.308 wont chamber

[jimmythang]

I have reloaded .223 and have not had this issue. I ordered these lake city bullets from Wideners. They are 150 grain. OAL =2.7850 OAL on a IVI factory .308 (known good round) is 2.7865. When I go to chamber the round (no powder or primer) the bolt does not go forward all the way. It takes several times to get the round to eject. The ivi (right) is 147 grain and the one on the right is the reload 150 grain. obviously the cannelure is quite a bit higher. But I was told not to go by that cannelure but the OAL

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[shibumiseeker]

Will the brass chamber without the bullet? And rifling marks on the bullet when you eject it?

I'd seat to the cannelure, the ogive on the left looks a little higher than the one on the right. If the brass chambers easily then just keep increasing the seating depth until it chambers properly. You can smoke the bullet with a match to have the rifling leave witness marks.

 

[patience0830]

Double check the length of the brass. Place a caliper on the diameter just below the shoulder to make sure you haven't ballooned it a little bit when sizing or seating the bullet. If the case neck has been work hardened the tension of the bullet entering the case has, on a couple of occasions, been enough to cause this problem for me.

If you take a dremel and a cut off wheel and make a vertical cut across the neck of a properly sized brass so you can push a bullet into the neck part way then gently chamber the "test cartridge" you can gently extract it and measure the length. subtract .010 and try that for length.

 

[billybob44]

I would think a size problem..

Will the brass chamber without the bullet? And rifling marks on the bullet when you eject it?

I'd seat to the cannelure, the ogive on the left looks a little higher than the one on the right. If the brass chambers easily then just keep increasing the seating depth until it chambers properly. You can smoke the bullet with a match to have the rifling leave witness marks.

+1^^^ Also be sure that the shoulder is push backed enough.
Size your EMPTY brass back just enough that your bolt will close easily. Chances are that your size die is NOT down enough-you MUST over-cam on your press to get the .308 to size properly...Bill.

 

[BGDave]

Good tip.

Double check the length of the brass. Place a caliper on the diameter just below the shoulder to make sure you haven't ballooned it a little bit when sizing or seating the bullet. If the case neck has been work hardened the tension of the bullet entering the case has, on a couple of occasions, been enough to cause this problem for me.

If you take a dremel and a cut off wheel and make a vertical cut across the neck of a properly sized brass so you can push a bullet into the neck part way then gently chamber the "test cartridge" you can gently extract it and measure the length. subtract .010 and try that for length.

Good tip for O.A.L. setup. Cheaper than a Stoney Point tool. Works just as well.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

I would make sure the neck is pushed back far enough as suggested. When I was reloading .308, I had three rounds that would not chamber. I pulled the bullets, and the brass would not chamber. You can set just enough neck tension to hold the bullet and chamber the round, then carefully extract it. Then you can measure the OAL. It's another method you can use to soft seat the bullet for OAL.

 

[djl02]

Will either one of these load or just the one on the left wont?

 

[Electronrider]

Double check the cases in a case gauge to make sure they are sized properly.

Once that is ruled out, check your manuals for proper COAL, just to make sure your seating to right depth.

 

[JonProphet]

Shoulder problem?

Did you chamfer and deburr?

 

[Broom_jm]

I hate when threads like these are not answered by the OP. The odds are 90% or more that the chambering problem was caused by an insufficiently sized case or bullet seated too long. Determining either would take just a few minutes and it sure would be nice to hear back on what the root cause was.

 

[billybob44]

Priorities??

I hate when threads like these are not answered by the OP. The odds are 90% or more that the chambering problem was caused by an insufficiently sized case or bullet seated too long. Determining either would take just a few minutes and it sure would be nice to hear back on what the root cause was.

+1 on that J.
It seems when someone is in a bind that they have enough time to come here for help. After the problem is fixed, they do not have enough time to reply.

Hell, next time we should tell them to:
1. Install a spent primer backwards.
2. Fill case with Purple Kool-Aid.
3. Insert flat base bullet upside down.
4. Seat bullet with base flush to case mouth.
5. Apply HEAVY roll crimp case mouth.

^^^Do all of the above, and let us know how it worked out?? HA HA...Bill.

 

[billybob44]

No one likes my suggestion??

I guess I killed this thread with my last suggestion??..Bill

 

[MikeDVB]

I guess I killed this thread with my last suggestion??..Bill

MURDERER!

 

[-Jake-]

I'm going with improperly sized brass. Do you have the dillon case gauge or anything?

 

[billybob44]

WOW

I'm going with improperly sized brass. Do you have the dillon case gauge or anything?

^^^FOUR posts on the board, in a week and already MAXed out on the Rep??

Just Wow..

 

[-Jake-]

^^^FOUR posts on the board, in a week and already MAXed out on the Rep??

Just Wow..

I saw all them things under my name. I have no idea what they mean

 

[billybob44]

High Quality Posts..

I saw all them things under my name. I have no idea what they mean

Well Jake, it means that you have had 4 SUPER Quality posts so far..Bill.

 

[Broom_jm]

Maybe Jake is really good buddies with one of the Moderators?

 

[billybob44]

"Good Buddie"

Maybe Jake is really good buddies with one of the Moderators?

Yea, J., and I KNOW what a "Good Buddie" is..HA HA..Bill.

 

[-Jake-]

Yea, J., and I KNOW what a "Good Buddie" is..HA HA..Bill.

Are you insinuating that I am gay because I have more rep than you?