crimedog

Can you look up the OAL for a 280, with 150 grain Gameking and post it for me? Thanks.

bigcountry

Assuming a 280remington, 3.33" Max

crimedog

Thanks. Got a Remington XCR II in 280 and it has the tightest bolt I have ever seen with a case in the chamber. Bolt is easy without a case, guessing it's just a very tight chamber, 3.33 never going to fit. There are heavy striations on the bullet with a dummy round at 3.3

crimedog

3.3 still has striations, going to 3.25 now and trying that.

bigcountry

You need to find out if its the headspace or too long COL.

Do you have a head and shoulder gauge? You can compare if its your FL Sizer by comparing a fireformed case to a sized one.

What I suggest is using the split case method for measuring the length to your lands.

Take a dremel tool and cut lengthways one side of a piece of sized brass down to the shoulders. Just go down enough to hold the bullet to where you can pull in and out with your fingers. Stick your bullet in the uncharged case and close the bolt, take out and measure being careful to push in the case as the plunger is pushing it to one side to eject. You want to remove as careful as possible.

Rarely are remington thoats so tight.

crimedog

This one actually is just a tight chamber, had to take it down to 3.23. Shoulder of the case is getting solid contact with the chamber with factory cases, I was very concerned until I had it looked at, the only concern I have is the case being stuck after firing, not the first rifle I have had that happen, this is by far the tightest chamber I have seen on a factory or custom.

bigcountry

Have you ever had issues with factory ammo or have you tried it? Case getting stuck after fire has little to do with COL other than pressure.

In other words, if you are jamming in the rifling, you can creat pressure signs or lock the case up in the rifle. But if you are working up your load properly, case being stuck in the chamber is a big sign your overpressure.

You could have an extremely tight chamber, but you want to work up your load and note where you have rough extraction, or case stuck in the chamber.

If you don't know where your rifling is, and just lowering the rounds COL until you have no appearant issues, you could be playing with fire.

Anytime you load for a new gun, you need to know where the rifeling is and back off at least .005, and preferably .01" or more. I highly recommend moving back .03" with barnes.

goatbrother

If it is a tight chamber you might try using a Small Base sizing die, it will reduce the diameter of the case a little bit. The Small Base dies are used a lot by people reloading for autoloading rifles.

Mr. Deer Hunter

I have the same problem with my Browning Pump Rifle in .300 Winchester Magnum.

The base expands about .0015

The factory stock rounds goes in and out with no issues, the reloads will not chamber.

I went to two gun shops and took the die's back one time and traded them for used ones - didn't know that they were used until I brought them home. Anywho - none of my reloads will chamber and I am going to have to order a second set of dies.

One other trick a old timer showed me is to put soot on the bullet and then chamber it and look to see if there is any marks on the bullet.

Check the head space by putting the bullet into the barrel with your finger and push it forwards as far as it will go and then close the bolt and take a measurement and then push the round back with a ram rod and take another measurement from the top of the barrel down to the shell. It takes a depth mic to do it and a precision rod of the correct length and size not to damage the bore.

That is how a real gunsmith checks it.

bigcountry

Thats not headspace, thats distance to the lands.