garyb Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 Following on from - http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...16&hl=norma I purchased 100 BRAND NEW Lapua Match 223 cases. Nipped out this afternoon to test fire a few rounds, with 25.5grn of Varget And I STILL have the stuck case / unable to open the bolt issue Someone must have an idea or two... What I notice 1 - The made up rounds cycle PERFECTLY if they are not fired. 2 - Fired cases are impossible to eject without a hammer to the bolt handle. 3 - There are no pressure signs, and the primers look normal 4 - I notice with the new Lapua brass that there is a slight "pebble dash" effect to the fired brass... - this wasnt seen with brand new Norma brass. I'll try and put some photo's up later, once my camera is charged of a spent case (if it helps) Anyone - ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 (edited) Pics... Pimpled case... Primer... Edited September 18, 2009 by garyb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 Could it be that your gun dosent like those cases . I wouldnt hit the bolt handle with a hammer ,when I get a tight case that wont eject I put the cleaning rod down the barrel with the jag screwed on into the centre of the case and tap . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 Harnser... Ive got the same problem with Norma cases - which I might add, used to work perfectly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 (edited) In that case it now sounds like an over tight chamber to me or a low spot in the chamber . Perhaps the chamber needs a good polishing or lapping out . Have you had it checked ?. Harnser . Edited September 18, 2009 by Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 i had a similar problem with a shot gun, the chamber was very slightly pitted and when a shell was fired it expanded slightly and sunk into the pits a fraction, i had to rod from the muzzle to remove, maybe the pitted brass is the problem and the highs between the pits are grabbing the chamber wall, well maybe mikee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 A badly eroded chamber will cause low spots into which the case can expand into ,causing the problem . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 Ok... but.. a knackered chamber on a 15 month old gun? It's had about 500-600 through it (ish) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 Gary , It is quite possible for the chamber to have exessive wear after just a few rounds of hot loads . If you carnt find the cause of the problem from your reloading methods then I would take the gun to a smith and have the chamber checked . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 (edited) I had a .303 where the throat was so eroded by gas cutting that the end of the case used to bell out making extraction difficicult but that was down to plain wear after thousands of rounds. Chamber erosion ( gas cutting) with modern powders is much less common compared to cordite. Look for little scratches on the last millimetre of the fired case, that was How I picked it up. Presure signs look low judging from your primer, is the chamber pitted? or has it got a build up of residue? try cleaning it with some wire wool. It won't harm the gun. You clean the barrel but do you clean the chamber? Edited September 18, 2009 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted September 18, 2009 Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 Would you reloading sorts resize new cases or assume they are OK and just load them up? And what did you do Gary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2009 These cases have never been fired. I only notice the pitting on this new brass - I've never seen it with any of the other brass I've loaded. I can lift the bolt handle - but not pull it back.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Would you reloading sorts resize new cases or assume they are OK and just load them up? And what did you do Gary? I just loaded up the Lapua... that said.. I did FL size the Norma brass, and this also gives me the trouble Perhaps I should repeat, it's only with the new Lapua brass that we see this pitting... the Norma looks fine once fired! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Dropped it off with the 'Smith this morning Should hear Monday. The foxes of Herts should sleep well this week :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy. Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 That pitting on the cases really does look like there's some expansion onto a dirty chamber... Did you actually try and clean it out? ...Sorry to hear about your loss... :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Dropped it off with the 'Smith this morning Should hear Monday. The foxes of Herts should sleep well this week :blink: Who did you take it to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Ladbrook & Langton... Are you local ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Pinner, I always go to Joe at Cat Hill. I've found him excellent over the years. I would never go anywhere else given a choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 19, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 The rifle was bought from Joe, but he doesn's have gun smith facility on site.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Would you reloading sorts resize new cases or assume they are OK and just load them up? And what did you do Gary? Stuart , Personally I will resize new cases . If they are put through the resizing die I then know that they are at least the same size of the cases that I am shooting . If the new cases are marginally on the large size (and they do all vary ) then they will be a uniform size with those that I am shooting . If they are on the small size then it dosent matter as they will be fire formed once fired . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 Are the cases lubed and then cleaned before reloading ? Could it be oil on the outer sides of the case ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shot shot Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 Ok, I'm a complete novice when it comes to firearms, but you say that you only see the "pitting" on new cases. New cases havent had time to build up an oxide layer on the surface, hence would be softer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexm Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 I'm fairly new to reloading, but as someone said above, surely this can only be caused by expanding the brass onto a rough chamber surface. The rough surface could be either corrosion or dirt/grit but surely there can be no other explanation for that pattern on the cases? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doggone Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 You could compare the pattern on a couple of cases to see if they are identical, ie mirror image of the inside of the chamber. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Are the cases lubed and then cleaned before reloading ? Could it be oil on the outer sides of the case ? They're cleaned, but not lubed as I tend just to neck size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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