I just got a custom built 308 and am having trouble getting my rounds to be grabbed by the bolt prior to firing. I was fooling around with my fl resizing die and if I touch the shell holder with the die and then back off a quarter turn (total reverse from directions) then once fired rounds will chamber up. new brass obviously will not. Is this normal to have this kind of problem? this is a tight neck reamed barrel so I have to customize my brass anyway but never heard of having to go to all the trouble to get brass to shoulder correctly. will this cause more problems other than being a hassle to make new brass work? any advice appreciated
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Gunsmithing shoulder length for custom 308 chamber
- Thread starter kak88
- Start date
Re: shoulder length for custom 308 chamber
He has asked this question before, and it has been suggested he have the rifle checked.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1816783&gonew=1#UNREAD
He has asked this question before, and it has been suggested he have the rifle checked.
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1816783&gonew=1#UNREAD
Re: shoulder length for custom 308 chamber
Yeah, I saw the other thread after my post.
Hope all is well with you.
Respectfully,
LG
Yeah, I saw the other thread after my post.
Hope all is well with you.
Respectfully,
LG
Re: shoulder length for custom 308 chamber
Don't keep whining. Read the responses. You are setting the shoulder back. The ejector is pinning the resized cases too far forward for the extractor to jump into the cannelure. As you stated...back off the die to allow the case to fit the chamber.If factory fits...which is not ever allowed to go too long or short, hopefully, then you are shortening the case. Try this: Fire a factory round or two. Take them to the reloading press and look at your set up. Screw the resizing die down until it touches the case holder at the point where the ram is in it highest position...i.e., handle down. Unscrew it one and one/half turns. Lubricate the fired case from the first firings above, and put it in the case holder and resize it. Now, try it in the rifle. It may or may not allow the bolt handle to go down. Screw the die in, 1/16 of a turn at a time repeating the above. It will get stiffer and stiffer...don't try to force the handle down. As you get to the right length, you'll find the handle going down with less force. When you get to where it DROPS in with little effort, back off 1/16th till you have a touch of effort. Just a touch. Lock your resizing die there. Don't change it for that lot of cases. You probably will not be touching the die with the case holder. Tolerance stack up. Don't worry about it. Shoot and enjoy. JMHO
Don't keep whining. Read the responses. You are setting the shoulder back. The ejector is pinning the resized cases too far forward for the extractor to jump into the cannelure. As you stated...back off the die to allow the case to fit the chamber.If factory fits...which is not ever allowed to go too long or short, hopefully, then you are shortening the case. Try this: Fire a factory round or two. Take them to the reloading press and look at your set up. Screw the resizing die down until it touches the case holder at the point where the ram is in it highest position...i.e., handle down. Unscrew it one and one/half turns. Lubricate the fired case from the first firings above, and put it in the case holder and resize it. Now, try it in the rifle. It may or may not allow the bolt handle to go down. Screw the die in, 1/16 of a turn at a time repeating the above. It will get stiffer and stiffer...don't try to force the handle down. As you get to the right length, you'll find the handle going down with less force. When you get to where it DROPS in with little effort, back off 1/16th till you have a touch of effort. Just a touch. Lock your resizing die there. Don't change it for that lot of cases. You probably will not be touching the die with the case holder. Tolerance stack up. Don't worry about it. Shoot and enjoy. JMHO
Re: shoulder length for custom 308 chamber
Either buy headspace gauges, rent them, or have a gunsmith check out your friends work before you go any further with shooting this rifle. Sounds like your reloads are junk, but at this point you need to know that it is not the rifle, headspacing check gets that out of the way.
Either buy headspace gauges, rent them, or have a gunsmith check out your friends work before you go any further with shooting this rifle. Sounds like your reloads are junk, but at this point you need to know that it is not the rifle, headspacing check gets that out of the way.
Re: shoulder length for custom 308 chamber
And IF you don't know the correct way to use HS gages(like "stripping" the bolt)they may/can give you a false "reading".
Respectfully,
LG
And IF you don't know the correct way to use HS gages(like "stripping" the bolt)they may/can give you a false "reading".
Respectfully,
LG
