I'm new to reloading and this is my first post, please be gentle.
I have a Hornady OAL gauge for determining seating depth. It worked perfectly for my .25-06, I was able to get consistent readings for seating the different bullets I use, and I am very pleased with the results. But when I moved from the .25-06 to the .30-06, frustration set in. The Hornady modified .30-06 case does not fit into the chamber of my Remington 700, it goes about 3/4 of the way in, then sticks because it's too large. I bought the case at the local (Gonzales LA) Cabelas store, so I took it back and exchanged it for a second one in the hope that the first one was simply manufactured out of spec. But the second case did not fit either. I then tried to gently file down the diameter of the case, but after filing and filing and filing, I made essentially no progress. I suppose I could run the case through the resizing die, but then my bullets wouldn't slide in and out of the neck, and I'm guessing it would also throw the threads out of alignment with the push-rod.
So what do I do? I like the tool, it worked great on my .25-06. Has anyone encountered this problem with the Hornady gauge? Any workarounds or alternatives or other suggestions? I haven't read much positive about the RCBS precision mic; besides, I hate the idea of having to buy a separate case for each of my rifles.
Thanks in advance.
John Murrill

How does the 25-06 case fit in the 30-06? They have the same case body length. There is a 14' difference in shoulder angle, but just for fit. You can modify your own cases by threading them with a 5/16" x 36 tpi tap. I'd size the damn thing, but that's just me. Factory chamber?
.

I make mine from once fired brass that was fired in that chamber.
Check the chamber of the rifle and make sure it is clean polish the new 30/06 case by putting it in a drill and spinning it use steel wool. coat the new case with black magic marker and see where it is hanging up look for deep scratches. like was stated you may have to resize the case if your chamber is on the tight size.
Dave

Aren't you suppose to have a specific dummy case for each individual caliber you use it for?

All of my Stoney Point Modified cases are new and unfired. If you have a modified 30-06 case that is factory new brass and it will not fit your chamber something else is wrong.

Jimmy B. - yes, there is a specific dummy case for each caliber. I have the .25-06 dummy case and it works like a charm in my .25-06. I have the .30-06 dummy case and it won't fit in my .30-06.

Steve4102 - I just don't know what's wrong. Factory ammo fits just fine in the rifle; in the last couple of years, I've fired numerous factory loads from different manufacturers with no problems. Likewise, my handloads fit just fine in the rifle. The only thing that won't fit is the Hornady modified case.

I THINK I would size the case and see if that wouldn't make it fit.

Then, if it does and I couldn't get the test bullet to slide easily, I THINK I would hacksaw or Dremel cut a slit in the neck so the bullet could slide properly.

I have had to turn the necks on 2 of the modified cases. If your brass is extra thick and the outside diameter is too large then you will have a problem with the modified case.

Measure the outside neck diameter of a fired unsized case and then measure the outside neck diameter of the modified case.

Call Hornady 1800-338-3220

I use the system also and have found it to be helpful. I have never had this problem though.

From what you describe, it sounds like the chamber has a tight neck or the process of enlarging the neck in the brass increased the neck diameter out of spec. I would mic the case and compare it to a cartridge drawing. I would also smoke the case the put it in the chamber to see where it is sticking and go from there.

While you could resize the case in your die, getting the neck tension correct would require an oversized neck expander button and possibly some outside neck turning. With cutting a slit in the neck, I would worry about getting the brass to seat properly in the chamber with any irregularities from the cut or burrs. Small changes in getting the case seated in the chamber would screw up the process of translating your measurements to your handloads.

We still don't know if this is factory chamber or custom.

If your .30-06 chamber is non-standard (custom built - or whatever), it is quite possible the standard modified case won't fit. Chambers come in all sizes, so getting a generic case may work in 98% of all cases, but maybe your chamber falls into the 2% remainder...

The best way to fix this, is to use a case FIRED in YOUR .30-06 chamber, drill and tap it for the Stoney Point tool (use search function here to find correct sizes of drill and tap).

Alternatively, Hornady may make a case for you, but they will probably need a case fired in your chamber to do so.

If you have not screwed up the original Hornady modified case, you *might* get it to work by body sizing it (Redding Body die) or (as mentioned above) by using a sizer with an oversized expander. However, it really depends on which dimension of your chamber prohibits the modified case from chambering. If you manage to get the neck of the modified case sized down so far that bullets won't move in and out freely, you are in trouble.

Note: even if you manage to get the modified case to chamber, you have to make sure it chambers "correctly" (e.g. the modified case headspaces correctly) and gives you readings which are relevant to the brass you reload. By far the better solution would be to make a modified case from a piece of brass fired in your chamber (see above). This is the very best solution.

- mike

quote:

Originally posted by Murrill:
...Has anyone encountered this problem with the Hornady gauge?

Hey John, Yes indeed.

quote:

Any workarounds or alternatives or other suggestions?...

Have you ever come to the right place. No " Thingys "(aka the Hornady or Stoney Point fiascos) are needed at all to accomplish the proper and desired Seating Depth. All you need is a Cleaning Rod, a Flat Tip Jag, some Tape to mark the rod and a set of 0.001" capable Calipers. Plus the link indicates how to convert from OCL to ODL which will help you even more.

Best of luck to you.

Hey H C

I wondered how long it would be before you showed up! Sorta like death and taxes, mention a "thingy" and you're going to show up to try and keep us evil-doers from turning young minds to the "thingy hell" and the dark side.

BTW, there is a "thingy" you can get for $25.00 that does exactly what HC is talking about with his baling-wire-and-duct-tape solution (except much more accurately). It is made by a guy in Louisiana shown here next to my very valuable Stoney Point OAL Gauge



It is the best $25.00 I ever spent in reloading. You just insert it in the muzzle down to the bolt face and lock the outside collet onto the rod



Then back it out a little and insert the bullet to the lands (the Hornady OAL tool is an excellent way to do this) and then push the rod back in until it hits the bullet tip and lock the inside collet



and then measure between the collets



much much more exact then trying to measure to the thousanth of an inch between edges of tape on a rod!

His name is Randy Reeves and you can contact him a r_reeves61@bellsouth.net or call him at (318) 424-7867

I use the Hornady "thingy" and the reeves "thingy" together as a double check for seating depth.

quote:

Originally posted by the highly exhalted, much respected, and Master of all "Thingys", my buddy Woods:
much much more exact then trying to measure to the thousanth of an inch between edges of tape on a rod!

You have a good point that it "has the potential" to be more accurate than the Tape.

However, """ if """ a person determines where the Best Harmonic is located using the
never improved upon Creighton Audette Load Development Method and Fine Tunes the Load by Adjusting the Seating Depth for optimum accuracy - then does potentially being off by 0.001"-0.003" on the original measurement make a difference?

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:
does potentially being off by 0.001"-0.003" on the original measurement make a difference?

Hey H C, good to see you made it up this morning. Had your coffee? Going swimming.....rather kayaking today?

0.001"-0.003" had too many zero's in it. It would be easy to be off .01"-.03" when interpolating where the edge of the caliper and the edge of the tape coincide. It is important to be able to make repeated readings to keep track of your throat erosion, even if you have found the best load with the Audette (or OCW ) method.

Picked any tomatoes? Mine are about gone with the heat and stinkbugs.

quote:

Originally posted by woods:
...Had your coffee? Going swimming.....rather kayaking today?

Never have liked coffee. Don't like things stronger than straight Bourbon. Too dry to plow and toooooo Hot to fish. However, falling out of the Kayak might feel real good.

quote:

...It would be easy to be off .01"-.03" when interpolating where the edge of the caliper and the edge of the tape coincide. ...

Gooood gosh! Ray Charles could have measured closer than that.

Perhaps you might want to "consider" getting a new Thingy - reading glasses!!!

My, my, my! How quick we are to cast aspersions without taking a good look at the situation!

Let's take a quick look at your "Ray Charles" way of doing this.

First you have to get the tape in exactly the right place



but is it this much off (.001")



this much off (.003")



this much off (.010")



probably not this much off, but could be (.030")



So then we can measure exactly between the edges of the tape. Oh, BTW, you have to get the other tape in exactly the right place or you could double the error!

Is this the right measurement



or this looks about right (.010" difference)



but you know, I can almost swear that this is closer (.030" difference)



Gee, what do you think, Mr. Eagle Eye!

I think you better stick to growing tomatoes!

But then you might think you can grow one bigger than mine

For $6.00, I'll take a piece of your fired, but unsized brass and modify it for the Stoney Point/Hornady tool and ship it back to you.

Just ensure that the intended projectile will fit in the neck of the case.

I'd like some of those Tomatos....