I posted a while back RE: having a problem with the 370 grain Northfork bullet getting stuck in the case mouth and actually pushing the case in at the shoulder. I thought my problem was related to the grooves in the shank of the Northfork bullet hanging up in the case mouth. However, today I had the same problem with the 400 grain Swift A-frame (smooth shank). I have no problem seating the 410 grain Woodleigh solid, 400 grain Hornaday solid or the 400 grain Barnes XLC (blue coating on bullet) -- all 3 of these bullets seat smoothly. The cartridge I am reloading for is the 416 Rigby and I'm using Redding dies and Norma brass. I have chamferred the inside of the case mouths. Any suggestions? Do I have a problem with my dies (I am thinking about calling Redding for help)? Thanks for your help.

Post all the measurments that you can think of. In particular the diameter of the neck of a loaded round. The bullet diameters. The diameter of a sized neck and why not a fired neck? Might as well measure the expanding button too.

Try to chamfer with a 15 degree tool also.

Hey MHC_TX, Don is on the right track with his questions. When you answer them, the problem might be self-evident.

I have a couple or rifles that seem to like the Bullets in a tight neck. One trick I use is to "Polish" the inside of the Casemouth with "0000 Steel Wool" wrapped around a Bore Brush. Just turn it by hand a couple of twists after Chamfering. DO NOT use a power tool. Blow in the Casemouth a bit and it is done. You can see the results with your eye if your vision is good.

Then when you go to Seat the Bullets, e-a-s-e the Ram up into the Die. When you feel the Bullet make contact with the Seating Stem, STOP and lightly "pat" the handle. This will get the Bullet started straight into the Casemouth. (You can even lower the Ram to check on it without the Bullet falling off the Casemouth.)

Then e-a-s-e the Handle on down to a full stroke. I had a buddy Seat bullets one time that slammed the handle down as if he was expanding a rivot. Needless to say, that is not the best way to go about it.

Savage 99, is right on. Things to be looked at: -fired case neck diameter, both inside and out -one resized case(done w/o the expander ball) -one resized case done in the conventional manner. Measure all, compare the differences. My money is on the expander ball(too small), but it is possible the die sizes the necks excessively.

I had a similar problem with .300H&H, but it was easily fixed with a few extra twists of the chamfering tool. I like the steel wool idea also.

OK here are my measurements:

Bullet diameters:
400gr/416 Woodleigh solid = .4160"
400gr/416 Barnes XLC (blue coating) = .4165"
400gr/416 Hornaday solid = .4160"
no problem seating these 3 (i.e., Woodleigh, Barnes, Hornaday)
400gr/416 Swift A-frame = .4160"
370gr/416 Northfork = .4160"

Loaded Round Outside Neck Diameter:
400gr/416 Woodleigh solid = .446"
400gr/416 Barnes XLC (blue coating) = .446"
400gr/416 Hornaday solid = .446"
400gr/416 Swift A-frame = .446"
370gr/416 Northfork = n/a

fired case: inside diameter=.414", outside=.447"
resized case: inside diameter=.410", outside=.447"
resized w/o expander button: inside=.397", outside=.430"

expander button diameter = .413"

Stuck Bullets Outside Neck Diameter:
370gr/416 Northfork (2 rounds) both = .445"
400gr/416 Swift A-frame (2 rounds) both = .446"

Note: I was able to load 3 rounds of the 400gr/416 Swift A-frames & none of the 370gr/416 Northfork bullets. Also, all of the cases were "new" and had never been fired, just full length resized and case mouths chamfered before seating the bullet. I talked to the people at Redding (tech support) and they are trying to help also. They wanted to know the diameter of the expander button. Comments/suggestions? Thanks for your help!

MHC_TX, I do question why your loaded rounds are .001" smaller than your sized brass(.416" v .417") Also .003" press fit doesn't sound bad for such a large calibre. The dimentions you list are close to those specs. given in Donnelly's conversion manual(.445")

If the trouble persists, I'd look for a larger expander ball(+.001") You don't mention it, but are you crimping while seating? If so, the seating die is out of adjustment, if not add a few more twists to the chamfer/debur tool, and make the bevel larger.

About XLC's and coated bullets, chamfering should be done with a very low drag (22degree) chamfer/reamer to help prevent the coating from being scraped off. The blue coating can, and does build up in a die, so look for that also.

It will be interesting to hear what Redding has to say.
Best of luck, packrat

Redding is sending me a larger expander ball (.414"), hope this solves the problem.