I have been trying to work up a load for my 338 lapua, and I'm having issues with nosler brass sticking in the chamber. I will fire a round and lift the bolt ( normal bolt lift) and try to pull the bolt open and it won't budge. If I close the bolt handle and reopen it, sometimes the case will come loose, sometimes I have to do it several times to get the case out. I have read that some people are having the same issue but with hornady bass, but haven't seen anything on nosler brass yet. Is any one else having any issues, or does anyone have an idea whats causing this and how do you fix it. My nosler brass was new and it does it with starting, mid, and close to max loads, but doesn't do it with every case maybe 2-3 out of 5. I called savage today and they said to try black hills factory ammo and see if it sticks, because thats what they would test it with. If it does stick I will have to send the rifle back. Anyone have any ideas?
Savage 110 FCP 338 Lapua and Nosler brass
- Thread starter JMUPT
- Start date
Desert Fox
Handloader
- Aug 14, 2006
- 1,965
- 3
First of, Norma brass are soft. So are Hornady's. Black Hills uses Lapua brass which is much stronger and thicker.
Try polishing your chamber first. If that doesn't work, send it back to Savage.
Try polishing your chamber first. If that doesn't work, send it back to Savage.
Oldtrader3
Ammo Smith
- Nov 6, 2009
- 8,406
- 7
It sounds to me as though your Savage chamber is not cut to spec and is not straight taper as it should be. As has been suggested, have Savage polish it a bit and if it still won't eject have them replace the barrel. The Lapua case has over a millimeter of taper in the case walls to make it feed and extract under all conditions for the military. It should extract easily, moreso than a .340 Weatherby or RUM.
- Thread starter
- #6
From reading some info on other forums I was thinking it could be a primary extraction issue or the chamber needs to be polished. I read that if the gap inbetween the baffle on the bolt and the reciever (with bolt closed) is more than .010" that could be the problem. I measured mine and it's at .023" so that may be the issue. Also I took a case that had been fired and put it back into the chamber closed the bolt and when I tried to take it out it was stuck again. Thanks for all the help so far
- Thread starter
- #7
Just a little update, I got a box of the black hills ammo in and shot 7 rounds with no issues as far as extraction goes. But the last round blew a hole in the edge of the primer where it meets the brass. I called black hills and they are sending out a call tag so I can send it back for them to test. Looks like I will be buying some lapua brass for reloading.
Sounds like a good idea I use lapua brass whenever I possibly can. lapua brass is a deciding factor in what caliber I choose to use. besides the 300 Norma everything I use is lapua. initially its expensive but when you tally up the reloading values and lack of culls its actually inexpensive.
- Thread starter
- #9
