some of my 35 Remington reloads hard to chamber

3666 Views 21 Replies 8 Participants Last post by RevDerb, Jul 1, 2012

pizzaman383

Discussion Starter · Feb 18, 2011

I'm reloading 35 Remington for my Marlin. I was reloading cases from factory ammunition that I shot myself so I know the history of the brass. I've used three or four different brands of factory ammo and the same issue showed up on cases from each manufacturer. The problem is that three or four out of every 20 rounds is hard to chamber. I just got a case gauge and find that these rounds hang up with 1/32 to 1/16 sticking out. If I press the round, it snaps into the chamber/case gauge and sits in place just fine.

I use a Lee collet neck sizer and a Lee factory crimp die. The loading methods, powder, bullets, primer, and cases are the same for every load but some hang and others don't.

Any suggestions on what might cause this? What dimension is likely out of tolerance? Should I start using a full length sizer?

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

DWB

· #2 · Feb 18, 2011

On a .35 Remington, pretty significant case stretch will occur on the first firing of that case. Subsequent reloading of that case will have a huge impact on case length and case life.

Here is what I do. After the initial firing, I essentially neck size the brass (using a full length sizing die), then trim all the brass to the same length (using one of those handy little Lee Case Trimmers). To neck size using a full length sizing die, I "smoke" the neck and shoulder of the prepped case, using a candle. Adjust the die down to touch the shell holder, then back it out a couple of full turns. This will begin the neck sizing and will "rub" the smoke off from the case neck. Keep adjusting the sizing die down until the "smoke" is burnished off to the base of the neck and just barely burnished off the shoulder of the case.

Then I will verify how correct the setting is, using a second preped and "smoked" case. One the sizing die is set in this manner, I will size 50, 100, 150, 200 cases at a time by lots of 50 (or 20, etc.), then proceed with trimming all the sized cases.

Doing it this way ensures that all the cases are then necked sized to my chamber (headspacing pretty snuggly on the shoulder for my gun), all the same case length, etc. This procedure will extend your case life, produce more consistent (accurate) handloads, and make all those cases sized in this manner chamber the same way from shot to shot.

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308/338

· #3 · Feb 18, 2011

DWB Not a bad piece of info. I might try it myself.
Thank'
TO NY

Halwg

· #4 · Feb 18, 2011

I have an opinion on this but I don't want to start a heated debate, so I will hold hold it.

I will say you can try what DWB says and see how that works, and you can also FL size and see how that works. Then choose the one of the 3 methods that allows your rounds to chamber without hanging up.

I will say that if you are using a Remington 760 pump I would strongly advise against neck sizing and FL size all of your brass.

DWB

· #5 · Feb 18, 2011

Halwg said:
I have an opinion on this but I don't want to start a heated debate, so I will hold hold it.

I will say you can try what DWB says and see how that works, and you can also FL size and see how that works. Then choose the one of the 3 methods that allows your rounds to chamber without hanging up.

I will say that if you are using a Remington 760 pump I would strongly advise against neck sizing and FL size all of your brass.

Halwg,

I hope you don't mean a heated debate with me. I respect your opinions and am always up for learning more, as such, I would appreciate hearing your opinions on this and seeing if there is more that I can glean from you. Others might be in the same boat and appreciate getting more info as well.

DWB

Halwg

· #6 · Feb 18, 2011

DWB said:
Halwg,

I hope you don't mean a heated debate with me. I respect your opinions and am always up for learning more, as such, I would appreciate hearing your opinions on this and seeing if there is more that I can glean from you. Others might be in the same boat and appreciate getting more info as well.

DWB

Nope, I think he should give your method a try and see what works best for his gun. Some guns just take FL resizing to work correctly.

swany

· #7 · Feb 18, 2011

First as in any mag tube gun, you have to establish a common case length to set your crimp.

Next the only rimless case Marlin chambers leverguns for and problems arise for reloaders.

Partial sizing with a full length sizer is the best bet, when you hit the sweet spot so to speak your reloads will chamber well and you will not have any other problems. Once set your in for a long run of flawless shooting.

DWB

· #8 · Feb 18, 2011

Halwg said:
Nope, I think he should give your method a try and see what works best for his gun. Some guns just take FL resizing to work correctly.

Whew... Thought for a minute it might have been something I said.

But, I know what you mean about anything other than full-length re-sizing for some pumps and semi-autos. My Pop had a 760 in .30-06 that would have a hiccup on anything that wasn't full-length sized. B. I. L. had a 740 in 6mm that was even worse.

The method I tried to describe works pretty well for my 336 in .35 Remington. Pizzaman, if you try it that way, take a neck sized case (wiped down, un-primed, and un-loaded), and try it in your chamber. If it is too tough, then you might just have a really tight chamber, and may need to screw your sizing die down a fuzz more to size the case just a skosh more.

If it is still tight chambering beyond this point, you might have a really short lead and the bullet seating depth might be such that the bullet is kissing the lands of the rifling. What bullet are you loading in your handloads? What seating depth, what overall cartridge length, etc? That might help us help you diagnose what is going on also.

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pizzaman383

Discussion Starter · #9 · Feb 18, 2011

Thanks for the recommendations, guys! I just bought a full length sizer die (RCBS because that's what midway had in stock) and I was about to do the smoked case method of setting the die.

The engineer in me is still not satisfied that I understand why that will help. I'm not convinced that it is the shoulder that is hanging up. If I press the loaded round with my finger into the case gauge it "pops" into place and the base of the cartridge does not protrude.

It seems to me that if the shoulder was too far from the base of the case, it would protrude. It seems to me likely that the neck is not being sized down properly and the shoulder is just fine. I've not spent enough time measuring things but I will try to do that.

DWB

· #10 · Feb 18, 2011

Pizzaman -- What kind of case length gauge is this? Could you post a link? Sounds like that may be the culprit at this point.

The only real gauging I would be truly concerned about is #1.) the chamber on your rifle -- that is the one that matters the most, and #2.) the case length of your sized cases.

I hope Halwg, Swany, or 35remington chime in on this. I would be interested to hear their thoughts. Those three guys have loaded more .35 Remington ammo than any other 25 of us have - - combined.

35remington

· #11 · Feb 18, 2011

Do the rounds that fail to chamber well in either the gauge or the chamber have a bullet in them?

pizzaman383

Discussion Starter · #12 · Feb 19, 2011

35remington said:
Do the rounds that fail to chamber well in either the gauge or the chamber have a bullet in them?

Yes, they have 200gr Rem Corelokt bullets seated and crimped.

pizzaman383

Discussion Starter · #13 · Feb 19, 2011

DWB said:
Pizzaman -- What kind of case length gauge is this? Could you post a link? Sounds like that may be the culprit at this point.

The only real gauging I would be truly concerned about is #1.) the chamber on your rifle -- that is the one that matters the most, and #2.) the case length of your sized cases.

I hope Halwg, Swany, or 35remington chime in on this. I would be interested to hear their thoughts. Those three guys have loaded more .35 Remington ammo than any other 25 of us have - - combined.

It's a L.E. Wilson Case Length Headspace Gage: ://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=830560

I've used one for 45 ACP for years and finally got one for my 35 Remington.

35remington

· #14 · Feb 19, 2011

Leave the bullet out of the cartridge and try a sized case in the gauge.

Tell me what you find. Make sure the sizing is the same as before.

pizzaman383

Discussion Starter · #15 · Feb 19, 2011

I pulled the bullets out of four reloaded rounds that were hard to chamber. They were hard to push into the case gauge. I neck sized them and the were still stuck the same way.

I closely examined the sticky cases and other cases that did not stick. There is a small bulge line around the case about 1 cm above the base of the case. It is probably the point the case web thins out. Every hard to chamber case has this and none of the others do. Mystery solved! Even fired brass that does not have the little bulge easily fits my chamber and the case gauge.

I also tested out my new full length sizing die. The four-times fired cases took quite a lot of effort to size and several got stuck. That was a pain! I now see why people say that full length sizing works the brass much more.

Now I just need to decide whether to the full length sizer or not. I will probably just toss any cases that show the little bulge line.

35remington

· #16 · Feb 20, 2011

There is no reason to eschew the use of a full length die.

With proper resizing, there is no difference in full power loads concerning the life of the case if they are neck sized or full length sized. Full power loads in cases fired repeatedly cause them to die of head separations, and a neck die will not help this one bit.

Full length sized cases should not get "stuck" in the die. Most likely this is due to inadequate lubricant. Periodic full length sizing ensures the cases are sized enough to fully chamber.

While I love the collet die, as I believe it is one of the very finest, more concentric sizing dies available, no 35 Remington handloader should own just this die and not a full length die. You may want to shoot ammo loaded in another rifle, and only full length sizing will allow proper chambering if the rounds were fired in a rifle that has a slightly larger chamber than yours.

Periodic full length sizing also helps accuracy with the heavier loads. Should the rifle be fired repeatedly and cases not be full length sized, at some point, if the loads are on the heavy side of allowable pressures (42,000 psi; quite safe but in excess of the SAAMI spec like the 220/2200; see past postings for explanation of this load) accuracy will decline.

This due to the case not freely chambering. At some point the lever will resist full, easy closure. This is a big clue the case needs FL sizing. The lever should close completely and easily with no "spring" or sponginess, and latch with a solid click.

The need for full length sizing can be reduced by shooting only moderate loads, but at some point you may need it very much. Not having the proper die or failing to use it as needed is only a handicap.

Proper use of a full length die can and will return any sound case to such dimensions that it will freely chamber, and that's just what you are needing.

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pizzaman383

Discussion Starter · #17 · Feb 20, 2011

35remington said:
Full length sized cases should not get "stuck" in the die. Most likely this is due to inadequate lubricant.

That's exactly why it happened. I only had graphite-based neck lube and that just gummed up and didn't provide enough lubricant. I just ordered a lube pad and lube so I should be better next time.

Halwg

· #18 · Feb 20, 2011

As usual, John speaks from experience and knowledge. Hopefully this will solve your problem.

pizzaman383

Discussion Starter · #19 · Feb 20, 2011

35remington said:
There is no reason to eschew the use of a full length die.

With proper resizing, there is no difference in full power loads concerning the life of the case if they are neck sized or full length sized. Full power loads in cases fired repeatedly cause them to die of head separations, and a neck die will not help this one bit.

[snip]

At some point the lever will resist full, easy closure. This is a big clue the case needs FL sizing. The lever should close completely and easily with no "spring" or sponginess, and latch with a solid click.

The need for full length sizing can be reduced by shooting only moderate loads, but at some point you may need it very much. Not having the proper die or failing to use it as needed is only a handicap.

Proper use of a full length die can and will return any sound case to such dimensions that it will freely chamber, and that's just what you are needing.

Thanks for the sound advice! I'll take it. I've loaded may thousands of straight-walled pistol cartridges over the years but this is my first bottlenecked rifle cartridge. This experience and discuss has definitely helped get me going on the right path.

Thanks!!

pizzaman383

Discussion Starter · #20 · Feb 27, 2011

I got some case lube and it works like magic! The full length sizer works very well.

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