Difficult to close bolt and gets worse with more reloads.

[ssteve]

Running a bergara 6.5cm with Norma brass. Some of the brass is hitting 7x reloaded. After about 5x it’s getting progressively harder to close the bolt.

My reloading process is full length resizing with a standard Hornady custom die.

My loads are on the hot side as I am using it for hunting with solid coppers and want the speed.

 

[Supersubes]

Measure the tight fitting cases in all their diameters, headspace length, and overall case length, and compare that to a properly fitting case. The point of interference should show itself. If you aren’t able to measure properly, mark a sized/tight fitting case with a sharpie and chamber it. Carefully extract and look for areas where the sharpie rubbed off due to interference.

 

[AIAW]

Probably web expansion, or you need an extra thou of bump.

Unfortunately a small-base die is only a band-aid for this, especially if they are hot.

 

[Huskydriver]

How are you measuring the shoulder being pushed back in addition to what @Supersubes just said?

 

[spife7980]

Take these measurements, like they said above, it should reveal itself

 

[hlee]

I've got a hornady custom for that does not fully size a case. Full length sized cases do not (always) fit in a Wilson case gauge. Brass sized with my rcbs die do fit, so I no longer use the Hornady die. There was a thread on SH a while back and it seems that Hornady dies that do not sufficiently size brass are not terribly uncommon in 6.5 creedmoor.

 

[Huskydriver]

I've got a hornady custom for that does not fully size a case. Full length sized cases do not (always) fit in a Wilson case gauge. Brass sized with my rcbs die do fit, so I no longer use the Hornady die. There was a thread on SH a while back and it seems that Hornady dies that do not sufficiently size brass are not terribly uncommon in 6.5 creedmoor.

This^^^ that's why I am curious how he is measuring the before and after sizing. I'm betting his die is cut to deep and his shoulder isn't getting bumped but we will see ?

 

[Supersubes]

I've got a hornady custom for that does not fully size a case. Full length sized cases do not (always) fit in a Wilson case gauge. Brass sized with my rcbs die do fit, so I no longer use the Hornady die. There was a thread on SH a while back and it seems that Hornady dies that do not sufficiently size brass are not terribly uncommon in 6.5 creedmoor.

As long as the rifle makers stick to the spec on the creedmoor, the hornady dies work great. Comparing measurements between the saami chamber, and hornady dies, the dimensions are very close to what one would get in a custom die made from fired brass or a chamber drawing. Minimal sizing all around, with great internal finish. Just about the cheapest bushing style FL die around as well. If you have a die that doesn’t work, contact hornady, I’m sure they’ll work it out.

 

[Steel head]

Running a bergara 6.5cm with Norma brass. Some of the brass is hitting 7x reloaded. After about 5x it’s getting progressively harder to close the bolt.

My reloading process is full length resizing with a standard Hornady custom die.

My loads are on the hot side as I am using it for hunting with solid coppers and want the speed.

If your not annealing your going to have to re adjust your dies as brass hardens and eventually even that won’t be enough.

 

[hlee]

My direct data on brass longevity is limited to remington brass and 270 winchester. But, if he is running hot loads and not annealing, I'd wager he'll see split necks before anything else. Owning a problematic hornady die, and having seen the previous thread on this issue, I'd say his die is made improperly. As Supersubes said, Hornady will take care of it.

 

[supercorndogs]

I've got a hornady custom for that does not fully size a case. Full length sized cases do not (always) fit in a Wilson case gauge. Brass sized with my rcbs die do fit, so I no longer use the Hornady die. There was a thread on SH a while back and it seems that Hornady dies that do not sufficiently size brass are not terribly uncommon in 6.5 creedmoor.

In reloading most generally we could not care less if the brass from our dies fits in a wilson case gauge. We want it to fit in our chamber with out excessively bumping the shoulder. Sizing brass all the way back to sami spec only ensures your brass life will be short, unless you have a very tight chamber. I.E your chamber would be smaller than minimum headspace.

It is possible that if you are running very little bump. .001-.002, your brass has hardened enough to make the spring back cause it to be too tight in the chamber, and the die needs adjusted down little more.

 

[supercorndogs]

Once he does what Spife said he can give us an answer.

 

[hlee]

In reloading most generally we could not care less if the brass from our dies fits in a wilson case gauge. We want it to fit in our chamber with out excessively bumping the shoulder. Sizing brass all the way back to sami spec only ensures your brass life will be short, unless you have a very tight chamber. I.E your chamber would be smaller than minimum headspace.

It is possible that if you are running very little bump. .001-.002, your brass has hardened enough to make the spring back cause it to be too tight in the chamber, and the die needs adjusted down little more.

Yes, it depends upon your goals. I want EVERY piece of brass that I reload to fit into the gun I am shooting- no questions asked. I found that was not the case when using the hornady custom die I have, even with not-insbustantial cam-over on my RCBS rock chucker press. I bought the case gauge after finding that some loaded rounds chambered with excessive force, and the fired cases extracted with even more excessive force.

Running through 100 rounds of full length sized (with cam-over), but not loaded hornady brass I had on hand, in excess of 10% of them chambered with excessive force in my rifle, and a few I could not close the bolt on. This is in a Ruger precision rifle- a factory rifle I would not expect to have an overly tight match chamber. A larger fraction did not fully seat into the case gauge. Switching to the RCBS die, which I had bought prior to buying the hornady die, alleviated the issue- everything fits in the gauge and everything chambers easily in my rifle. Using the case gauge insures that EVERY piece of brass will chamber and extract, and is much easier than running the brass through the rifle to find the same thing. I don't anneal and accept short brass life as a product of MY reloading process. And, I am reloading brass reclaimed from hornady factory match ammunition- so I have already eaten the cost.

The issue brought up in the thread (by a different member) I alluded to earlier was as I've described above. A Hornady custom die was not sizing brass sufficiently, even with cam-over on the press. This is a die issue. It is also an issue that I have read Hornady will readily fix, so I'm not bagging on Hornady or trying to elevate the RCBS die above it's station (its not a custom match uber die)- it was in my stash of stuff so it is getting used.

I accept that I am not sizing brass "the right way," ie the way that maximizes brass life. It is, however, the way described in every die user manual and reloading manual I've read- though I haven't read them all. That's good enough for me.

PRS Shooter: Spends $1000s on a rifle, $1000s on a scope, $1000s on match entry fees and airfare and hotel accommodations. Spends 45 minutes on every stage to find 1 $0.50 piece of brass...

 

[_Raining]

Yes, it depends upon your goals. I want EVERY piece of brass that I reload to fit into the gun I am shooting- no questions asked. I found that was not the case when using the hornady custom die I have, even with not-insbustantial cam-over on my RCBS rock chucker press. I bought the case gauge after finding that some loaded rounds chambered with excessive force, and the fired cases extracted with even more excessive force.

Running through 100 rounds of full length sized (with cam-over), but not loaded hornady brass I had on hand, in excess of 10% of them chambered with excessive force in my rifle, and a few I could not close the bolt on. This is in a Ruger precision rifle- a factory rifle I would not expect to have an overly tight match chamber. A larger fraction did not fully seat into the case gauge. Switching to the RCBS die, which I had bought prior to buying the hornady die, alleviated the issue- everything fits in the gauge and everything chambers easily in my rifle. Using the case gauge insures that EVERY piece of brass will chamber and extract, and is much easier than running the brass through the rifle to find the same thing. I don't anneal and accept short brass life as a product of MY reloading process. And, I am reloading brass reclaimed from hornady factory match ammunition- so I have already eaten the cost.

The issue brought up in the thread (by a different member) I alluded to earlier was as I've described above. A Hornady custom die was not sizing brass sufficiently, even with cam-over on the press. This is a die issue. It is also an issue that I have read Hornady will readily fix, so I'm not bagging on Hornady or trying to elevate the RCBS die above it's station (its not a custom match uber die)- it was in my stash of stuff so it is getting used.

I accept that I am not sizing brass "the right way," ie the way that maximizes brass life. It is, however, the way described in every die user manual and reloading manual I've read- though I haven't read them all. That's good enough for me.

PRS Shooter: Spends $1000s on a rifle, $1000s on a scope, $1000s on match entry fees and airfare and hotel accommodations. Spends 45 minutes on every stage to find 1 $0.50 piece of brass...

Most reloaders on the hide are going to measure their brass with calipers and comparators. That is the only way to actually ensure that your rounds will work in a safe and reliable way. Blindly following the instructions that comes with the die is a good way to get yourself into trouble. Just because the press cams over does not mean you are getting a proper size. I have had to remove material from the bottom of a Forster die to be able to properly bump the shoulder on my brass.

As others have said, its probably the web or bump and having OP take measurements or sharpie his rounds will give him the answers he seeks.

 

[BJames]

I’ve run into this exact issue last year, I’m using Redding FL bushing dies. It turns out, when my brass hit 7-8 firings, the die wasn’t sizing things properly any more. I was even annealing every 4 firings or so with an anneal rite contraption. I took the issue to a machinist/gunsmith buddy, we did the measuring thing and found the case body forward of the web was what was causing the most interference. He turned down a case holder for me and showed me a different way to size the brass to my chamber and not just a -.002 bump. It turns out, my chamber wanted an extra thou or 2 for a disassembled bolt to just drop freely on a piece of sized brass. Haven’t had an issue since. Redding’s competition case holder set would also accomplish the same thing.

I would definitely sort out the issue before continuing firing that brass. I got frustrated with my issue during a range session and continued to shoot the rest of the 50 rounds I brought. (The 1000 yard range day for me is kind of an all day thing, with commute time and all that) I didn’t want the day to end up shooting only 10 rounds and go home. That 50 rounds of hard bolt lift on a known load (no pressure) wiped the lube off the lugs and galled them. Oops.

 

[AIAW]

Like supercorndogs stated, the OP has to provide the measurements for us to really know. These things are rather difficult to diagnose otherwise because of the number of variables.

My prognosis from post #3 still stands based on the OP"s "hot loads" statement, but we will see.

 

[Gee Kay]

I ran into this issue last year and couldn't work out why either. Wasn't my brass. Spoke with one of the gunsmiths at Beretta and he told me to shine a light down the receiver. Sure enough there was a carbon ring built up around the throat area. Cleaned that and everything went back to normal. I suspect if it's not your brass or headspace then you might have carbon build up in the throat making it tight for you to close the bolt. This will also make it tight to open the bolt too.