Thread: 338 Edge reloading problem

So...... had my 338 edge a few months now and it shoots awesome. been using 300 rum norma brass and sizing it up to 338 and thats been working fine except its very soft (only lasting a few reloads) and expensive.

So anyway, Came across 40 pieces of unfired Bertram 338 edge brass for cheap so i scooped them up and decided to load them up for a long range shoot tomorrow and this is when the wheels fell off.
I chucked one of the new bertram brass up her and it was tight to close the bolt so i set up the full length sizer and wound it down a quater turn and it cycled smooth. Full length sized the lot, bumping the shoulder back slighty and thought she'd be good to go. I loaded up 40 with powder and pills and after doing the last one, put one up it and.....alas the bolt wouldnt close. check the rest ... the same
its not the seating depth as i tried adjusting that waaay in and still the same problem. have i missed something stupidly obvious here? why does the bolt close with empty brass but not loaded? the norma brass closes fine with way longer seating depth? help?

Measure base to shoulder on Bertram vs Norma

Measure base to ogive on Bertram vs Norma

Measure neck OD on Bertram vs Norma

base to shoulder norma 2.400" , bertram 2.432 , the other measurements are identical, so i just needa bump the shoulder back the difference and good to go aye?

If the one you first fl sized was sweet then could be a neck problem? Do all your measurements something will stick out

Trimmed the neck?

Case over length? Sized mouth can fit further forward and loaded jamming at end of chamber?

White board marker the sucker over its full length try to chamber and you should see the problem.

Originally Posted by ARdave

base to shoulder norma 2.400" , bertram 2.432 , the other measurements are identical, so i just needa bump the shoulder back the difference and good to go aye?

If bumping does not work then it sounds like a neck length issue. Pull the pill from each brass and measure case length.

bumping failed. the bb is averaging 2.838" ish and the the norma 2.815" in length , that enough to do it? assumed (mother of all f*ckups...) that i wouldnt need to trim new brass...sigh....

its marking right on the shoulder crease area

8 beers later..... sorted it, shoulder needed more bumping back.... thanks for all the help to this rookie team much appreciated!

What bergers are you shooting? 300gr OTM Elite Hunters? Killed anything with it yet?

Originally Posted by ARdave

8 beers later..... sorted it, shoulder needed more bumping back.... thanks for all the help to this rookie team much appreciated!

If what you said here fixed the problem, then what I want to know is "why does the bolt close with empty brass but not loaded?" Did you ever work that one out?