Thread: 223 tight chambering?

Recently got some resized brass and loaded up a few with the Lee Whackamole. I stupidly didn't try chambering any rounds before loading them and when I tried them in the rifle the bolt is extremely tight to close.
I haven't fired any but I have measured the overall length of some of the non reloaded cases and some are just over the lee loader max listing of 44.70mm at around 44.82mm.
What I want to know is whether my chamber is a bit short, Winchester factory rounds load fine but when closely checking the once fired Winchester brass it looks like it has rifling marks in the neck.
Are these factory crimped or is this a chamber length issue. Winchester brass after firing is 44.7 but the marks are around 1mm back from the end of the case.
Photos of Winchester once fired brass.

? Were these fired in your rifle, before useing the whack a mole to reload. Reason being, I got caught with this way back, the lee Whack a Mole only sizes the neck, so if firing in a different rifle, you need to full lenght resize.

Hi, I think I would get some one to re-ream the chamber. I'd be surprised to think that the rifling started right at max O.A.L. which is what it seems.

Hi @flock, the used brass I got was full length resized then put through the whakamole. The case in the picture is Winchester factory brass, once fired. I did read the bit about only using brass fired in the rifle it is going to be used in. Something to be aware of for sure.

I wouldn't muck around. One step at a time and no risks. Seek expert help. Take your rifle and cases to a reputable gun smith to check it out.

The mark looks too narrow to be rifling. But do as Tahr suggests and get some experienced / qualified person to check for you.

That looks like the std Winchester factory crimp. Check one of your factory non fired loads.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

That looks like the std Winchester factory crimp. Check one of your factory non fired loads.

Yes, have checked one of the few factory ones I have left and it has a crimp on it. Also loaded fine the other night on the hill with factory loads.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I wouldn't muck around. One step at a time and no risks. Seek expert help. Take your rifle and cases to a reputable gun smith to check it out.

I said this because early in the thread as a remedy someone had suggested getting the rifle re-chambered - which was a drastic response to the un-diagnosed problem. At that stage it hadn't been revealed that MDuck was involved either.

Inadequate resizing was the obvious first took at for the problem.
I never thought it would be a short chamber or over length case. People might be shocked, but I have a case trimmer and have never used it. And after a few zillion reloads in dozens of rifles have never had a case over length problem (that I know of, anyway).
Pretty damned easy for me though being clever after the facts.

those marks could be from a collet die? theres a bit of a bur on the neck of the case as well

Good spotting @blip. All the resized cases have this on them when I checked closer. I've also coloured the end of one of the reloads and it hasn't got any marks around the neck after being chambered.



One thing noted is a decent rub mark about 8mm up from the base of the case. Maybe the other markings are a bit of a red herring and the tightness is the diameter further back.

Originally Posted by RUMPY

Good spotting @blip. All the resized cases have this on them when I checked closer. I've also coloured the end of one of the reloads and it hasn't got any marks around the neck after being chambered.

Attachment 261101

One thing noted is a decent rub mark about 8mm up from the base of the case. Maybe the other markings are a bit of a red herring and the tightness is the diameter further back.

Attachment 261103

It does look as though the shoulder has made contact with the chamber though. This can happen if the case mouth hits the end of the chamber neck which will bulge the shoulder or it just was not sized properly. Don't ask me how I know this.
GPM.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

It does look as though the shoulder has made contact with the chamber though. This can happen if the case mouth hits the end of the chamber neck which will bulge the shoulder or it just was not sized properly. Don't ask me how I know this.
GPM.

Yes possibly GPM,
All the brass chambered in Micky Ducks rifle and I could get them in mine with a hard push on the bolt handle. After Micky adjusted the die down half a flyshit they chambered in my rifle just fine.
I have a Weatherby vanguard, not sure if they are known to be tighter than other chambers. I thought standards were made so things were made the same.

Originally Posted by RUMPY

Yes possibly GPM,
All the brass chambered in Micky Ducks rifle and I could get them in mine with a hard push on the bolt handle. After Micky adjusted the die down half a flyshit they chambered in my rifle just fine.
I have a Weatherby vanguard, not sure if they are known to be tighter than other chambers. I thought standards were made so things were made the same.

That's why you should Full Length resize any brass you use of unknown origin so they are within SAAMI Cartridge specs. and then probably try chambering in the intended rifle before carrying on with reloading process. Not all reamers of the same caliber are the same, even from the same manufacturer. They are all made to fall within manufacturing tolerance specs., so variation can and does occur with chambers. Just my 2c.

Again....what happens if you try to chamber the not yet reloaded full length resized brass?? It's been full length resized,checked for length,primer pockets inside reamed. Full length resized using redding dies hard down onto redding base. Rounds done with same for same rifle before weren't an issue. Only whackamole is new factor