Thread: Case prep issues

I just prepped up 50 once/twice fired cases, using the exact same process for all.
Being a newbie to reloading, I got into the habit of checking cases in my rifle before priming them. Well, out of the 50, 20 wont allow me to close the bolt, or at the very best, close it with too much effort.

I ran a couple of the dodgy shells back through the Hornady neck size die, but it made no difference.
What is going on ?

Too much headspace probably. Run them through the full length sizer to bump the shoulder back.

Hmm. I don't have a FL die. Best I get one I think

Originally Posted by stug

Too much headspace probably. Run them through the full length sizer to bump the shoulder back.

Yup. Need to bump your shoulders a bit.
Wind the FL die down a 1/4 turn until a case chambers with no stiffness.

If you have to do it every firing it might pay to back your load off a fraction if you want to extend case life as well.

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Other option is the case length is too long. You could measure and trim if necessary.

Originally Posted by stug

Too much headspace probably. Run them through the full length sizer to bump the shoulder back.

I had the same issue and this solved it when i first started.

Originally Posted by stug

Other option is the case length is too long. You could measure and trim if necessary.

Done that

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I need to get a FL die

Originally Posted by Pengy

Thanks for the replies. Looks like I need to get a FL die

Or body die.

You say the cases are once or twice fired but not that they were fired in your rifle ? If they came from another rifle they may be out of spec for your chamber and need F/L sizing or at least a good shoulder set back. A body die ( or a trim die is cheaper ) is a good addition to the bench.

The trim die will let you do two operations at the same time ( size the case then run a file over it to trim back to length )

What cartridge?

Originally Posted by johnd

You say the cases are once or twice fired but not that they were fired in your rifle ? If they came from another rifle they may be out of spec for your chamber and need F/L sizing or at least a good shoulder set back. A body die ( or a trim die is cheaper ) is a good addition to the bench.

The trim die will let you do two operations at the same time ( size the case then run a file over it to trim back to length )

Upon further inspection of the cases, 99% of the ones giving me a problem are from the batch of reloads that came with the secondhand rifle. A sako A11 in 243
Obviously, I have no way of knowing how many firings these have had. My bad 100%

Spit on it and bang it in mate

Originally Posted by Pengy

Upon further inspection of the cases, 99% of the ones giving me a problem are from the batch of reloads that came with the secondhand rifle. A sako A11 in 243
Obviously, I have no way of knowing how many firings these have had. My bad 100%

Sometimes even after FL sizing cases fired a few times one rifle may not fit in another.

There is a myriad of cans of worms when using SH reloaded cases from another rifle or chamber.

Originally Posted by Gibo

Spit on it and bang it in mate

Ummm don't think that's advice for reloading