My grandson bought a switch barrel gun that came with a .22 long rifle barrel, 410 shotgun barrel, and a 243 barrel. I can't remember the make on it, but it looks really cheap and has short, stainless steel looking barrels on it with a black two piece stock in a single barrel break action shotgun kind of design. In trying to reload for the .243 barrel, I can't get any accuracy with various loads, and the Winchester casings we are using separate about 3/8" above the base of the case on the third firing. If I only neck size the casings they don't fit back in the gun after reloading. We never have overpressure signs on the primers. Is this the nature of these cheap shotgun actions when using high pressure rounds? My bolt actions of the same caliber never loose cases after even 15 firings? And on this gun its obvious that I am pushing the shoulder back down a bit each time I resize to make it fit in the chamber again.

Would be interested in knowing if it is a Rossi or a Handi-Rifle, altho I'm not aware that you can get a RF in the same frame as a CF in a Handi. Anyway, check the headspace on the .243 barrel, sounds as tho you might have a bad one. Someone may have been shooting some awfully hot loads in it, what with the emphasis of some people on velocity, and break-open frames "can" be stretched. I'm pretty sure that Rossi will repair it, Remington will repair the Handis. GW

Couple of other things, make sure case length is correct, be sure you're not seating into the rifling, and assuming you're using dedicated brass for the gun try not to set the shoulder back--you might be creating the excess headspace situation.

If it's an H&R/NEF, maybe someone has added their own 243 barrel to a cast iron SB1 framed Versa Pack 22Lr/410 combo, that would explain the problem which could cause a catastrophic failure, if so, contact H&R to find out what barrels that frame can be fitted with, they can tell by the frame serial number, toll free (866)776-9292. They have made 3 barrel combos on SB2 rifle frames in the past, if it's a factory made combo, they'll repair it.

quote:

Originally posted by Goatwhiskers:
Would be interested in knowing if it is a Rossi or a Handi-Rifle, . . Anyway, check the headspace on the .243 barrel, sounds as tho you might have a bad one. Someone may have been shooting some awfully hot loads in it, what with the emphasis of some people on velocity, and break-open frames "can" be stretched. I'm pretty sure that Rossi will repair it, Remington will repair the Handis. GW

Couple of other things, make sure case length is correct, be sure you're not seating into the rifling, and assuming you're using dedicated brass for the gun try not to set the shoulder back--you might be creating the excess headspace situation.

It is a Rossi gun. I have checked the case length each time I reload them. And I decided to just try neck sizing the cases after firing them with a middle pressure load. But you can't close the action on them again. So I adjusted the full length sizer die down until the action just closed on a case, and the resizing die was just touching the caseholder. After we fire them there is no signs of even intermediate overpressure on the primers. Still, after two or three loadings they split around the case about 3/8" above the rim. The action feels tight. He only paid $300 for it with a three barrel set, and it didn't even look like it had been fired much. If he just buys store-bought ammo and shoots it one time at a deer, and then throws the brass away there is no problems. So, is the gun no good or is my reloading no good?

If you can't just neck size the cases and have them chamber again in the same gun it would show that when shot, the action springs open just a bit. Actually, if you closed the action forcefully on the cartridge it might chamber but you shouldn't have to do that.

If the accuracy is acceptable with factory ammo, I would just accept it for what it is, a cheap gun, and shoot factory ammo in it or accept the fact that you won't get many reloads out of cases.

quote:

Originally posted by Grumulkin:
If you can't just neck size the cases and have them chamber again in the same gun it would show that when shot, the action springs open just a bit. Actually, if you closed the action forcefully on the cartridge it might chamber but you shouldn't have to do that.

If the accuracy is acceptable with factory ammo, I would just accept it for what it is, a cheap gun, and shoot factory ammo in it or accept the fact that you won't get many reloads out of cases.

With just neck sizing the cases I can force the action closed with some pressure just like you have suggested. But the boy can't be doing that when he is deer hunting. I think you have described the situation perfectly and that is the same conclusion I am coming to. Even my old military .303 British bolt action rifles I can make shoot cases 15 times with hot loads with just neck sizing them after initial firing and keep the brass matched to the rifle.

One thing you might try is to get some brand new brass. Then load some starting loads with velocities of a 100gr bullet around 2600fps.

The brass might last longer at these reduced pressures.

Just be sure you use a printed starting load out of a loading manual.
You can get into trouble real quick with too light a powder charge.

quote:

Originally posted by Don Mountain:
My grandson bought a switch barrel gun that came with a .22 long rifle barrel, 410 shotgun barrel, and a 243 barrel. I can't remember the make on it, but it looks really cheap and has short, stainless steel looking barrels on it with a black two piece stock in a single barrel break action shotgun kind of design. In trying to reload for the .243 barrel, I can't get any accuracy with various loads, and the Winchester casings we are using separate about 3/8" above the base of the case on the third firing. If I only neck size the casings they don't fit back in the gun after reloading. We never have overpressure signs on the primers. Is this the nature of these cheap shotgun actions when using high pressure rounds? My bolt actions of the same caliber never loose cases after even 15 firings? And on this gun its obvious that I am pushing the shoulder back down a bit each time I resize to make it fit in the chamber again.

I believe I know the gun you are talking about. I have a Rossi Trifecta. Only difference is that mine has a 20 gauge barrel. After going through what you are going thru trying to get it to even hit a 2 foot square piece of paper at 100 yards, I decided to check the throat. I dropped a 100 grain bullet into the barrel and then pushed a case in on top of it. The case went in almost all the way befire it hit the bullet. In the end, there was only about 6mm left to go. I actually got it down to just over 2" groups at 100 by doing this. So, the sad story is, lots of folks out there have these POS .243 barrels (the .22 and 20 gauge were OK.) and Rossi won't make good on their machining error. They said that since I bought the rifle used and that I had fired "reloads" in it, the warranty was over. I may someday get it rechambered to 6mm Ackley to clean it up but Almost seems like a waste. I know one thing, Rossi's customer service is very poor and I will never buy another product from them. They treat you like dirt when you have a problem.