I have a Lee Anniversary reloading kit and i am running into chambering problems not for one but 3 cartridges that I haven’t had a problem reloading previously with the exact same setup. The first thing i checked was the brass, maybe it was stretching after a couple of reloads so I replaced with new brass.....same thing they wouldn’t chamber after resizing and cutting to the minimum OAL. I noticed this occurring with my 300WSM then my 270 and now the 22-250 reloads. I have tried 3 different brass (win, Remington, federal) with the same “no chamber” results...am i running into press deflection? If so how do i rectify this? I have adjusted the sizing dies every which way and back to how the manufacturers specify with no help at all. They used to resize the cases flawlessly and now all of a sudden non of the resized cases chamber at all.....i looked into Redding competition shell holders and concluded they would only make the tight chamber worse...as well as headspace shims. I need a permanent fix...this is ridiculous.. do i grind down my shell holder? I have read about this method and its 50/50 on results..some say it wont do a lick of good and others say this immediately fixed their issues....i would hate to have to buy small base dies for the afflicted cartridges..i tried a flat bastard file to the shell holder and the file didn’t even scratch the surface let alone take away any measurable amount of metal..
I don’t have access to a lathe or grinder either....should i give up reloading?

I would attempt to establish what causes the sized cases not to chamber. Normally, there are three dimensions to look out for: 1) case diameter at shoulder, 2) case diameter just in front of extractor groove, and 3 ) head-shoulder dimension.

Measure 1) and 2) for fired cases, then size and remeasure the sized cases (do this for 5-10 cases). 3) can be a bit more difficult to measure, but you can always choose to invest in a (e.g. Hornady) Head Space gauge. As long as your dimensions 1), 2) and 3) diminish with sizing ( 3) only about .001", preferably), you should be good to go with chambering.

The measurements may show you what is keeping the cases from chambering. If not, colour sized cases with a marker, and see if marks show up on them when you attempt to chamber. That will also give you an idea of what case dimension is the limiting factor.

Do sized cases chamber, or is it only fully re-loaded ammo that does not chamber??

- mike

P.S. I'm assuming your cases are kept below max length, and that your sizing dies are for the correct calibers (i.e. have the correct size expander).

If you used this tooling in the past and didn`t have a problem I doubt very much it is the tools fault. Especially since it seems to be happening with multiple dies and cartridges.
Are you lubeing the inside of your case mouths to prevent the expander from pulling the shoulder back out? Is the sizer screwed all the way down to contact with the fully raised ram? Have you tried adding a 1/4 turn pass this point?
The other post suggesting you color the brass and try chambering it to see where the tight spot is is a good idea. I`d do it to start.

If you've used the dies and shell holder before w/o a problem, then it's pretty certain that the prob is with the press. If you have any doubts, use your stuff with a friend's press and see if the problem goes away. I think that a call to Lee might be in order.

quote:

I have adjusted the sizing dies every which way and back to how the manufacturers specify with no help at all. They used to resize the cases flawlessly and now all of a sudden non of the resized cases chamber at all....

I highly suspect you do have a die adjustment problem, like you don't have them screwed down quite far enough. Manufactor's directions can only get us in the right area, it's up to us to make the final tweaks.

Set up as you are doing and run a case fully into the sizer. Look under the die mouth and see if there is any gap between the die and shell holder; bet there is. Turn the die down until the gap disappears and you should be good to go.

Both size dies and shell holders are usually case hardened, no file will touch them. IF you need to remove some metal do it on a grinder or sander. And do it on the mouth of the die, it won't hurt the die at all. If you screw with the shell holder then it will only work normally with that specific die.

I've measured press deflection under the load of FL resizing. Lee's "aluminum" presses have turned out to be the most rigid, there was insufficent deflection to measure on a .001" dial indicator. Most cast iron presses moved 2 or 3 thou under full pressure. That matters not if the dies are properly adjusted but fact is cast iron is more flexible than a hard alum alloy.

Full Length die adjustment

When using our full length sizing dies for rifle cartridges, the die should be turned in to touch the shell holder and then enough more that there is no daylight between the top of the shell holder and the bottom of the die during the sizing process. This is the preferred method because the act of sizing sometimes results in flex that prevents the shell holder from touching the bottom of the die.

Lee dies are designed so that the shoulder of the case is not sized until the very top of the die has been reached. This is done for two reasons; first, we do not want the die to overwork your brass and second and more importantly, we do not want to invite headspace problems. Pushing the shoulder back too soon can create a situation that can eventually cause case separation and a dangerous situation.

If you notice that your Lee Die does not appear to push the shoulder of your case back, ensure that you are adjusting the die so that there is no daylight between the top of the shell holder and the bottom of the die during the sizing process. If you see daylight at the top of the stroke, readjust the die downward and repeat sizing until it disappears. If your case is still difficult to chamber, you can send the die back to us with a sized case and we can modify the die to minimum SAAMI specifications. Lee Precision, Inc. 4275 Highway U Hartford, WI 53027

Can't close bolt on rifle http://www.leeprecision.com/cgi/faq/index.cgi

First make sure the the sizing die is adjusted so that the shell holder contacts the base of the die when the ram is at the top of its stroke when resizing a case. This ensures that the sizing die is bumping the shoulder back as well as reducing the diameter of the case. If the shell holder does not contact the base of the die, the diameter of the case is squeezed down, making the case (and distance to the shoulder) longer.

If this does not solve the problem, return the sizing die with a couple of fired cases, and we can modify the die to suit. Our address is:

Lee Precision Inc,
4275 Hwy. U
Hartford, WI 53027.

To hot a load can expand the web area, keeping rounds from chambering. The web is near the head, right next to the extractor groove. This area is not sized by full length resizing dies. I can not see it happening to 3 different calibers??? Check measurements of your brass against the maximum allowed ones here. http://www.stevespages.com/page8d.htm Some tools to measure might help also. http://www.brownells.com/.aspx...pace_and_Maximum_COL

quote:

Originally posted by vin007:
I ...am running into chambering problems not for one but 3 cartridges that I haven’t had a problem reloading previously with the exact same setup. The first thing i checked was the brass, maybe it was stretching after a couple of reloads so I replaced with new brass.....same thing they wouldn’t chamber after resizing and cutting to the minimum OAL. I noticed this occurring with my 300WSM then my 270 and now the 22-250 reloads. I have tried 3 different brass (win, Remington, federal) with the same “no chamber” results...am i running into press deflection?

Excellent input concerning your problem. It does sound like a slight bit of Press Deflection, but it could be a mis-match with the Shell Holders and Dies.

quote:

If so how do i rectify this?

Usually, you can correct the issue this way:
1. Place the Shell Holder in the Ram.
2. Raise the Ram.
3. Screw the Die into the Press until it makes "snug" contact with the Shell Holder.
4. Lube a Case, that will not fit in the rifle, and Resize it.
5. Wipe off the Lube and see if it will now fit. If so, you are done.
If it will not fit:
6. With the Ram "lowered", screw the Die into-the-press an additional 1/4 turn.
7. Lube a Case, that will not fit in the rifle, and Resize it.
8. Wipe off the Lube and see if it will now fit. If so, you are done.
If it will not fit:
9. Try shimming the Case Head "up" slightly. You can take the Shell Holder and the Case to your local Hardware Store and get 2-3 small Washers(a few extras won't hurt) that their Diameter will "just fit" inside the Shell Holder when the Case is in place. The Hardware Stores generally have some "Thin Brass Washers" which are better for this than the Steel Washers.
10. Lube a Case, that will not fit in the rifle, and Resize it.
11. Wipe off the Lube and see if it will now fit. If so, you will need a Thinner top on your Shell Holder.

quote:

I need a permanent fix...this is ridiculous.. do i grind down my shell holder?

Yes.

quote:

..i tried a flat bastard file to the shell holder and the file didn’t even scratch the surface let alone take away any measurable amount of metal..

A long l-o-n-g time ago, I had Shell Holders you could cut with a regular File. Even had my buddy the esteemed Mr. Woods trying the "File" on a more recent Shell Holder and you are correct, the File didn't phase it.

If you have a Drill, you can buy a small Stone(Flat ended) mounted on a Steel Shaft at the same Hardware Store. Put it into the Drill. Measure the Thickness of the Shell Holder and Record it somewhere. Rest the top of the Shell Holder against the Stone while it is spinning, and it will "grind down" the thickness. It shouldn't take much.

If you do not have a Drill, you can use Sandpaper laying on a totally Flat surface(sheet of glass, table top, sidewalk). Use a very Coarse Grit to begin, Measure and then rub the Shell Holder back and forth. When you get it where it is Thin enough, you can Polish the Shell Holder top with a fine grade of sandpaper. And you will probably need to "Lightly Lube" where you Polished.

quote:

...should i give up reloading?

Only if you are using Reduced Blue Dot Loads.

Have you tried to seat the bullets in deeper and reduce the cartridge OAL? Are you checking for trimming your cases AFTER you resize and/or neck size?

This is when it's nice to have an old time, savy, reloader living down the street or someone like him to call and talk to. roger