Thread: tight closing the bolt

Another thought just try and chamber an unprimed empty but sized case I have had some cases where the primer wasn't seated deep enough so if you try a sized but unprimed it can eliminate a few things.
If it's still tight it's your sizing

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Unclear if the once fired cases were fired in the new rifle/chamber. I'm guessing not. Need to FLS. Check trim to length. Try before loading (should do that as part of FLSing process at any rate. May even need to use a small base die.

The ink on neck test (permanent marker) is only useful if 2 or 3 full length stripes are marked on the case. I'm guessing it will identify tightness down the body which FLSing should rectify. This is assuming the OP has measured the shoulder datum point and compared against a factory round. OP doesnt say if that measurement carried out. Also depends upon what the chamber is like in the rifle they were once fired in. Again, I'm assuming the cases weren't fired in the new rifle initially. The chamber they came from may have been at the upper limit of SAAMI specs whilst the new rifle may be at the bottom.

I long ago ceased neck sizing.

The issue is almost certainly the bottom of the case (head/ web area) has expanded to fully reach the chamber dimensions. If FL sizing doesn't fix the problem without shifting the shoulder too much ( say 5 thou max), you need to use a small base die before running the cases through their std resizing.

Originally Posted by 6x47

The issue is almost certainly the bottom of the case (head/ web area) has expanded to fully reach the chamber dimensions. If FL sizing doesn't fix the problem without shifting the shoulder too much ( say 5 thou max), you need to use a small base die before running the cases through their std resizing.

This is definitely a problem often overlooked.
If you cant get a small base die, then giving the web of the case a rub with fine emery paper will overcome the problem

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...gzKO4U3W_zUhVi

what is the new rifle????
I had a BLR that nearly drove me nuts with same issue you desribing....I would load 40 rounds all the same and 15 would chamber fine,15 tightly and 10 not at all....by taking guts out of an older FLS 30/06 die it seemed to work the bottom of case more and then most would chamber OK... have heard of the small base die thing which shouldve fixed issue. powdered graphite in lid of jar with some birdshot in it,dip necks in before sizing and it will be much MUCH smoother...also take the expanding button out,poke stem in power drill and LIGHTLY sandpaper/steelwool polish the edges..... strangely enough the hornady new dimension dies for the .308 are the only ones Ive ever had issues with...loading for the Zastava had zero issues due to stronger camming of action.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

what is the new rifle????
I had a BLR that nearly drove me nuts with same issue you desribing....I would load 40 rounds all the same and 15 would chamber fine,15 tightly and 10 not at all....by taking guts out of an older FLS 30/06 die it seemed to work the bottom of case more and then most would chamber OK... have heard of the small base die thing which shouldve fixed issue. powdered graphite in lid of jar with some birdshot in it,dip necks in before sizing and it will be much MUCH smoother...also take the expanding button out,poke stem in power drill and LIGHTLY sandpaper/steelwool polish the edges..... strangely enough the hornady new dimension dies for the .308 are the only ones Ive ever had issues with...loading for the Zastava had zero issues due to stronger camming of action.

Second that with the Hornady New Dimension offerings - stickiest dies I've ever used and the only ones I've had issues with stuck cases in in .308...

So now you have a bunch of doubtful rounds and plenty of solutions for how to avoid this happening again. I dont have any more.
I do have a suggestion for your loaded rounds though as I have found myself in this situation too.
- Remove the firing pin from the bolt, then run all the loaded rounds through the rifle using a soft hammer or a rag round a piece of wood to tap the bolt open for the real tight ones. Run them all through the rifle again and set aside any that are still pricks to chamber, the rest will be good to go.
This is suggested on my assumption that they are close and not miles out of size, based on the fact you have measured them up

Thanks everyone for sharing ur experience and knowledge with me, and with the help of a treasured friend @dannyb problem has been sorted. Setting up of die properly was the cause, one i had overlooked. Once again cheers guys, be safe smile often, and luv the ones ur with ............

Originally Posted by buell984

Thanks everyone for sharing ur experience and knowledge with me, and with the help of a treasured friend @dannyb problem has been sorted. Setting up of die properly was the cause, one i had overlooked. Once again cheers guys, be safe smile often, and luv the ones ur with ............

Most welcome my brother always good to catch up

Originally Posted by buell984

Thanks everyone for sharing ur experience and knowledge with me, and with the help of a treasured friend @dannyb problem has been sorted. Setting up of die properly was the cause, one i had overlooked. Once again cheers guys, be safe smile often, and luv the ones ur with ............

Like a lot of these thread where many have contributed a solution has been found, and that's great. But from a learning opportunity point of view it would be nice to know a few more details.
Setting up of die correctly - was this a neck die or a FLS die?

Originally Posted by zimmer

Like a lot of these thread where many have contributed a solution has been found, and that's great. But from a learning opportunity point of view it would be nice to know a few more details.
Setting up of die correctly - was this a neck die or a FLS die?

"FLS" full length sizing die

The error Shane made was thst his FLS die wasn't set up correctly so it wasn't sizing the case all the way to the bottom, therefore leaving his once fired cases partially sized and hard to chamber.

His die was set up so that it was still 3mm from contacting the shell holder on his press at full extension, you may get away with this in some rifles but effectively you are partial sizing at best resizing the neck and some of the body.
To set up a FLS die according to the manufacturer you need to have the shell holder touching the base of the die at full extension then screw the die in another 1/8th to 1/4 turn further to ensure proper full length sizing as the ram cams over.
This allows for play in the press and the die setup.
There is a good easy to understand vidoe on youtube, I'll attach the link in a minute it's probably easier to understand than my rambling


https://youtube.com/watch?v=pltCJTTv7Mo&feature=share

Originally Posted by zimmer

Like a lot of these thread where many have contributed a solution has been found, and that's great. But from a learning opportunity point of view it would be nice to know a few more details.
Setting up of die correctly - was this a neck die or a FLS die?

FLS die, and i didnt have it set properly, @dannyb supplied a link on youtube that showed correct setting procedure, i tried it and it worked. I certainly appreciated everyone contributing to forum, and the many ideas shared.

Bit of forum bromance

Thanks @dannyb Yeah the original posting stated resized the necks. From that many would assume a Neck die only was being used and not a backed off or incorrectly adjusted FLS die. Hence a lot of the advice was to change from a Neck sizing die to a FLSing die and if need be a Small Base die.
All good.