I needed to step away from this little endeavor for a while anyway.
I ran a few new untouched Lapua cases through the FL sizer last night and they all chamber very easily. No resistance when closing the bolt like the cases sized with the Forster FL die.
I also checked that they drop right into the seater die and I'm happy to say that they fit perfectly. Out of curiosity I checked to see if they would fit in the Forster seater die and no cigar. They stop at the neck just like the cases sized with the Forster FL die. Obviously the thickness of the Lapua brass is the problem. You would think that Forster would be aware of that since there aren't that many manufacturers for BR brass.
I'm a loyal Forster customer and I think I was to pig headed to realize they simply don't work for this caliber/brass combo.
The neck's after sizing measure .252, exactly the same as the Forster sized cases did. I'm pretty sure that neck turning to .248 to fit the Forster sizing die was what let all of the gasses pass by the case and into the chamber. Maybe not and if someone with more knowledge than me,which would be just about everybody) has a different take please chime in.
I'm going to load a few rounds and go to the range tomorrow.
I'll let ya know how things go.
I'm convinced that no two die or reamer manufacturers are using the same specs for this cartridge and will probably get a die made to fit this chamber. I'll see how it goes after firing some rounds tomorrow. I might get lucky and be able to just get a bushing die and neck size after fire forming these cases????
Oh yea,,,,,,,,I did get one of Sinclair's chamber length tools and after sizing I'm .005 shorter than the chamber,case trim length). That will probably change after firing.

Annnywhooo,,,, I just thought I owed everyone that's been so helpfull an update.
Have a safe weekend.
Charlie

 

[billmo]

Man, I sure hope this is your ticket. You have certainly been around the block a couple of times with this thing. Good luck. Bill

 

[RePete]

Thanks Bill,,,,,,I'll let ya know tomorrow after a trip to the range.

It has been an adventure, that's for sure.

All of the articles on this sites 22BR section are the main reason I chose this cartrige, but I respectfully submitt that they should edit them a bit. It's anything BUT, "run em through the 22BR die, load em up, and go shooting.".
The mistakes by Pac-Nor and Forster have no bearing on the information, but even taking those problems out of the equasion there just doesn't seem to be any consistancy between manufacturers. Then when you throw the "22BR Rem./22BR Norma" thing in it's a miracle that it's even survived.

I chose it for my first wildcat cartrige because it appeared to be relatively easy for a beginner. Boy was I wrong.

I'm sure a large part of the problem was my inexperience in being able to diagnose the problems. Thanks to You, Preacher, Mikey and everybody else I was able to get the chamber corrected,I hope) and back on track.
Wish me luck tomorrow.
Thanks
Charlie

 

[billmo]

Sure thing man. I hope everything goes smooth at the range. It is time for some fun, not aggrevation. I'm sure you agree with that. Bill

 

[NorCalMikie]

I was just wondering if you had pulled out all your hair yet. :thumb::thumb::thumb:. Now go burn some powder!

 

[RePete]

Fortunatly I went bald about 10 years ago Mikie.hehe
Otherwise this little experience would have been alot more painfull.

I'm not out of the woods yet, but things are looking up.
Hopefully I'll have some good news after I go to the range tomorrow.
I'm almost giddy being able to chamber a case or seat a bullet without drama.

One quick side note,,, Both Forster and Redding dies say 22BR Rem on them but when you look at Redding's on-line catalog it says "22BR Rem,Norma),1)"... Since Redding dies are looking like they are going to solve my problem, maybe they are getting a handle on things. I talked to Forster about the BR Rem/BR Norma when I first started this and they assured me their dies were BR Norma. I'm not so sure.

Later

 

[RePete]

Well I'm back from the range and things are looking alot better finaly.
I shot 25 rounds without any problems. I even checked each round to make sure it would chamber after firing.
The wind was giving me fits but the groups weren't that bad concidering that this was my first load tested. Truthfully I was more comcerned with function than accuracy.

I got to thinking that some of you might be interested in seeing the rifle that has been the source of this fiasco.
I built it exactly the same as the 17Rem in the pic behind it.
Same barrel contour, same HS stock, and they both have older Remmy triggers set as close to two lbs as I can get them with a Lyman guage.
They're not as pretty as any of the BR guns I see at our Range but they work fine for my Varmint hunting purposes.

Again I need to thank everyone for the help and kind words.
The beer's on me if any of you ever find your selves in the Lewiston Idaho area.

You're not getting rid of me because I plan to bug you all for load info as well as any more problems I run into with case forming.
Hopefully our conversations will be on a more positave note in the future.
Hope everybody is haveing a safe holiday weekend.
Take Care
Charlie

 

[NorCalMikie]

Charlie: I knew you could do it. Good job. :thumb: Mikie likes it!

 

[brfun]

Fantastic!
Your rifle looks pretty good to me! I am glad things are working out after all you have been through. For what its worth you have even helped inspired me to get back to working on my problem child witch I hope to be shooting in a couple of weeks!
Good luck!
I get as far north as New Meadows now and then so who knows maybe sometime we can hook up for a little varmint hunt.
Brian

 

[billmo]

Good for you man. It is high time something came together for you
I hope all goes well for you from now on because you have had your share of trouble and a portion of someone else's too. Nice looking rigs man. Bill

 

[8mmMauser]

Charlie, I have to agree with Brian - your rifles are beautiful. Very classy and understated .

 

[RePete]

Thanks again for all of the kind words and help with everything.

Brian............I don't get down by New meadows much but I sure like that country down there. We go through there to shoot Squirrls by Weaser. There's a ton of rodents south of Weaser if ya hit the weather right.

8MM Thanks, but they're just poor-boy guns. Carpenters are underpaid ya know..... They work for me, but I think I need to get some better bags and front rest. I really can't wring all of their potential out of them anymore and alot of guys are saying it's my set-up.
They're probably right.
I'll watch the classified's

Thanks
Charlie

 

[NorCalMikie]

Charlie:
If it was me that had "that" much trouble with a rifle build, I would have cut that sucker up into 1" pieces, thrown it in the trash can, picked up my grar and went fishing! You did good by getting it sorted out. :thumb:
Glad you came out on top!

 

[RePete]

Thanks Mike

It's still giving me some problems but at least now I can shoot the danged thing.
I'll get it worked out I'm sure.
Trust me I did want to throw it in front of a fast moving Freight Train a few times, but I'm to poor to do that.
Take Care
Charlie

 

[NorCalMikie]

Charlie:
You say it's still giving you some problems?? All of us have been through this much with it, we might as well see it through to the end. What's going on now? If you're pregnant, we can't help but if it's a problem with the rifle we can probably sort it out! And after all you've been through, you better think that's funny!

 

[RePete]

That actually is funny Mikie!
I started a new thread "Vertical Stringing".
Basically it's just shooting like Poo. It's really all over the place, so I'm starting with the Basics. I'll check the bedding and double check scope mount's and see if I can get it to settle down.
As I said earlier "at least I'm getting in some trigger time with her" so this isn't quite so tramatic.
I'm confident that I'll get it squared away. It's just going to take a little more tweaking.
Fortunatly I have a set of keys to our range.

Thanks
Charlie