Tight Chamber or FL Sizing Die Issue

[Kopfjager1]

I had just purchased a new barrel from ES Tactical (28" 6.5 CM 1:7.5") for my DT SRS. First thing I did was run a few wet/dry patches through it, made sure the chamber and bore was free of any residue, checked the base to lands using the Hornady Length Gauge and Comparators and Mitutoyo digital calipers.

Base to Lands is 2.2215"
Sized to 1.5285" (0.0015" bump), Virgin Peterson 6.5 CM LRP 1.5250"
Cases are trimmed 1.9110" (+/-0.0005)
Annealed after each firing
Using Redding Type S FL Bushing Sizing Dies
TIR is less than 0.002"
140 ELD-Ms seated to 2.2000 (+/-0.0005)
Measurement of sized cases above web 0.4715", below shoulders 0.4615"

Before I took measurement of the web and shoulders, I tried bumping the shoulders back in 0.002" increments till I got 0.01" bump and still would not chamber. So it's not a headspace issue, just the size of the body is too large to properly chamber. New brass will fit, but once I go to resize it Ill run into the same problem. The barrel is not an issue, just a tight chamber. I tried searching and most answers were for new brass or rechamber, with a 2 answers of using Forster FL dies or Small Body dies, but details about the Forster die were omitted. The only 6.5 CM bushing die I have seen is RCBS, and not to sound snobbish but doesn't sound like the quality I am after. I dont want to spend the money on new brass as I have 800 pieces all 2x fired though my Proof CF barrel, which feed and chamber perfectly. Sending the barrel back is unnecessary since factory ammo chambers. Is there another die that is recommended for tight chambers?
Thank you.

 

[AIAW]

I have experienced this exact same issue before (different caliber). I hate to say this, but the outcome wasn't what I really wanted but that's because I simply had no other option. That brass stayed with the rifle it was fired from and new brass was procured for the "new" barrel.

I even made a small base die... which worked, for 1 firing which then resulted in a 80 percent case-head failure rate. Working that web like that wasn't going to cut it. Perhaps a SBD would work for you in your case though? One way to find out.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Contact barrel maker. Not the first time a skinny chamber has gone out from aftermarket shops. They usually use gauges to set HS which aren’t full profile of case width and shape, and don’t always catch their reamers are worn width-wise.

 

[whatsupdoc]

Measure the case diameter .25 forward of the base, what do you get?
Does new brass fit? Normal dies do not touch the base of the case.

 

[918v]

5 random cases from my range bucket measure .470” to .471” at the web.

 

[Thud]

Rule of thumb I go by.
New Barrell new BRASS.
Always cheaper in the long run.
One issue with a small base is that switching barrel chamber will lead to overworked brass and possible case problems ie. case failure .

 

[Milo 2.5]

I would call Whidden, they may be the quickest, they will give instructions on what you'd need to send them for a custom-semi custom die. It'll be like 3 pcs new brass fired in the chamber, plus 3 of the oversized cases.
Harrels also has dies, where a simple call to get die specs may yield results.

 

[sobrbiker883]

Is it just me or did he post “Virgin Peterson brass”, and “cases annealed after every firing”?

 

[Milo 2.5]

Rule of thumb I go by.
New Barrell new BRASS.
Always cheaper in the long run.
One issue with a small base is that switching barrel chamber will lead to overworked brass and possible case problems ie. case failure .

Right, but will the die he has even touch the new brass once fired, he has a series of mismatches here.

 

[Sheldon N]

I'd say try out the RCBS Small base 6.5 Creedmoor FL die, then use an expander mandrel to set neck tension instead of the internal expander ball. Looks like it's only available in a 2 die set right now, but you don't need to use their seating die.

Alternate option is to try out the new PVA ring die (or whatever it's called) that sizes just the base of the case. That's a bit more expensive and would require extra steps.

I try to find a sizing die that gives 0.001 sizing at the base of the case (0.200 line) and about .0025 shoulder diameter sizing when you bump shoulders 0.002 (comparing fired/sized brass). It's an extra plus if the neck doesn't get over worked between sizing and expanding, target 0.001-0.002 oversized before expanding, but up to 0.004 oversized is not terrible. If it meets those criteria, isn't scratching up the brass, and is concentric I don't care who made it. It's just a hole in a piece of steel.

 

[918v]

His chamber is not out of line with other chambers out there.

 

[Thud]

The barrel is OK. New brass works.
You can't use different brass from a different barrel and expect it to fit.

Some shooters are trying to save a few buck and end up being pound foolish.

 

[918v]

Why is that? Is it a Creedmoor thing?

 

[Kopfjager1]

Measure the case diameter .25 forward of the base, what do you get?
Does new brass fit? Normal dies do not touch the base of the case.

0.25" above the rim I get 0.4710", all the cases I sized are that dimension.

Is it just me or did he post “Virgin Peterson brass”, and “cases annealed after every firing”?

I have a few virgin pieces of Peterson brass I kept for dummy cartridges. The rest are all fired.

I do use the expander mandrels to set neck tension.

I ordered a RCBS small base die, it will be here tomorrow. Ill run a few cases to see if that solves the problem. Hopefully it will only be needed for the first sizing for this barrel. New brass for a new barrel just seems so counter productive for handloading. Especially with barrels with short barrel life. Ill check out Whidden and Harrels for the long term.
Thank you.

 

[canezach]

Is it just me or did he post “Virgin Peterson brass”, and “cases annealed after every firing”?

I think he was just giving us the measurements of the virgin brass, not saying he was using virgin brass.

 

[918v]

Why don’t you try sizing the case all the way to the bottom until the die bottoms out on the shell holder.

 

[shootnrelease]

I have run into this with Redding dies a couple times (on bolt guns).
Your fired brass is likely out of a factory chamber. RCBS F/L sizing die solved it .