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help! reloading 270 WSM

ljc2tallljc2tall Member Posts: 87 ✭✭
edited February 2007 in Ask the Experts
Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong? I am reloading 150 gr. sst hornady bullets in once fired win brass. The gun is a browning bar. I have not fired any rounds through this gun yet. After loading the first round I chambered it and the bolt would not close all the way. I tried a once fired case and a sized once fired brass, both empty, and they both got stuck in the rifle. Upon extracting the cases they had slight scratches just below the neck of the case.What would be causing this. The gun was used when I bought it. Although it does not appear to have been fired much or at all. It was listed as 99.9% when I bought it. I would try some factory ammo but the nearest store is atleast 50 miles away and I tried to get some from Cabela's since before Christmas. I am using Lee dies and I did lube the cases.
Thank you for any help.
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Comments

  • Mike FinkMike Fink Member Posts: 274 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ljc- try full length resizing and let us know what that does. It sounds like you may have a rough chamber that needs clean up.- Mike
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  • ljc2tallljc2tall Member Posts: 87 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes I tried resizing the cases. No luck. Is cleaning up the chamber a big job? I have a local gunsmith nearby. Also should I try some factory ammo first?
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  • temblortemblor Member Posts: 2,153 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    How are you setting up your resizing die ?
    Were the cases fired in your gun or another one ?
    Sounds like you need to bump the shoulder back some.................
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  • Colonel PlinkColonel Plink Member Posts: 16,460
    edited November -1
    I had the same problem with a 7400 in 243.

    Somebody told me I needed a different kind of resizing die.

    I want to say "short-base dies"... Something like that.
    Hell, I just sold the gun and stuck to bolt guns after that.
    Including a 270WSM.
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  • temblortemblor Member Posts: 2,153 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Colonel Plink
    I had the same problem with a 7400 in 243.

    Somebody told me I needed a different kind of resizing die.

    I want to say "short-base dies"... Something like that.
    Hell, I just sold the gun and stuck to bolt guns after that.
    Including a 270WSM.

    Small Base...........................
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  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ljc2tall,

    The possibility of a rough chamber is slim. I'm with the other posters when I suggest that you need to learn how to adjust your sizing die correctly. If for some reason your Lee dies will not adjust correctly, borrow another set or look into a better quality manufacture.

    I think that Colonel Plink is suggesting a small base die which goes a pinch further in sizing the base of the cases a little more than a standard sizing die.

    Best.
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  • ljc2tallljc2tall Member Posts: 87 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am setting the die the manufactures specs. The cases are smooth with no marks until I try to put them in the rifle. Upon extracting there are small straight digs in the case just below the shoulder. This is a used gun but looks like new. The dealer told me that he took it back from someone who said they did not shoot it. Maybe he screwed up the chamber.
    Thanks for your info. Hope to get some factory ammo soon.
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  • rock,roll,n,loadrock,roll,n,load Member Posts: 698 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You could also check the O.A.L. (overall length) of the cases and make sure they are trimmed to length.
    [?]
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  • ljc2tallljc2tall Member Posts: 87 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    yes they were trimmed to the correct lenght. And the col was correct.
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  • nononsensenononsense Member Posts: 10,928 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ljc2tall,

    I have always been hesitant to blame a chamber for a problem when it is usually a problem with the dies and how they are set up. Take some time and clean your chamber thoroughly to be sure there isn't any foreign matter in there.

    Your die is not sizing the shoulder all the way down in diameter it seems and it may not be pushing the shoulder back the tiny bit it needs in order to feed correctly. I understand wanting to blame the rifle but in the vast majority of the situations as you describe the fault is with the dies. It's pretty hard to screw up a chamber especially when it's basically a new rifle. If you truly believe you have a chamber problem get it to a gunsmith that has a borescope and have them look at it under magnification.

    Not all dies are made the same even though they they claim to be industry standard. While the Lee dies are a fine value for the beginning reloader, occasionally they are not up to snuff. You can send them back to Lee and see if they will replace them or fix the initial error or get a new set from another manufacturer.

    I think you need to get the sizing correct and maybe add the small base die to the reloading set up. Yes, you should check the length of the cartridge case as well.

    Best.
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