Bolt doesn't close

[jdubrr]

After I resize my brass I put in into my rifle and the bolt closes, but after I load a bullet into the same brass the bolt no longer closes.
Rifle is a Remmy 700 6.5CM
Berger 130gr
Hornady Brass
2.1790 to the ogive
brass is trimmed to 1.910

bolt does close with some loaded rounds but doesn't with others

I've shot this load plenty in the past, but all of a sudden I am facing this issue

I tried turning down my sizing die to bump the shoulder more but same issue.

Anyone have ideas on what's going on?

 

[JMGlasgow]

Carbon ring in the throat?

 

[Huskydriver]

How did you measure your base to ogive?

 

[antithesis]

Pretty rare for all brass to be the same length without above average equipment. Same for OGIVE. Did you check to see if the ones that don't close are different or not? Color them with marker then find out where the marker rubs off.

Does it close with sized, unloaded brass?

 

[jdubrr]

How did you measure your base to ogive?

with a Hornady comparator tool

 

[jdubrr]

Pretty rare for all brass to be the same length without above average equipment. Same for OGIVE. Did you check to see if the ones that don't close are different or not? Color them with marker then find out where the marker rubs off.

Does it close with sized, unloaded brass?

All brass are Hornady

It does close with all sized unloaded brass, when loaded some close and some do not

 

[jdubrr]

Carbon ring in the throat?

not sure? does that just require a good cleaning to remove? Rifle only has approx 400-500 rounds through it since rebarrel

 

[gah446]

Look for rifling marks on the bullet. Possibly bullet not seated deep enough? Same OAL as previous rounds that do chamber?

 

[jdubrr]

Look for rifling marks on the bullet. Possibly bullet not seated deep enough? Same OAL as previous rounds that do chamber?

Yes, all loaded rounds have same measurements: 2.1790 base to ogive but some just don't let the bolt close

 

[gah446]

Yes, all loaded rounds have same measurements: 2.1790 base to ogive but some just don't let the bolt close

If you're neck sizing only, I would try doing a full length resize. I have run into this issue with 338LM and that fixed the issue.

 

[jdubrr]

If you're neck sizing only, I would try doing a full length resize. I have run into this issue with 338LM and that fixed the issue.

Should have mentioned that I am FL sizing. Sorry

 

[gah446]

Check with calipers to ensure the case is actually within max length. Is your FL sizer die just touching the shell holder or did you give it an extra 1/8 of a turn to set the shoulder back? Sometimes that's the issue. How many times has the brass been reloaded?

 

[antithesis]

If the OGIVE and case OAL are the same, and headspace is the same (or more open per your bumping some further) then they would all chamber the same. They are not the same.

 

[powerspc]

If the OGIVE and case OAL are the same, and headspace is the same (or more open per your bumping some further) then they would all chamber the same. They are not the same.

what ^ he said. The chamber size is the constant in this equation. Something is off with brass, seating depth, etc.

 

[jdubrr]

Check with calipers to ensure the case is actually within max length. Is your FL sizer die just touching the shell holder or did you give it an extra 1/8 of a turn to set the shoulder back? Sometimes that's the issue. How many times has the brass been reloaded?

I've been measuring everything multiple times. The die was almost touching the shell plate then I turned it down a 1/4 turn at a time, same outcome, now it's turned down about 1 full turn and the press is camming over, same result.

 

[jdubrr]

what ^ he said. The chamber size is the constant in this equation. Something is off with brass, seating depth, etc.

yeah, I just can't figure out what it is. I did just have this rifle built not sure if the rifle is the issue or not. I'll call the gunsmith tomorrow

 

[Mainer]

^^^^This. I suggest removing the decapping pin from sizing die and try running the offending rounds thru once more.

 

[jdubrr]

^^^^This. I suggest removing the decapping pin from sizing die and try running the offending rounds thru once more.

already did that

 

[b2lee]

And how much powder you got shoved in there?...a compressed load that keeps backing out the bullets?

 

[gah446]

already did that

you stated you just had the gun built. So I'm assuming its a new chamber that's never been fired? If so, clean the chamber and bore just in case there is metal left over from the chamber reamer. I also had a bad chamber reamer that was used to cut a new chamber and I couldn't put in any rounds that wasn't new brass, had to rent another reamer to fix the issue. Ask your gunsmith then. Good luck.

 

[Mainer]

If the rounds are all the same dimensions, they will all fit the chamber the same. You are missing a dimensional difference somewhere.

 

[jdubrr]

And how much powder you got shoved in there?...a compressed load that keeps backing out the bullets?

42.3 gr of H4350

 

[jdubrr]

you stated you just had the gun built. So I'm assuming its a new chamber that's never been fired? If so, clean the chamber and bore just in case there is metal left over from the chamber reamer. I also had a bad chamber reamer that was used to cut a new chamber and I couldn't put in any rounds that wasn't new brass, had to rent another reamer to fix the issue. Ask your gunsmith then. Good luck.

it's been shot a bunch already.

 

[Diver160651]

Brand dependent; If you set your seating die incorrectly, it can make slight contact with the shoulder on some rounds. A tiny amount of contact is almost undetectable and will stop the bolt from closing, even caming closed

 

[6/250/40]

I would check neck wall thickness.....seems to be the only variable left.......

 

[Mainer]

Yes, all loaded rounds have same measurements: 2.1790 base to ogive but some just don't let the bolt close

I suggest rechecking this. It seems unlikely that all have same dimensions.

 

[b2lee]

42.3 gr of H4350

A little hot on that load isn't it? 39.2gr is the Max posted load...not that I ever dial down to what the lawyers want...but how much crunch crunch you getting when seating that bullet?

 

[Mainer]

I would check neck wall thickness.....seems to be the only variable left.......

Good suggestion.

 

[isofahunter]

Neck dimension sized case, loaded case that closes, loaded case that does not? As mentioned above neck might be it.

 

[Diver160651]

See above - btw most bullets seated to shallow or into the rifling will cam shut under pressure..

if it doesn’t do that most likely your talking a brass issue. See my post above - pull the bullet out of a round that does not work.. then try to close the bolt - I bet it still does NOT work.

you have the classic symptoms of a deformed shoulder.

 

[jdubrr]

Brand dependent; If you set your seating die incorrectly, it can make slight contact with the shoulder on some rounds. A tiny amount of contact is almost undetectable and will stop the bolt from closing, even caming closed

I've used this same die to seat hundreds of rounds already. Could something have changed?

 

[jdubrr]

See above - btw most bullets seated to shallow or into the rifling will cam shut under pressure..

if it doesn’t do that most likely your talking a brass issue. See my post above - pull the bullet out of a round that does not work.. then try to close the bolt - I bet it still does NOT work.

you have the classic symptoms of a deformed shoulder.

I actually put the resized brass into the rifle without a bullet and the bolt closes, then i seated a bullet into the same case now the bolt doesn't close.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

If all your cases fit after sizing but before the bullet it would seem you narrowed it down to the bullet.

Do you have a nice set of calipers?

Are you right at the lands? What is your OACL?

Have you done a thorough cleaning?

 

[gah446]

See above - btw most bullets seated to shallow or into the rifling will cam shut under pressure..

if it doesn’t do that most likely your talking a brass issue. See my post above - pull the bullet out of a round that does not work.. then try to close the bolt - I bet it still does NOT work.

you have the classic symptoms of a deformed shoulder.

I agree with this gent, it was going to be my next reply. You'll can probably feel a slight bump at the shoulder.

 

[jdubrr]

Neck dimension sized case, loaded case that closes, loaded case that does not? As mentioned above neck might be it.

I just measured the neck of a good and bad round they both measure .291 in

 

[6/250/40]

I just measured the neck of a good and bad round they both measure .291 in

Color neck and shoulder of a bad loaded round with Sharpie, see where it hangs.......

 

[Diver160651]

If all your cases fit after sizing but before the bullet it would seem you narrowed it down to the bullet.

Do you have a nice set of calipers?

Are you right at the lands? What is your OACL?

Have you done a thorough cleaning?

Guys- it is the seating process- stop measuring and take the bullet out of a loaded round that does not work - the same brass still will not chamber.

your steating die is set to low - not the ogive adjustment, but the die body.

what seater are you using? Hornady?

 

[Mainer]

If all your cases fit after sizing but before the bullet it would seem you narrowed it down to the bullet.

Do you have a nice set of calipers?

Are you right at the lands? What is your OACL?

Have you done a thorough cleaning?

Or because of neck thickness, seating the bullet expands the neck too much.

 

[Mainer]

I just measured the neck of a good and bad round they both measure .291 in

Are they concentric?

 

[6/250/40]

Or because of neck thickness, seating the bullet expands the neck too much.

This.........

 

[Dthomas3523]

Any idea what the neck diameter is in your chamber?

If so, how close is the outside neck diameter of your neck in a loaded round?

 

[Dthomas3523]

Guys- it is the seating process- stop measuring and take the bullet out of a loaded round that does not work - the same brass still will not chamber.

your steating die is set to low - not the ogive adjustment, but the die body.

what seater are you using? Hornady?

This.

Seating die is likely too low. It’s causing a lip to form at the end of brass and not allowing the round to chamber.

Bet if you pulled the barrel off and drop the round in, it would be sticking out the chamber about as far as the length of the neck.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Here is an example of what happens when seating die is too low:

 

[Diver160651]

^ It can also just push the shoulder - or in either case be so minor it is very hard to see.

 

[Mainer]

Interested in knowing if OP got this issue worked out.

 

[gah446]

One more item you can check, make sure your seater die is set correctly. The only resistance you should feel is the bullet being seated. If the seater die is set too far down it can also crush the shoulder.

 

[ShtrRdy]

Which bullet are you using? If your chamber has a tight freebore and the bullet diameter is a little over it could make the bullet stick.

A little carbon build up in this area and a good diameter bullet could have the same issue.

 

[Timo Turl]

I suspect it is your case neck thickness. Measure the tip of the case mouth with calipers for a case that didn’t load. Tell us what you get. You probably have a tight neck chamber. The case mouth might have flared a little too.

 

[codym]

I’m with the seating die on this one. Bet you it’s set too deep and your buckling the shoulder slightly, just enough to create a bugle and not allowing the round to chamber.

 

[2aBaC̶a̶]

Case gauges and chamber checkers are handy little tools for situations like this.

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