Jammed Brass

[AxisWorks LLC]

The FL die is bumping the shoulder back .004 When the Norma brass shows up tomorrow I will adjust the die and keep it to .002 On Sat. I loaded up some once fired federal cases. (fired as a factory load once prior.) So this was the first reload on the cases. I loaded 5 cases. The first two were tight after firing but extracted. the 3rd locked up again. I'm begging it think its a combination of the bulge issue and an out of spec. Chamber. We just want to exhaust every plausible case issue before exploring a bad chamber.

[STOMP442]

Sounds like the chamber needs polished and also inspect your extractor. Sometimes there can be some brass built up in there that causes it not to work properly and cause extraction issues.

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

Sounds like your on the right track, use an led light and look in the chamber for burr or damage as well. I guess it could also be head space if it were back out of the chamber too far but not likely. Hope you get it dialed in soon, let us know

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

Going back to the loss of accuracy when neck sizing if it is in that same gun maybe it is a bad chamber, when reamers wear out they will taper the diameters some. I know when I neck turn and neck size I get much better accuracy. You should have a nice smooth finish in the chamber, if its rough then it wasn't cut well, on all my factory guns I have a flapper i run on a drill and it hold red burtex and i polish all chambers up to the rifling. I work in manufacturing and i cant believe some of the work on these factory guns. They dont deburr at all and I always get a bunch of material out of them after doing it myself.

[huntjunkie]

I'M PRAYING ITS NOT THE CHAMBER!! Im in a state of denial right now about that being the problem.

[Scooter]

Well, I think new brass will help out, but why not try to smooth out the chamber anyway??? Can't hurt and sounds pretty easy for a competent 'smithy

[dalbo413]

I had a similar problem with my .257 Wby. brass after 2 firings. I was one step away from buying that Larry Willis collet die.

 

I ended up buying a Redding body die that sized the section of brass forward of the belt better than my RCBS FL die did. By the time I purchased the body and a neck sizing dies I was getting pretty close to the cost of the Larry Willis die.

 

I would try polishing the chamber and if that doesn't work, try the new die.

[Shedhunteraz]

Had same issue. Had nee extractor put in and switched from hornaday brass to nosler. Problem solved

[AxisWorks LLC]

Quick update,

 

Purchased and overnight shipped 100 pcs. of Norma brass. (brand new never fired premium brass) F/L sized 5 rounds and just neck sized 5 rounds, all jammed. Ordered and overnight shipped the Larry Willis collet die. F/L sized and colled sized 10 rounds. Jam Jam Jam. Its at Phoenix custom right now getting the chamber polished. Headspace was checked and falls into spec. by the gunsmith there. Should be getting it back on Thursday.

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

If it was me I would have them recut the chamber and reset headspace. Number one should be to check the chamber diameters. If the chamber is bad polishing won't fix it. Its most likely just a tight dull reamer chamber. Did they say they would check the chamber for spec?

[huntjunkie]

I took the gun into Phoenix Customs and had them polish the chamber. Problem solved!!! Started over with new brass hope the problem never returns! It was a VERY frustrating process of elimination. Thanks for help and advise!

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

Now when you start firing those just neck size and you full length won't push material down to the belt and you should get 6 plus loadings at least. I am on 7 with mine so far.

[huntjunkie]

I bought that collet resizing die which is suppose to help. It did help alittle before I had the chamber polished.