M14 Forum

ths64 · February 9th, 2012, 01:58 PM

I just purchased a new M1A and I reload my ammo for it using small base dies. I have no FTF or FTE but if I try to unload a live round I can't pull the bolt back with my hand. I have to use a plastic dead blow hammer and tap the operating rod to get the round to come lose in the chamber. Haven't tried factory ammo, but the case bottoms out on the die and shellholder when I resize them. Any one have any good answers.

Retired Seabee

JBS · February 9th, 2012, 02:16 PM

Look for transfer marks or rubs on the case AND the ogive of the bullet.

With bolt locked back what happens when you drop a round into the chamber? Does it go into the chamber fully or stop short?

ths64 · February 10th, 2012, 05:07 AM

The round will go all the way in to the chamber. I load the rounds to an OAL of 2.775 for a FMJ and I trimm all the cases to 1.995.

JBS · February 10th, 2012, 06:41 AM

Did you trim the case before or after it went through the small base die ? Always trim after sizing just in case you did not know. See if you get the same results with a factory round. Next steps are checking case length as a SB can really grow the length of a case. You want to make sure you do not have any neck to bullet pinch in the chamber because the neck is too long. If that inspects OK then you need to remove the bolt and make sure the round will fit the bolt correctly and you do not have case rim problems, like a bent warped rim. If all that checks out the last thing would be to take one of your sized cases without bullet, primer, or powder and soot it with a match and drop it in the chamber and look for contact marks. One last thing, are you using the same brand case holder in your press as the die brand. Just had a customer run into this. Mix matched and the die was not sizing correctly because the holder deck was high.

Can you post photos of some fired cases, and maybe a loaded round you have removed from the chamber by force?

nf1e@snet.net · February 11th, 2012, 08:33 AM

Sounds like your sizing is long in the headspace department. Try gently chambering a sized case and see if it might be just a bit long. I just had a batch that I was in a hurry with , I know, and they ended up .003 too long insted of 2 to 3 short. OOPS. All part of the game. Enjoy the hobby.
Semper Fi
Art

JayKosta · February 11th, 2012, 12:11 PM

With a sized & trimmed unprimed case, push it hard into the chamber with your thumb -
it should fall out or just need a slight fingernail flick to remove. If the case is difficult to remove then the body is not getting re-sized enough.

If all above is good, then allow the bolt to close on the case from bolt being held back about 1/2 way - the bolt should then be able to be opened without much effort.

NOTE: some presses have enough 'flex' that even with the die screwed down to contact the shell holder, the die doesn't go down that far when actually re-sizing a case.
Look to see if there is an obvious gap between the die & shell holder when sizing a case.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

ths64 · February 11th, 2012, 12:40 PM

I sooted a case an in placed it in the chamber and closed the bolt when I got the case out it showed signs around the shoulder and down one side and some around the base. I think you hit the nail on the head about the shell holder. I have RCBS dies and a Lyman shell holder. And I was using my old Lyman turret T press. I may try using my Dillon 500B plus get me a new RCBS #3 shell holder.

Thanks for the information

Jack Herndon
Eutaw, Al.

30Caliber · February 11th, 2012, 01:17 PM

A case gage would be helpful in determining how to set the die correctly (especially if you're mixing shellholders).

JBS · February 11th, 2012, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ths64

I sooted a case an in placed it in the chamber and closed the bolt when I got the case out it showed signs around the shoulder and down one side and some around the base. I think you hit the nail on the head about the shell holder. I have RCBS dies and a Lyman shell holder. And I was using my old Lyman turret T press. I may try using my Dillon 500B plus get me a new RCBS #3 shell holder.

Thanks for the information

Jack Herndon
Eutaw, Al.

I hope I was able to help some Jack. If I remember correctly my customer had problems with Lee holder and RCBS SB dies. I have also see problems with once fired brass from a very aggressive extractor bending the rim just a little. Funny thing was about one out of very 4 shells the bend in the rim would line up with the primer relief cut in a RCBS shell holder. To fix, the customer had to size, rotate the brass 90 degrees and size again. After that the shell rim was fine for future loadings as long as it was not fired it the aggressive extracting rifle again.

ths64 · February 12th, 2012, 11:38 AM

I tried putting a sized and trimmed case in the chamber and it will just fall out I even tried putting the case in the chamber and tapping it in with a dowel rod and it will still come out with a flick of your finger nail. But if you let the bolt lock up on the case even from 1/2 way back you can not eject the case without tapping on the operating rod. It is like the bolt is stuck and will not rotate.

Jack

JayKosta · February 12th, 2012, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ths64

I tried putting a sized and trimmed case in the chamber and it will just fall out I even tried putting the case in the chamber and tapping it in with a dowel rod and it will still come out with a flick of your finger nail. But if you let the bolt lock up on the case even from 1/2 way back you can not eject the case without tapping on the operating rod. It is like the bolt is stuck and will not rotate.

Jack

==============================================
You need to lower the FL re-size die a little. The case is not being (headspace) sized enough. So when the bolt closes it jams the boltface against the case base and the case shoulder into the chamber - It is so tight that 'regular hand force' is not enough to allow the boltface to rotate.

FL re-size another fired case an with the press ram all the way UP, look to see if there is a gap between the bottom of the die and the shell holder.

Also make sure the inside of the cam 'hump' and the bolt' s lugs have some grease on them.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

JBS · February 12th, 2012, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ths64

I tried putting a sized and trimmed case in the chamber and it will just fall out I even tried putting the case in the chamber and tapping it in with a dowel rod and it will still come out with a flick of your finger nail. But if you let the bolt lock up on the case even from 1/2 way back you can not eject the case without tapping on the operating rod. It is like the bolt is stuck and will not rotate.

Jack

What happens with a factory round? If the same thing happens then the head-space is more than likely incorrect. As it is a new rifle contact the maker for warranty repair. Expect some guff about handloads.

nf1e@snet.net · February 14th, 2012, 11:37 AM

I would suggest purchasing an RCBS precision mic. This is a very important tool. It will let you know exactly what your case headspace is. Too long a headspace is a very common occurance in handloaded ammo.
Semper Fi
Art

ths64 · February 16th, 2012, 03:46 PM

Thanks to everyone for all the help that you have given me over the past few days. I tried a factory round with just the bolt in the action and it closed all the way even though it was tight. and I reset my FL die and my SB die with a Foster headspace go guage. My reloads are still a little hard to eject but I think that will get better the more I fire the rifle. It has only had about 20 rounds put through it.

Thanks again

Jack