I have a Rem 700 VS and used RCBS dies. I noticed that after resizing, I get a hard binding pushing when closing bolt. I even borrowed another die. Chamber and neck are clean. Bolt lugs are clean. Length is a 1.902 and O/A is well under Stoney Point gauge length. This binding is also with just the case being chambered. I use One Shot lube in mouth of case and brush them out. Expander ball is good and is straight, nothing bent. Amazing, the gun shoots 1/4 " groups. This has been a problem since gun was new.
Any suggestions ????

Sounds like the neck of the chamber is at min specs so a little thickness of the brass neck could cause hard chambering. Does it do it with new brass or factory ammo.

New brass slides right in, no problem.
HELP !
Tacksmacker

The chamber may be a little tight in the neck, as mentioned above, or the chamber could be a little short and the case shoulder is hitting the shoulder area of the chamber. Mark up the neck and shoulder of a loaded round with a black magic marker, chamber and remove it, and see if you can see any shiny areas where there is interference. If the interference is in the neck area, you can turn the necks, or try some different brass that may be a little thinner. Another option is to make a chamber cast of cerrosafe, mic the neck diameter, and mic the neck diameter of a loaded round.

If the interference is on the shoulder, you just need to resize the case a little more. Make sure your shellholder is touching the bottom of the die. If it is, you might need to take a little off the bottom of the die to push the shoulder further back.

A very slight amount of resistance closing the bolt- just enough that you can feel it- means the brass is fitting the chamber very closely, and is generally conducive to best accuracy. This is what you should shoot for when resizing the brass.

Use just a little of your favorite lubricant on the back of the bolt lugs after cleaning, and check the recesses in the action to make sure they're clean also.



John

Bump the shoulder back. Jim

does this happen with a fired but UNSIZED/UNLOADED case? if not,..your seating die may be adjusted too far down and the shoulders are being bulged ever so slightly. You can check this by measuring the dia of the shouler/body junction on a loaded round,..and then on a fired round. See if that may be it.

Tack,

Sent you private email on the solution.

Seafire

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have marked a case and saw a little 1/16th scrape on neck. This thing had some bind to it. I know snug is good but it takes a good push to close bolt. New stuff no problem, smooth as babies butt. It's only after resizing that all brass empty or loaded binds on closing bolt.

Might try the little of the bottom of die if nothing else works.

tacksmacker, If it's your dies I would send it backer to the macker and have them fix them. I had the same problem a while back and got some good advice from hotcore. Just try and turn your die in a 1/8 turn at a time till they get the fit you want. I know you are saying it's down all the way as I did but it worked for me so it might be worth a try. Just a thought. another is size one without the expander ball maybe that is pulling the neck up. just another thought. Good luck

This is a common problem.

Nothing new and I don't know why manufacturers don't high light this in there instructions,, unless they do and no one read them ( like I didn't at first)

Lower the handle on your die all the way down. Screw in the die until it touches the bottom of the press.

Then lift up the handle a little and screw the die in another 1/8 to 1/4 a turn. Size a die and fit it into your rifles chamber and see if this is better. If still not closing welll ( although it should be better than before,) keep trying another 1/8 of a turn. When you pull your presses handle all the way down, it should give what RCBS calls a camming effect. You should feel a little bump.

What is happening is your brass in flowing and you are not completely sizing the shoulder back to the original brass dimensions.

NO need to send it back to the manufacturer as they are either going to send it back to you and say Nothing is wrong, or for Customer Service you might get it replaced just to make you happy.

Had the same problem especially with a 243 when I started reloading. Called RCBS and they explained to me what was happening, and how to correct it. Never had the problem since.

That is just the way they make the dies. Guess they wanted a little or needed a little more leverage to bump the shoulder all the way back. The camming or bumping effect works fine, and does the job.

Good luck.

Cheers and good shooting.
Seafire

I have a 700 varmit also, same problem case will fall into an old 788, won't chamber in 700. Inside neck ream and trim to lentgh the case's you want to use in this rifle. It worked for me. Hope this helps, good luck.I also use the previosly decribe method for ajusting my sizing die.

Seafire got it. It just didn't seem right bending on the down stroke like that. Thanks guys,
Tack