AR Sponsor
Posted: 6/8/2014 6:35:52 PM EDT
|
Ok, I'm 100 or so rounds into my new AR-15. I'm reloading 50 and 55 grain bullets in standard "book" recipes. I bought a Dillon head space gauge and check every piece of brass after it is primed but before loading the powder and seating the bullet to make sure it falls right into the gauge and there is no excess length. The bullets are seated at the published length for the rounds. Still, every once in awhile, I'll get a live round failing to completely chamber and it takes some good force to retract the charging handle to remove the round. What's strange is that I can take this same round that was "stuck" and it will drop right into the chamber and fire! This tells me that the round itself was in spec.
Do these random "jams" happen as a result of bad magazines? If not, what other things might be causing this behavior? Thanks for any help you might offer. |
| To start with I would recommend making sure you have lubed your BCG well, clean the chamber with a chamber brush and some CLP. Then I would look at the feed ramps, ensure they are good to go and try a different magazine. If you still have problems let us know and we can try to help you out. |
Unless you have a dirty chamber, or a fouled feed ramp.
|
I would have to agree it's not a sizing issue since you bottomed the die but did not cam over, I know you stated you you set the OAL according to the book but you did not give a number, please don't take this the wrong way but I recently started reloading for .223 as well using a different bullet and my Nosler manual called for a 2.260" OAL but I found out that this length was fairly close to mag length so I bumped them back some to ensure no feeding issues.
Also not a bad idea to get a HS gage to check some fired brass and then check the ones you sized to see how far you are bumping the shoulder. |
|
The easy answer to what the problem is, is to fire a few rounds of quality American factory ammo.
If it functions correctly, you will know it's your reloads. In my experience, when people are having problems with reloaded ammo it's the ammo. People seldom like to be told their reloads are at fault, so the above advice to try some quality factory ammo. That answers the question in short order, and does so indisputably. |
|
These are ALL good, constructive replies and I appreciate the time taken by each of you. I will follow up on several of these suggestions. I've cleaned the chamber and will try a different magazine next time I shoot. Just for clarification, I do not have a small base die, but the RCBS guy even told me I shouldn't need one if I full-length resize and make sure the press "cams over". I'm doing that. It's definitely down all the way. I thought that the Dillon headspace gauge was supposed to help me check for "swollen" cases or ones that were too long. Each one of these reloads dropped into the gauge with ease and if I saw or felt any case mouth protrude, I trimmed to length and chamfered both inside and outside. Also, the reloaded rounds are going into the mag with at least an extra 1/16" of space in front of the bullet.
The "shoot some quality American made factory ammo" suggestion is a good one. I'll buy some next time I have a chance. Thanks again. |
|
Quoted:
These are ALL good, constructive replies and I appreciate the time taken by each of you. I will follow up on several of these suggestions. I've cleaned the chamber and will try a different magazine next time I shoot. Just for clarification, I do not have a small base die, but the RCBS guy even told me I shouldn't need one if I full-length resize and make sure the press "cams over". I'm doing that. It's definitely down all the way. I thought that the Dillon headspace gauge was supposed to help me check for "swollen" cases or ones that were too long. Each one of these reloads dropped into the gauge with ease and if I saw or felt any case mouth protrude, I trimmed to length and chamfered both inside and outside. Also, the reloaded rounds are going into the mag with at least an extra 1/16" of space in front of the bullet. The "shoot some quality American made factory ammo" suggestion is a good one. I'll buy some next time I have a chance. Thanks again. Where is TX are you ? I am in Katy and if that's close we can hook up and I can use some of my gages to check for issues, I am not a super reloader but have been reloading many, many years for several pistol and large caliber rifles and have gone thru alot of problem solving on my own with my 550 setting up various calibers |
|
panther 308 - I can't thank you enough for getting my "pea brain" in gear! Reloading all these years and making a "rookie mistake" like having the seating die set too low is somewhat embarrassing, but all's well that ends well! Haven't had a single stuck cartridge since I adjusted it properly. Now I have a brand, spanking new RCBS small base resizing die and a factory crimp die for my .223 that I'll probably never use! lol
Quoted:
Where is TX are you ? I am in Katy and if that's close we can hook up and I can use some of my gages to check for issues, I am not a super reloader but have been reloading many, many years for several pistol and large caliber rifles and have gone thru alot of problem solving on my own with my 550 setting up various calibers Quoted:
Quoted:
These are ALL good, constructive replies and I appreciate the time taken by each of you. I will follow up on several of these suggestions. I've cleaned the chamber and will try a different magazine next time I shoot. Just for clarification, I do not have a small base die, but the RCBS guy even told me I shouldn't need one if I full-length resize and make sure the press "cams over". I'm doing that. It's definitely down all the way. I thought that the Dillon headspace gauge was supposed to help me check for "swollen" cases or ones that were too long. Each one of these reloads dropped into the gauge with ease and if I saw or felt any case mouth protrude, I trimmed to length and chamfered both inside and outside. Also, the reloaded rounds are going into the mag with at least an extra 1/16" of space in front of the bullet. The "shoot some quality American made factory ammo" suggestion is a good one. I'll buy some next time I have a chance. Thanks again. Where is TX are you ? I am in Katy and if that's close we can hook up and I can use some of my gages to check for issues, I am not a super reloader but have been reloading many, many years for several pistol and large caliber rifles and have gone thru alot of problem solving on my own with my 550 setting up various calibers |
| Sir you are quite welcome and no thanks are needed we all have those moments and I am king on making mistakes, that's kind of the reason I like having multiple tool heads for the Dillon as I can set and forget but still check sizing if I have not reloaded that caliber in awhile and as far as the dies either send them back or put on EE to get your $$ back and give me a shout and we can go shoot sometime, also vista our reload forum we have as that's where I normally post my questions. |
AR Sponsor