308 hard(ish) bolt close

[mlsheffield]

My 308 when using factory new rounds chambers like a dream, yet I have been noticing that when using my fire formed lapua brass the bolt will close 98% of the way flawlessly but then I have to force the bolt forward the rest of the way to lower the bolt handle. There is no extra tension or a grinding feeling lowering the bolt.

I use a redding competition bushing neck sizer set to .002 neck tension. Just a note I do not bump the shoulder because the die cannot make it down that far.

Will switching to a FL sizer and bumping the shoulder slightly fix this?

Also, will redding competition headspace shell holders fit in a RCBS rock chucker? This question is asked because with these holders I could bump the shoulder with the die I already have.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

Neck dies do not bump shoulders, get a headspace gauge, and use it to set up your FL die.

 

[ugsly]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

Get a body die from redding or FL die, bump shoulder back a hair, should be gtg.

 

[red hawk]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

You need to bump the shoulder back, you can do this with a full length die or a body die.The fl die sizes the neck,shoulder,and body,while the body sizes just the shoulder and body.I use the RCBS mic's to measure the shoulder and measure the amount or how far it's moving back.Hope this helps...

 

[mlsheffield]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

Cobra I understand that neck dies don't bump shoulders, that is why I was asking about the competition head space shell holders, it is my understanding that with those it is possible to bump shoulders with a neck die. Am I mistaken?

Also, dumb question, does using a FL die remove the benefit of using fire formed brass at all? In other words, will it negatively affect accuracy?

 

[mlsheffield]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

Thanks hawk, sorry I was typing other message while you posted.
I have the mic from RCBS and I am going to email GAP and ask if they have a reamer print for my action. I got it used and it might be helpful to have that.

 

[justinbaker]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

you cant bump the shoulder with the neck die.

i have the redding body die and use it after i have neck sized 3-4 times

 

[mlsheffield]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

Thanks baker, do you use the body die because of a similar occurrence or just because? I am asking because this batch has only had 5 reloads and I have noticed this since maybe reload 3. Am I probably going to need to use the body die every load or will every other or so work too?

 

[justinbaker]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Daddypop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks baker, do you use the body die because of a similar occurrence or just because? I am asking because this batch has only had 5 reloads and I have noticed this since maybe reload 3. Am I probably going to need to use the body die every load or will every other or so work too? </div></div>


yes i notice the bolt gets hard to close after 3-4 firings

what i do is after the 3rd firing, neck size, and then load the brass only into the chamber and see how it closes.

if it closes without too much effort then im good to go. if not ill bump the shoulder a thou or 2


you shouldnt have to do it after every firing, unless its for an autoloader



eta: http://www.sinclairintl.com/.aspx/pid=34804/Product/Redding-Body-Die-308-Win

 

[mlsheffield]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

I was looking at that and was planning on buying one but I wanted to ask before I bought something I might not need.
Once again, thanks.

 

[red hawk]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

Daddy this the way I do it:
1 . load with new brass
2. fire the load...now it's fire form to YOUR chamber
3. neck size
4. neck size
5. neck size
6. neck size....after about 4-5 firing your bolt get a little hard to close.
7.full length size( this will put you back to where you first started)or you can just use the body die, which will just sizing the body. then use your neck die. Remember every time you fire your brass..the brass moves forward,that is the reason you have trim the length and move the shoulder back. Hope this helps

 

[mlsheffield]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

That helps more than you can imagine, I knew I would have to eventually FL resize but I did not anticipate after so few firings. AND I was hoping to avoid going back to square one haha.
Now if I may ask one last stupid question. I have never bothered with anything other than neck sizing.A body die sizes duh the body, and a neck die sizes duh a body, so does a FL die size the neck/body or the neck/body/shoulder?

 

[justinbaker]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Daddypop</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Since I have the neck die I would think a body die is all I need? </div></div>

correct all you need is the body die.

once you have neck sized and then used the body die, you have essentially FL resized

 

[mlsheffield]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

Thanks everybody for the help. This idiots questions are answered until something else goes wrong haha.

 

[justinbaker]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

also wanted to add that make sure you use a case comparator so you know how much you are bumping the shoulder

 

[turbo54]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

I use the Forster bushing bump die, which neck sizes with a bushing and bumps the shoulder. With it, I almost never have to FLS. I do, however, FLS brass I'm taking to a match/competition where Ill be under time pressure. FLS'd brass is more reliable.

 

[turbo54]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

I use the Forster bushing bump die, which neck sizes with a bushing and bumps the shoulder. With it, I almost never have to FLS. I do, however, FLS brass I'm taking to a match/competition where Ill be under time pressure. FLS'd brass is more reliable.

 

[josephberry]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

I second the Forster Bushing bump die. You can choose your neck bushing for proper neck tension, and it bumps the shoulder back a couple thousandths.

 

[Gene Poole]

Re: 308 hard(ish) bolt close

Just throwing this out there: I had rounds run through a FL die that failed to chamber. I thought it might be the shoulder, but to be sure, I took a few rounds that failed to chamber and pulled the bullet an popped the primer, then coated the entire case with blue magic marker, then forced them as best I could, then extracted them and observed where the blue was rubbed off. In every case, it was on the body of the case about 1/2 to 5/8 inch up from the base. It wasn't the shoulder as I suspected, but just the case wider than my chamber (a stock R700 BDL-V). That's when I bought a small-base die and it has solved the problem.