Im reloading for my 270 WSM and have had some problems, after I resize the brass the bolt is very hard to lock down. At first I just thought the die was not sizing it properly but never seen any marks on the shoulder or case body or anything and tonight I saw what was happening, I loaded a sized case without bullet and it was still hard and when I ejected it I found that right around the primer pocket the bolt face is diging into the brass around the primer pocket. What is causing this and why? I know my hand loads are hot but I havent even seen a primer flatten out on any case.
resizing problems
- Thread starter matts318
- Start date
Richracer1
Handloader
- May 12, 2005
- 2,139
- 120
Turn your sizing die down a quarter of a turn and resize a cartridge that's been fired. If it's still hard to turn, turn you die another quarter. Keep doing this until the bolt locks easily.
I, as well other on here, have had to do this.
I, as well other on here, have had to do this.
- Thread starter
- #3
I have it turned all the way down to the shell holder, the problem is at the bottom side of the shell, right around the primer pocket, literally right next to the primer, the bolt face is digging into the brass directly next to the primer and shaving a little off.
Ridge_Runner
Handloader
- Sep 29, 2006
- 1,388
- 740
set your die to "cam over" , set the die to touch the shellholder, then lower the ram and screw the die in another 1/4-1/2 turn, the bolt is digging into the casehead because it doesn't fit the chamber right. When you get your die set properly that will go away.
RR
RR
cloverleaf
Handloader
- Sep 10, 2006
- 4,401
- 1,066
I had this problem im my FN Mauser. The suggestion above is the only thing that I found to help. As much as wewould like to think that our rifles are all bored, threaded, trued and assmebled perfectly concentric, the reality for my rifle was that it was not. That meant that every time it was fired the case would expand to fit the chamber as it was for that shot. Next time that case went in the chamber it never landed dead TDC and it would transfer a little brass from the last firings "high spot" on the case base. Simply put I found that the bolt face wasnt flat and at a perfect right angle to the chamber. So my theroy is that with them sized down a little further the case expanded flush to the bolt with each shot. Now this is partially theoretical on my part, but I know truing up the bolt face (although its still probably not at a perfect right angle to the chamber ) helped some and that extra little turn on the sizing die solved the rest. Sad but true, but Im guessing this is what makes a trued action and lapped lugs in a custom rifle worth while. Now I dont recommend this but my bolt face was "trued" on the horizonal press and table of a shopsmith :shock: 
The fact is with the right hand load the rifle shot the same 1/2 inch group. all it did was make it easier to open and close and a little easier on the brass.
As you can tell Im just a shade tree mechanic and a baling wire engineer. so dont take my theroy for more than .02 of opinion, and those are like belly buttons.....setting the die down did help the most though. Thats what I'd do. Now lets see where was I..... ...CL
The fact is with the right hand load the rifle shot the same 1/2 inch group. all it did was make it easier to open and close and a little easier on the brass.
As you can tell Im just a shade tree mechanic and a baling wire engineer. so dont take my theroy for more than .02 of opinion, and those are like belly buttons.....setting the die down did help the most though. Thats what I'd do. Now lets see where was I.....
...CLRichracer1
Handloader
- May 12, 2005
- 2,139
- 120
Ridge_Runner":3b4892ae said:
I believe this is what the directions for setting up the sizer die says as well, at least all of the RCBS sizer dies I bought directed this.
corbin9191
Handloader
- Dec 2, 2007
- 724
- 0
I just had the same problem with my 7mm wsm and hornady dies. What I did was take apart the die and clean it really good, Then I made sure that the primer punch was sticking out of the die exactly 3/16 inch. After that I would make sure the shell holder would touch the die and everything worked great. But make sure the primer punch is set exactly 3/16 or the brass wont go up all the way into the die so the shoulder wont get resized like it should. Hope this helps.
- Thread starter
- #8
I have tryed setting the die like that, and it is a hornady die also, I might need to check the punch, never though it might be hitting insid the bottom of the case or something. The problem is showing up in my dads new 300 WSM weatherby sub MOA rifle with the first reloads of once fired brass but not as bad, im wonderin about these Hornady dies, but then again they have workgreat in my 308. I dont know but its starting to get frustrating.
WSM brass is tough and hard to resize. It often has alot of springback and the problem can get worse with 4-5 fireings as the brass hardens some more.
I can't comment on the bolt face digging into your brass..that doesn't sound normal. BUT I can say with 99% certainty that you aren't getting the brass far enough into the die to get the shoulder pushed back during resizing.
I have had deals like this with different calibers and would recomend that you shave about .010" off the top of your shellholder. I did it for several situations by simply holding it with a vice grip carefully against a fine grinding wheel.
Once you get this solved (and I'll bet a 12 pack the above will do it) I strongly recomend you get a hornady headspace bushing measuring kit for about $35-40. Once you have it you can set shoulder pushback to .002" and you won't know how you loaded without it.
I can't comment on the bolt face digging into your brass..that doesn't sound normal. BUT I can say with 99% certainty that you aren't getting the brass far enough into the die to get the shoulder pushed back during resizing.
I have had deals like this with different calibers and would recomend that you shave about .010" off the top of your shellholder. I did it for several situations by simply holding it with a vice grip carefully against a fine grinding wheel.
Once you get this solved (and I'll bet a 12 pack the above will do it) I strongly recomend you get a hornady headspace bushing measuring kit for about $35-40. Once you have it you can set shoulder pushback to .002" and you won't know how you loaded without it.
- Thread starter
- #11
rick smith
Handloader
- Apr 6, 2005
- 1,249
- 0
matts318, just remember the shell holder needs to be as flat as possible. No uneven surface or you could introduce case runout.Rick.
- Thread starter
- #14
yeah Im gonna stick it in the vice as gently as possible and my steel files are wider then the shell holder so everything should stay flat long as I take my time. So I have some fired brass and I will try shaving off .010 and see if that helps, at this point I am wondering if some brands of shell holders are just a little bit thicker than others, or if its just the WSM shell holders because its happening on the 300 WSM also.
Antelope_Sniper
Handloader
- Jan 25, 2008
- 2,618
- 0
Yes, some brands are different thicknesses.
I have two shellholders for one size, and they are different thicknesses.
I have two shellholders for one size, and they are different thicknesses.
G
Guest
Guest
Yes, shellholders vary from brand to brand. I'd consider buying a couple more shellholders first, before filing one down. It will be near impossible to keep the surface perfectly square, and that will introduce variation into your loads. Bad juju if you ask me.
The top of the shellholder has ABSOLUTLEY NO FUNCTION related to the sizing of the case. There are some reloaders out there that think they have to use the top of the shellholder to "square" the sizing die as they screw it into the press. If they feel this way that's fine. I use a runnout indicator and have not found this to be necessary at all. Most dies set for proper headspace will be up and away from the top of the shellholder so you'd be fooling around with shims to set the die that way anyhow. (and to be proper using shims or washers you would have to be sure they are 100% square) 98% of the time if you have runnout induced by the sizing die it will be from an off center sizing ball.
wildman
Beginner
- Jun 13, 2009
- 206
- 67
I had the same problem with a 300wsm was using lee dies called lee and they had me send my dies and 3 hulls that been fired in my rifle back to them .Got them back and every thing is good .You might wanna consider sending your dies back and have them fix yours ...
Desert Fox
Handloader
- Aug 14, 2006
- 1,965
- 3
matts318":3tlesqi3 said:
Is your rifle a Winchester M-70 CRF. If so it could be that your bolt is not square. The boltface on my M-70 CRF is like moon scape. I tolerated it long enough because the rifle is so acurate. It's hard on brass also. Three loadings and the brass is toast. I finally got tired of it that I sent it to my gunsmith for truing and acurizing.
No need to file your shell holder. You can buy a set of competition shellholder that can control headspace. They're pricey but it's worth the money.
http://www.redding-reloading.com/pages/ ... ders2.html
- Thread starter
- #20
