I JUST RELOADED 100 ROUNDS OF 165 GR. NOSLER BALLISTIC TIPS, 96.0 GR. OF H1000, FED. 215 PRIMER & BRAND NEW CASES THAT I FULL LENGTH RESIZED & TRIMMED FOR THE 300 RUM I HAD TO SEAT THE BULLET TO FIT INTO THE MAGAZINE.I WENT RIGHT BY THE BOOK IN NOSLER 5TH EDITION.

I HAVE SHOT ABOUT 20 OF THEM AND I HAVE A LITTLE TROUBLE OPENING THE BOLT.

WHAT COULD BE WRONG?

AND A PRETHANKS FOR YOUR HELP?

[ 02-19-2003, 01:21: Message edited by: Just-Shoot ]

Just-Shoot,

Did you work up to this load in your gun or just decide to go with it based on a recommendation? As each firearm is different you need to work up your loads from about 5 - 10% below maximum. It could be that your load is at or over max. for your particular rifle. A sticking bolt is one indication of higher than normal pressures. I am no expert and I am sure that you will get more scientific responses to your questions on this forum. Welcome to the club!

[ 02-19-2003, 02:12: Message edited by: Mule Skinner ]

I'm not prepared to say much as I'm not terribly familiar with that case but I think if you read the following you'd be educated...I know I was...it's extremely long and detailed but some of the folks writing to the thread are highly respected.

Good luck.

Reed

http://talk.shooters.com/room_48/8525.cfm

Did you try cycling any of your loaded rounds through the gun before you fired any?
Did they chamber, extract, and eject easily? sounds to me like your pushing a max load and found or exceded the limit for your rifle.
Just what kind of velocity was that load suppose to produce?

Justshoot,
You have a load that is over-pressure in YOUR weapon. It may have been fine in the test weapon, under the conditions in the lab but in your weapon, under your conditions it is developing enough pressure to over-expand the case and chamber. This is a common problem with folks who assume that the maximum loads are under pressure for litigation reasons - the manuals list loads that develope as close to maximum SAAMI pressures as is safe under the conditions that tests are made. Back off your load by 2% and see if the sticking goes away. If it does then find the most accurate load BELOW that point.

PaulS

I WENT WITH THE MED. LOAD DATA 96.0 GR H1000

MAX. WAS 98.0 GR H1000

AND YES THEY DID CHAMBER IN AND OUT PERFECTLY BEFORE THEY WERE FIRED.

I WORKEDUP SOME LOADS STARTING WITH MIN. AND WENT UP .3 INC. 95.0,95.3,95.7,96.0,96.3 & 96.6 BEST ROUND WAS 96.0 GR AND EVERY ONE STUCK NOT MUCH BUT JUST ENOUGH TO KNOW IT.

Does the bolt lift easy as you first touch it or is it later on extraction?

Anyway you found the maximum load! And it's not very hot out either, here anyway.

the bolt lifts just fine but needs a little tug to open

Then it's your chamber that's rough. Either send the rifle back, polish it or live with it but your load has to be reduced even though now it seems it's a "safe" maximum.

What do the spent cases look like? Any pressure/stress indications?

Do you have any check weights that you could use
to check your scale with. You could be weighing heavy by 2-3 grains and not know it. Just a thought. Does the powder look full up to the
neck area. You may more powder in there than you think! BLR7 -Good Luck-