Thread: FL resized rounds wont chamber

Ok so I’m having issues with my full length resized brass not chambering in my rifle (7mm WSM Remington 700).
I have set up the die according to Hornady specs and run the brass through the die as so. Bear in mind I am using once or twice fired brass here. I have no virgin brass, sadly i ran all of my once fired brass through the FL die before realising this was going to be an issue. Dont know if this is going to be a good of bad thing.

This resized brass does not chamber into my rifle meaning that I cannot close the bolt at all.

I have since purchased a Hornady headspace comparator to see if adjusting my shoulder bump would solve the issue.

I then followed the Hornady instructions on how to do this https://youtu.be/iYTOPm20qKo.

I did this with 3 pieces of once fired brass (not from my rifle but a friends 7mm WSM) and i still am not able to close the bolt. I was aiming for the recommended 2 thou shoulder bump. The adjustments i made to the FL die would of added up to no more than half a turn down.

Am i buggered here untill im able to either get some virgin brass or fire the remaining of my loads that do chamber ?

Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

Are you trimming the brass? Max case length is 53.34mm trim length 53mm

Yes i have been trimming to 53.1mm here are some photos of a round that fits, a round that doesnt and the length of the case of the round that doesnt

Originally Posted by BenTheBuilder

Yes i have been trimming to 53.1mm here are some photos of a round that fits, a round that doesnt and the length of the case of the round that doesnt

I'll ask the question again. Can you corfirm that the case in pic one definitely fits and pic 3 doesn't?
If you have a case that fits a few measurements will tell you what the problem ig. eg an oversize web.

yes you are correct. the round reading 45.86mm fits and the round reading 46.05mm does not.

Originally Posted by BenTheBuilder

yes you are correct. the round reading 45.86mm fits and the round reading 46.05mm does not.

Skip read to here so probably missed afew details. Of the two cases mentioned in this (above) why is one shorter than the other and why can't you make the longer one the same as the shorter one?
Forget about hornady headspace gauges. For a true bumped fit look up "wheeler method "
But that's stuff for further down the track also look up " cam over" on reloading presses.
The trouble you have is that the brass was fire formed to a different sized chamber to yours. You need to get it back to SAAMI specs....then shoot it in your rifle to fire form it to your chamber, only then can you start to "bump" your cases.

Originally Posted by BenTheBuilder

yes you are correct. the round reading 45.86mm fits and the round reading 46.05mm does not.

OK that's good, you need to do some measurements with your vernier to determine the difference.
Is the measurement to the datum on the cases you are attempting to size still longer than your good case. ie has there been any change at all with cranking the die down futher?

I would draw all over the resized case with a vivid/sharpie/highlighter. Then try chambering it, then look for rubbed of ink on the case. Should tell you where the contact point is. If it's rubbed on the shoulder bump it back a little more.etc

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I have had issues using 2nd hand brass, best to use cases fireformed in your own rifle as the base dimensions may be different

the very first step...and its bloody hard to help you UNTIL you do it...is to get a felt tip vivid and totally clour a tight fitting round...all over including projectile...chamber it and then work bolt up n down a bit 4-5-6 times..yes you wont be shutting bolt completely because it wont fit....doing this will tell you/us eggzachary where your issue is...when you remove round there will be a distinct area now without and felt colouring... THAT is where your round is contacting,causing issues.

yip you have a fancy doohicky measuring device...BUT as you have found out...it doesnt help you because you DONT KNOW WHERE the problem is.

yea yea im getting to that. Please find attached issue

bugger.....so now you have delima...do you pull all the tight loads...remove guts from FLR die and screw the bugger down a bit more like should have done in first place...replace powder and projectile and rety for fit....do 3-6-9 rounds to make sure will chamber...and then do the rest....
or try something else......
if you pull them,put powder aside resize then put back together one at a time...it takes some time but will be not hard to do and no remeasuring powder....

"I did this with 3 pieces of once fired brass (not from my rifle but a friends 7mm WSM) and i still am not able to close the bolt. "
Do your loaded rounds chamber in his rifle?

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hard case we bot htyping at same time to say same thing LOL