Stiff Chambering 308

[Gunner46]

Ok, No clue here. This is the 1st time I have run into this in my 30+ yrs of reloading.

I loaded up a bunch of 308 Win for my brand new Ruger American. I did everything step by step that I've always done. Trimmed case length, didn't over adjust the die, etc, etc.

But when I got to the range, when I went to chamber a round, it fed perfectly up to the point where I tried to turn the bolt down. Strong resistance. STOPPED right there.

After I got back home, and my "WTH" got to me, I tried to figure out what was up. I ran my thumb nail along a few rounds, and felt a very slight ridge right at the shoulder bend. When I applied some pressure on the bolt, it chambered. So, I did it again, and then again. About the 3rd time through, they went right in.

1st question: Are these safe to shoot, as is?

2nd question: If so, will the resultant shot be an accurate depiction of the rounds true performance?

3rd question: What the Hell did I do wrong?

 

[Tjay]

You can shoot them safely if the bolt closes.

Maybe shoot and give accurate reading on load.

You bumped the shoulder back causing the ridge/shoulder to bulge.

 

[PJGunner]

check your seating die. It may be down a bit too far causing it to slightly overtrump the round, thus slightly bulging the shoulder which case the hard bolt closure. I ran into that very same thing when I first reloaded the .308.
Paul B.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Chamber might be dirty saw this once before.

 

[26NosFan]

Was it virgin brass or was it fired brass from another rifle that you reloaded?

 

[SJB358]

I'm betting it is just stiff due to the shoulder not being bumped enough. I'd bump them a .001 or .002 and see if it's the same thing.

Agree with the others, if you can chamber them, they will be fine.

 

[jimbires]

a couple other things to check .
are you crimping ? did your die move to cause a crimp ? overly crimping can bulge the case . double check your bullet to rifling clearance , " bullet jump " . be sure your not to long causing the bullet to be jammed into the rifling . if this is the problem you can probably see rifling marks on the bullet .

 

[Elkman]

I am thinking that the die is setting back the shoulder a little much, which creates a slight bulge at the lower edge of the taper. I have done it myself. Unscrew sizing die a 1/2 turn or so and see what happens.

 

[Wyo7200]

I had the same type of experience with my 6.5 creedmoor cases that were converted from lapua .308's. The softness in the brass annealing line bulged out the shoulders when I pressed the necks down. Some cases were harder to chamber than others, but I did not notice any change in accuracy between the he two cases. The firing also corrected the bulge.