Strange headspace issue

[MTBMaine]

I have about 1000 rounds through a Howa 1500 .308. this past weekend it stopped chambering rounds, it felt as if I was trying to chamber a NO GO gauge, Almost closed the bolt... but not quite. I've been cleaning the s*#& out of the chamber, thinking maybe there was just a build up of carbon around the shoulder area. Hasn't worked yet. Has anybody experienced this?

I know it's not a sizing issue with my brass, I've been using a go gauge trying to fix it. Still won't close.

 

[K22]

Are the cases trimmed to lenght?

Will a factory round chamber?

Is the bolt face and extractor clean and free of brass particle / carbon build up?

Does the ejector move freely?

Does a size case without bullet not chamber or only a loaded round not chamber?

Is there carbon residue build up inside the bolt - disassmeble check and clean.

 

[joshb]

Time to trim the necks?
Carbon ring?
Time to anneal? Too much spring Back?
Frozen ejector?
Expanded base?

 

[M-61]

I have about 1000 rounds through a Howa 1500 .308. this past weekend it stopped chambering rounds, it felt as if I was trying to chamber a NO GO gauge, Almost closed the bolt... but not quite. I've been cleaning the s*#& out of the chamber, thinking maybe there was just a build up of carbon around the shoulder area. Hasn't worked yet. Has anybody experienced this?

I know it's not a sizing issue with my brass, I've been using a go gauge trying to fix it. Still won't close.

Quote:
"I've been using a go gauge trying to fix it."

In what way are you doing that? Insert the go gauge and the bolt closes? Does everything work properly on an empty chamber? Have you taken a fired case (from your rifle) and tried to chamber it?

 

[MTBMaine]

Quote:
"I've been using a go gauge trying to fix it."

In what way are you doing that? Insert the go gauge and the bolt closes? Does everything work properly on an empty chamber? Have you taken a fired case (from your rifle) and tried to chamber it?

I insert the go gauge and the bolt still doesn't want to close. Everything works fine on an empty chamber.

I haven't tried chambering a fired case, I'll try that next.
Thanks for the reply, this has been bugging me.

 

[MTBMaine]

Time to trim the necks?
Carbon ring?
Time to anneal? Too much spring Back?
Frozen ejector?
Expanded base?

Carbon ring in the chamber?

 

[JohnKielly]

Check you don't have some rubbish that's fallen into the lug area of the action. I've seen popped primers & their anvils fished out of there.

 

[joshb]

Look at your ejector and make sure it's not frozen or blocked by debris.

 

[gat]

I have about 1000 rounds through a Howa 1500 .308. this past weekend it stopped chambering rounds, it felt as if I was trying to chamber a NO GO gauge, Almost closed the bolt... but not quite. I've been cleaning the s*#& out of the chamber, thinking maybe there was just a build up of carbon around the shoulder area. Hasn't worked yet. Has anybody experienced this?

I know it's not a sizing issue with my brass, I've been using a go gauge trying to fix it. Still won't close.

Check the ejector, many times the ejector can get "peened" or sometimes it is just powder or trash gets under it and prevents it from moving properly!

 

[MTBMaine]

Check the ejector, many times the ejector can get "peened" or sometimes it is just powder or trash gets under it and prevents it from moving properly!

I checked it, it's good. So I'm starting to get the bolt to close on the go gauge (not forcing it) I think the chamber was just SUPER DIRTY!!

Thanks

 

[savagedasher]

Cut the neck off a case and see if it closes . Make sure you cut the neck shoulder junction off . . That should give you a place to start looking . Good luck Larry

 

[JohnKielly]

I checked it, it's good. So I'm starting to get the bolt to close on the go gauge (not forcing it) I think the chamber was just SUPER DIRTY!!

If you think t6hat is possible, try spinning a .45 wire brush in the chamber. I have come across circumstances where shooters have regularly wiped chambers out, only to find a buildup of crud in the body/shoulder junction of the chamber. When that occurred, extracted cases had a frosted look there.

 

[savagedasher]

The only way you could crud up a chamber is if the necks were so hard they didn't expand .
Larry

 

[Eddie Harren]

The only way you could crud up a chamber is if the necks were so hard they didn't expand .
Larry

Pure Scripture here Folks!

 

[Rustystud]

Take a full sized case cover it with a magic marker or dykum. Allowing it to dry. Then insert the marked up case into the chamber. Try closing the bolt. The remove the case and check for scuff markswhere the case is rubbing.

 

[jds holler]

It is obvious to me that your barrel has somehow, slipped it's place in the space/time continuum, and began to exist at the place it existed when it was still "short chambered". jd

 

[tmwinds]

The only way you could crud up a chamber is if the necks were so hard they didn't expand .
Larry

???

 

[lpreddick]

Borescope, boresscope, borescope.

 

[savagedasher]

???

??? The case normally is sealed from carbon or crud by the neck . If it isn't you need to anneal . Larry

 

[Eddie Harren]

??? The case normally is sealed from carbon or crud by the neck . If it isn't you need to anneal . Larry

More Scripture!