I'm trying to figure out was is going on with a hunting gun for my buddy and am outside of my level of expertise. The gun is a Rem Sendero 300 WM. Factory Hornady rounds chamber and extract no problem. Full length sized rounds chamber and extract no problems. Neck sized rounds may or may not chamber, most of the time not. We have tried both Redding standard neck sizing dies as well as the Lee Collet Die. Same result. When you put pressure on the case to knudge it in the chamber, it begins to show a lot of marks all over the case where it is scratching it, but most of them are about a 1/4" above the belt. The only thing that I can come up with is something is wrong with the brass, but I am not convinced of this. Is there not enough give in the brass after it is fired to shrink back that .001-.002" to allow it to chamber freely? Thanks for the help gentlemen.
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Problem chambering a neck sized round
- Thread starter head2h2o
- Start date
Re: Problem chambering a neck sized round
Neck sizing a belted magnum cartridge and getting uniform bolt closure is a dream. If it's a factory chamber, chances are it's not completely round, another reason that it may not work. FL size the brass just enough so you get a smooth bolt closure, that’s about a .0015" shoulder bump. I FL everything, even my BR stuff. Works great.
Neck sizing a belted magnum cartridge and getting uniform bolt closure is a dream. If it's a factory chamber, chances are it's not completely round, another reason that it may not work. FL size the brass just enough so you get a smooth bolt closure, that’s about a .0015" shoulder bump. I FL everything, even my BR stuff. Works great.
Re: Problem chambering a neck sized round
I had the same issue with my 30-338. Reading about accuracy reloading I started neck sizing and realized not all rounds would feed smoothly after the second or third time. Do as roscoe said and full length resize for hunting purposes. You don't want issues in the field.
I had the same issue with my 30-338. Reading about accuracy reloading I started neck sizing and realized not all rounds would feed smoothly after the second or third time. Do as roscoe said and full length resize for hunting purposes. You don't want issues in the field.
Re: Problem chambering a neck sized round
As Roscoe said, FL sizing is where it's at. I have tried batches of neck sized ammo vs FL sized, and the FL sized stuff always shot better. Not to mention, the bolt always closes smoothly with FL sized ammo.
As Roscoe said, FL sizing is where it's at. I have tried batches of neck sized ammo vs FL sized, and the FL sized stuff always shot better. Not to mention, the bolt always closes smoothly with FL sized ammo.
Re: Problem chambering a neck sized round
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wnroscoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Neck sizing a belted magnum cartridge and getting uniform bolt closure is a dream. If it's a factory chamber, chances are it's not completely round, another reason that it may not work. FL size the brass just enough so you get a smooth bolt closure, that’s about a .0015" shoulder bump. I FL everything, even my BR stuff. Works great.
</div></div>
Big +1
You can also check on out of round by making a felt pen mark on the case. Fire it with the case mark at a position easy to see as it is chambered. Neck size and make sure it goes back into the chamber with the mark in the same spot.
I am of the opinion that it is just not really worth reloading belted magnums much.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: wnroscoe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Neck sizing a belted magnum cartridge and getting uniform bolt closure is a dream. If it's a factory chamber, chances are it's not completely round, another reason that it may not work. FL size the brass just enough so you get a smooth bolt closure, that’s about a .0015" shoulder bump. I FL everything, even my BR stuff. Works great.
</div></div>
Big +1
You can also check on out of round by making a felt pen mark on the case. Fire it with the case mark at a position easy to see as it is chambered. Neck size and make sure it goes back into the chamber with the mark in the same spot.
I am of the opinion that it is just not really worth reloading belted magnums much.
Re: Problem chambering a neck sized round
Don't let anyone scare you away from belted magnums. I have over 15 firings on really soft Federal brass.
If your FL die will compress your brass above the belt without bumping the shoulder, you're GTG. I use a Redding body die and a Lee collet die. The Redding die is set .002 short of my chamber on the shoulder. This setup gives me 100% chambering and really low runout.
Last case scenario, get the Larry Willis collet die.
YMMV, depending on your chamber measurements.
John
Don't let anyone scare you away from belted magnums. I have over 15 firings on really soft Federal brass.
If your FL die will compress your brass above the belt without bumping the shoulder, you're GTG. I use a Redding body die and a Lee collet die. The Redding die is set .002 short of my chamber on the shoulder. This setup gives me 100% chambering and really low runout.
Last case scenario, get the Larry Willis collet die.
YMMV, depending on your chamber measurements.
John
Re: Problem chambering a neck sized round
I neck size a 7 RemMag, for an original Sendero, using a Redding S neck bushing die, in combination with a Redding body die every few sizings and I have no issues.
I'm on five cycles plus, with some brass and I have no problems chambering rounds. At times, I have to bump the shoulders back, say...after three cycles, but I don't have any problems with the case bodies at the case head, being too big to chamber properly.
Chris
I neck size a 7 RemMag, for an original Sendero, using a Redding S neck bushing die, in combination with a Redding body die every few sizings and I have no issues.
I'm on five cycles plus, with some brass and I have no problems chambering rounds. At times, I have to bump the shoulders back, say...after three cycles, but I don't have any problems with the case bodies at the case head, being too big to chamber properly.
Chris
Re: Problem chambering a neck sized round
Thanks for the info. I guess I am not understanding the issue with the belted magnums. I neck size for 2 7mmRM and 2 other 300WM and have never had a problem with chambering a neck sized round, even after multiple firings. I will try just bumping the case with the FL die and see what we get.
Thanks for the info. I guess I am not understanding the issue with the belted magnums. I neck size for 2 7mmRM and 2 other 300WM and have never had a problem with chambering a neck sized round, even after multiple firings. I will try just bumping the case with the FL die and see what we get.
Re: Problem chambering a neck sized round
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: head2h2o</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the info. I guess I am not understanding the issue with the belted magnums. I neck size for 2 7mmRM and 2 other 300WM and have never had a problem with chambering a neck sized round, even after multiple firings. I will try just bumping the case with the FL die and see what we get. </div></div>
There are a lot of factors at work here, and I never used to size the body on my brass either and then I got into some brass/chamber/load/pressure condition that made it very difficult to chamber.
Asked the question you asked. Got the answers you got. Now I just do it as a matter of course, 'cuz I want all my rounds to chamber every time no matter what.
I used a 40 S&W case placed over the neck to find the shoulder of a fired case, and then screw the body die down until it just bumps them .002. They chamber nicely, have adequate, but not excessive headspace, last a long time, and shoot little bugholes.
Good luck.
John
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: head2h2o</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the info. I guess I am not understanding the issue with the belted magnums. I neck size for 2 7mmRM and 2 other 300WM and have never had a problem with chambering a neck sized round, even after multiple firings. I will try just bumping the case with the FL die and see what we get. </div></div>
There are a lot of factors at work here, and I never used to size the body on my brass either and then I got into some brass/chamber/load/pressure condition that made it very difficult to chamber.
Asked the question you asked. Got the answers you got. Now I just do it as a matter of course, 'cuz I want all my rounds to chamber every time no matter what.
I used a 40 S&W case placed over the neck to find the shoulder of a fired case, and then screw the body die down until it just bumps them .002. They chamber nicely, have adequate, but not excessive headspace, last a long time, and shoot little bugholes.
Good luck.
John
Re: Problem chambering a neck sized round
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: head2h2o</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the info. I guess I am not understanding the issue with the belted magnums. I neck size for 2 7mmRM and 2 other 300WM and have never had a problem with chambering a neck sized round, even after multiple firings. I will try just bumping the case with the FL die and see what we get. </div></div>
In sloppy belted magnum chambers, the case body just above the belt will expand to a point where it can't be sized back down enough, because that belt gets in the way of the sizing die body.
Even though you've bumped the shoulder back and sized the neck, the case won't chamber because the back end it too fat.
There's a fellow that makes a die that does address this portion of the case, but I haven't felt the need purchase it.
I've got the adjustable Wilson case gage and this is fine for setting my chamber spec for shoulder bumps. I now have the Stoney Point headspace gages, so the Wilson is somewhat a moot point.
Everybody remember, that with modern belted magnums, the belts are cosmetic and one headspaces off the shoulder as with any other bottleneck cartridge.
Chris
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: head2h2o</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the info. I guess I am not understanding the issue with the belted magnums. I neck size for 2 7mmRM and 2 other 300WM and have never had a problem with chambering a neck sized round, even after multiple firings. I will try just bumping the case with the FL die and see what we get. </div></div>
In sloppy belted magnum chambers, the case body just above the belt will expand to a point where it can't be sized back down enough, because that belt gets in the way of the sizing die body.
Even though you've bumped the shoulder back and sized the neck, the case won't chamber because the back end it too fat.
There's a fellow that makes a die that does address this portion of the case, but I haven't felt the need purchase it.
I've got the adjustable Wilson case gage and this is fine for setting my chamber spec for shoulder bumps. I now have the Stoney Point headspace gages, so the Wilson is somewhat a moot point.
Everybody remember, that with modern belted magnums, the belts are cosmetic and one headspaces off the shoulder as with any other bottleneck cartridge.
Chris
Re: Problem chambering a neck sized round
I agree that is the problem in my view.
Get a Willis collet die and that should fix it.
http://www.larrywillis.com/
I agree that is the problem in my view.
Get a Willis collet die and that should fix it.
http://www.larrywillis.com/
Re: Problem chambering a neck sized round
I measured some of the cases that had been fire formed and they are not concentric near the belt. The scratches above the belt are about 180 degrees opposite of each other and if you turn the case, you can eventually find a spot where only a neck sized case will fit without problem. I'm going to FL size to the point that they all feed easily without oversizing it and see if that makes a difference.
I measured some of the cases that had been fire formed and they are not concentric near the belt. The scratches above the belt are about 180 degrees opposite of each other and if you turn the case, you can eventually find a spot where only a neck sized case will fit without problem. I'm going to FL size to the point that they all feed easily without oversizing it and see if that makes a difference.
Re: Problem chambering a neck sized round
Usually all the above fixes work...I had a 7 mm Remmy that had an egg shaped chamber. Had a smith run a decent reamer in, cut a bit at the base and never a problem everafter.
Usually all the above fixes work...I had a 7 mm Remmy that had an egg shaped chamber. Had a smith run a decent reamer in, cut a bit at the base and never a problem everafter.
