I've got a question for the experts here. We've got 3 22-250's between a few friends and they are all acting the same, one is a Savage the other two are Remington VS's. We all handload with three seperate reloading setups, two of us use the lee collet dies and the other uses a RCBS neck sizing rig. The problem is that after you discharge the round the brass comes out fine no signs of pressure, just normal. Then when we reload the case bullet seated back just off the lands the rounds chamber REALLY hard. The wierd thing is that all three guns are doing it, I talked to a smith about it and the only thing he could think of is that maybe the factory had some "chatter" in there reamer when they cut the chamber and its not perfectly round. But even he admitted that would be highly unlikly that all three guns would be doing it if that was the problem. Anyone have any ideas??????? Thanks

I do not have an answer for you but I will say that really hard closing of a bolt can play hell on locking lugs. Just imagine how much pressure there is on them if the camming action of the bolt is grinding them together. Doesn't seem to bother some guys that are more knowelagble than I am, but it bothers me when I am doing it in my guns.

you folks are trimming your brass aren't you?

I've checked the length of my brass and it is still far within specs.

Three different rifles; three different reloading set-ups; three different reloaders; all having the same problem.

Are you guys sharing brass?

How do you know the bullets are "just off the lands" if they are not chambering? If they are chambering, there should be obvious marks on the bullets/cases showing where the problem lies.

Hey bearcat

You are all using neck sizing dies. Depending on how hot the loads are, you will have to push the shoulder back to relieve the "crush fit". I use a Lee Collet Die and in most rifles by the 3rd loading I have to use a Redding Body Die also to push the shoulder back. Use the neck sizer first and then the body die cause in some cases the neck sizers can create a crush fit.

ricciardelli: Been asked that question, no we are not sharing brass, I wish we were it would be an "easy" fix.

Using a moly coated bullet the land marks are easy to spot on the bullets, get the seating depth to just touching, turn the dead length seater in a little more and I have my seating depth with no marks on the bullet.

I have looked and looked for marks on the bullets and cases they show no unusual marks.

Woods: That might be it, I have been using the collet dies exclusivly. When your talking a body die are you refering to a full length die?

quote:

Originally posted by bearcat:

When your talking a body die are you refering to a full length die?

No, Redding makes a die that resizes the body and not the neck. It's the way I get out of using an expander ball. Use a Lee Collet Neck Sizer and then a Redding Body Die

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=394097

The brass will expand and contract with each firing and sooner or later (sometimes sooner) it will not contract enough to fit easily in the chamber. Enter the Body Die.

You can use your gun and chamber the case and keep adjusting the die down until the crush fit ceases, or you can use a Stoney Point Head and Shoulders Gauge which attaches to your caliper

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=479704

as I do and gauge how far you push the shoulder back by as little as .001". It is a little time consuming to set it up just right the first time, but then you can resize all your cases with that setting. Once you get close to the setting where it starts to push the shoulder back, even a little adjustment will put you over the top in a hurry and push the shoulder back .003" to .004".

That is an easy problem to identify under the circumstances... I did it tons of times before I learned what I was doing wrong....

lower your handle all the way down, then screw in your sizing full length sizing die until it touches the base of your press...

Lift the handle up and screw the die from 1/8 to 1/4 turn more... when you lower your handle, it should cause a "camming effect"...That is what is needed to complete full size the die...

I always chamber a round then and see if the bolt closes easily on the chamber.. if not, you need to turn the die down another 1/8th a turn until the brass chambers easily...

RCBS talked me thru all of this after I messed up some brass on my 243 for doing that...

If you are doing that, and it is still chambering hard, then you do need to trim the brass......

If brass is within specs and chambers easily before you seat a bullet in it, but chambers hard after a bullet is seated.. then you are not seating your bullet down far enough....

If you are neck sizing, it will chamber a little harder each time....you need to full length size after about every 3 loadings.. if it is a hot load.. skip neck sizing only.....

not that I have one, as the 22.250 is fine for me.. but an AI version has a lot less need to trimming your brass....just a handy tip....

cheers
seafire

Woods: Thanks alot for all the info I will give that a try.

seafire/B17G: The smith that I talked to recommended just that! He said send it to me and I'll set the barrel back .25" and rechamber it to 22-250 AI. Now that I like the sound of, but one project a year, and I'm currently involved in a 280AI project.

Thanks again for all the info guys, I'll repost my results.

Bearcat, you do the 280AI you will do the 22-250AI. Start saving now, I only shoot one case that does not have a 40Deg shoulder. It is improved but has a 32 LOL. I would try the F/L die first. They body works better but you can save some cash before you order one and try a few pieces. Woods and Sea/fire have it right I bet. Keep us posted.

quote:

Originally posted by bearcat:
Woods: Thanks alot for all the info I will give that a try.

seafire/B17G: The smith that I talked to recommended just that! He said send it to me and I'll set the barrel back .25" and rechamber it to 22-250 AI. Now that I like the sound of, but one project a year, and I'm currently involved in a 280AI project.

Thanks again for all the info guys, I'll repost my results.

Are you SURE your 'smith said ".25"?

Normally to do an Ackley Imprved chamber the necissary turnback is 0.050" (One thread),
but sometimes slightly more if you are fitting a "takeoff barrel" from some other rifle
and you want Iron sights or roll marking to line
up correctly.

AllanD

Blueprinted: Yea thats what I'm afraid of.......the Ackley bug

AllanDegroot: You are correct you only have to set the barrel back one turn for the AI he said .25 just to be in all "virgin" barrel for the chamber, don't think it's need though.

Woods: BINGO! got my body die today and my 3way cutting head for my case trimmer, the brass length wasn't the problem I trimmed several hard chambering pieces back to spec. still chambered hard, ran them through the body die and shazam they chamber like new thanks guys for the help

You have two set the shoulder of the brass back just a tad when resizing it. Turn your sizing die down just tad, and it will cure the loading problems.