30-06 OAL Issue

[PDXFJR]

Good morning, I’ll start by saying that I’ve been officially reloading for about 4 months, so if you read anything in this post that sounds out of the norm, please let me know.

I’m working up a load for my 30-06. In preparation for this, looking at the tested loads in the Nosler reloading manual, all the loads were tested at a 3.32” OAL. I made the decision to load my rounds at the same OAL to see how they did. When I completed setting the bullet, I naturally attempted to load the round in the rifle. The bolt would not close; acting like the round was too long. I could get it to enter the chamber and the bolt to partially close, but not all the way in. This test was done in the house prior going to the range.

At that point, I reset the die to create an OAL the same as the factory round, knowing that they shot just fine. I was never able to get to the range and shoot.

A few days later, I purchased an OAL gauge, the 30-06 dummy round for it and a separate kit to measure Ogive instead of tip.

Using the OAL gauge, the bullet travels MUCH MUCH farther to the Lans than the 3.32” original round I built. I’m talking, Its so long that in my opinion it would be unsafe to load it because the round would barely be seated in the neck.

I’m using once fired, fully resized, trimmed to spec Remington brass that I originally purchased as factory loads.

I doubled and triple checked everything on the OAL gauge.

Any thoughts on why there would be such a huge difference from the round I loaded at 3.32” and the OAL gauge?? What would stop the 3.32” round from chambering and bolt locking if the OAL gauge shows that there is almost too much room before the bullet hits??? What am I missing??

Thanks

 

[truck driver]

Sammi is 3.340" COAL the 3.32" load should work unless you have seated the bullet crooked in the case neck. Take a felt marker and color the bullet on a loaded round and try to chamber it if it is too long it will leave a mark on the bullet. You could have also bulged the the case at the shoulder when sizing your brass and can black the brass with a marker and try to chamber it, if it's bulged it will rub off the marker. Make a dummy round with out powder and measure it against a new factory round or if you still have some reloads that you haven't disassembled you can measure them and a new factory round if the measurements are off you need to reset your dies. One way to tell if the bullet is seated crooked is to lay a loaded round on it's side on a flat surface and roll the shell watching the bullet tip to see if it wobbles when rolled.
This some of the things I would try if factory ammo is working in the rifle.

 

[BretN]

When you reset the bullets to the same OAL as a factory round, could you get the bolt to close then? If so, then I'm a bit stumped. If it wouldn't close after you reset the OAL to the same as factory, I would think you didn't really fully resize the brass. Did you check your brass after sizing it by running it through the action to make sure it was fully resized?

I too use the permanent marker test outlined in the Nosler book that truck driver mentions. The book OAL is almost always going to be a safe bet, but I have one gun/bullet combo that requires a slightly shorter OAL than book listed length. I was recently reloading and set up the seating die wrong. The built in crimper completely crushed the 30-06 shoulder. Mine was obviously crushed, but I bet if it was just out of adjustment a little it could cause the problems td describes.

 

[Dwh7271]

You could have also bulged the the case at the shoulder

This would be my guess also.
I would check how far down you have the seating die. I would think that perhaps you may actually need to move the die up slightly and the seating stem down. What that means is basically what TD said on the bulged case. The top part of the seating die will actually slightly swell the shoulder if it is set down too low. It's hard to see a slight swell there but it will not chamber in most rifles. I'd turn the die up a turn or two, lower the seating stem to whatever depth you want the bullet and load one like that. Then try to chamber it in the rifle. Should fix your issue IMO.

 

[joelkdouglas]

PDXFJR, I agree it doesn't sound like a seating depth issue.

I'm not there to assist, but I would guess this is the problem:
"I’m using once fired, fully resized, trimmed to spec Remington brass that I originally purchased as factory loads."

I would guess when you resized your sizing die was screwed in enough to resize the base of the case, but not enough to push the shoulder back. You may have compressed the base of the case inward, which actually pushed the shoulder forward, but didn't size enough to compress the shoulder. I would try to resize another case a bit shorter, just trying to chamber the brass alone. You'll also have to retrim probably. Did you get the headspace measurement item?

If not the shoulder of the case, it could be your sizing die stem moving the shoulder.

 

[PDXFJR]

Thanks for all the input, It'll be the forth time I do this, but I'll double check the brass again tonight. I mic'd all the points on the brass at least three times and I used multiple rounds, not just one trying to fit it.

The resizing die was set to barely let the RCBS lever to "break over". I set it up based on all the instructions in the die set and the video.

 

[OU812]

The guys have given some good advise. I would also try chambering a resized case with no bullet and see if it chamber. If it does chamber then it's not your resizing set up. Then I would run the brass through the seater die and insert NO bullet and see if the same piece of brass chambers. If it does not then your seating die set up is wrong which will bulge the case and cause what you are seeing.

Also are the bullets seating easily? If it's taking some force to seat the bullets you could be tweeking the case neck to one side and that can cause what you are seeing as well.

 

[JD338]

I agree that you bumped the shoulder too far back, creating a slight bulge at the shoulder.
Try backing off the full length die.

JD338

 

[PDXFJR]

Ok guys...I appreciate all the info. Everyone is pointing toward an issue with resizing and a possible bulged shoulder. There was no problem seating the bullet.

Question #1: the same round with the same brass will chamber and lock the bolt out when the OAL is the same as factory. Wouldn't it have the same issue wether the bullet is seated shorter or longer?

I came home and I mic'd both the factory round and the reloaded round and they are damn near identical in all areas including shoulder!!! I'm even including a pic.....

Once again...I'm stumped and I'm planning on shooting tomorrow!!!

Thoughts???????

 

[steve4102]

There are two basic reasons for a handload not to chamber.

1) improper sizing of the case.
Solution, set up your FL dies according to instructions.

...Raise the ram, screw the die into the press until it contacts the shell holder, Lower the ram, screw the die Into the press 1/4 turn more. Lock it down.

...lube and size a used-fired case. Wipe off lube, check to see if the sized empty case chambers and extracts with ease. If so you are GTG. If not adjust the die into the press a little at a time until it does chamber and extract with ease.

2) Improper set up of the Seating die itself.

Solution, set up the seating die according to instruction to seat with "NO" crimp.

...take a sized case and place it into the shell holder, Raise the ram all the way up, screw the seating die into the press until you feel it make contact with the case mouth, lower the ram back the die OUT of the pres at least 1/2 turn and lock it down.

 

[OU812]

Question #1: the same round with the same brass will chamber and lock the bolt out when the OAL is the same as factory. Wouldn't it have the same issue wether the bullet is seated shorter or longer?

Yes that would be true.


If the reload will chamber when the bullet is set to a factory COL but not when seated longer then either you have a bur or something in the throat area or you are hitting the lans.

 

[truck driver]

Sounds like your really frustrated here so take a step back and look at what you've done so far.
Now I want you to blacken a complete round you have loaded or a dummy with out powder and primer. Put it together just like you have with your loaded rounds. Place dummy round in the chamber and try to close the bolt. If it doesn't go remove it and look at the case for any signs of where it made contact with the chamber take a picture and post it here so we can see what's going on. The one you posted here looks OK but can't tell for sure.
Are you using a dry lube inside the case neck so the expander button doesn't stretch the case neck? If not get some and use it I had a similar problem when I first started reloading metallic cartridges and they wouldn't chamber.

 

[PDXFJR]

Truck Driver, I'll do that tonight and see what it looks like....Yes, I'm using a lube on the neck, but not a dry lube.

More to come!!

 

[elkeater2]

PDXFJR,
I recently embarrassed myself on here when I had rounds the bolt wouldn't close on. Turned out that some little piece of foreign material was stuck to the bolt face right under the claw extractor where it wasn't obvious. Kind of a freak deal, but I learned something. I suggest you check the bolt face too. If you have minimally sized the cases but all else is good, factory rounds would work, but not yours because the factory stuff is almost always sized more.
EE2

 

[PJGunner]

As nobody has asked, are you crimping those bullets when you seat them? If the crimp function of the seater die is set a hair too low, that would also cause the shoulder to bulge slightly. Two very simple tests. Size a cartridge case and try to chamber it the rifle. Then seat a bullet in your normal manner and try and cheer it. If the freshly resized case fits with no problem and the bullet seated case does not, back off the seater die and readjust the seating stem to when you want the bullet to be. Betcha it'll work just fine. :wink:
Paul B.

 

[nvbroncrider]

A dirty chamber will do the same seen that once if everything is set up properly. More likely like others have suggested sizing issues. It doesn't take much. Especially if you have a tight chamber. Not saying it is. Have you tried clambering sized brass without primer or bullet?

 

[PDXFJR]

Well gentlemen, if you're close to Canby, Oregon, you can come smack me upside the head.....I'm sorry!!!

Sometimes the best fix is to shoot the rifle I guess. Went to the range and had a successful day. Tested three different rounds (pics attached, numbers written are the number of grains with IMR4350).

Came home, made the dummy round at 3.32" and wouldn't you know it, it went in snug as a bug with bolt locked. All is good!!! Don't ask me why earlier rounds wouldn't go??? Maybe debris, maybe extractor issue....we'll never know, but shooting it fixed it...

Once again, sorry for the worthless post!! We can change it up though....thoughts on the loads??? These were shot at 100yds using a Leupold 3x9 bought around 1988-1989 I believe.

 

[PDXFJR]

57gr

 

[PDXFJR]

59gr....100% max. Load

 

[OU812]

I'm just South of you a little ways, I can come do it if you think it might help :grin: Glad you got it shooting. I like the looks of 58 grains, I would load some 57.5,58.5 and see what happens, also try 3 shot groups letting the barrel cool.