Brand new lapua brass, stiff bolt while loading into rifle?

[newmexkid]

I could be wrong but...I have never heard advice given to seat primers level with the base of the case. For sure don't try that with an AR! In many pages of shooting forums the old age debate flares up occasions as too how deep should primers be seated below the case head.

 

[bigedp51]

I could be wrong but...I have never heard advice given to seat primers level with the base of the case. For sure don't try that with an AR! In many pages of shooting forums the old age debate flares up occasions as too how deep should primers be seated below the case head.

Color the problem cases all over with a black felt tip marker and see where the black wears off.

And make sure the rear of the primer is flush with the base of the case. I have also had new cases where the primer pockets were not deep enough. I could not believe how much brass was removed when uniforming the primer pockets.

The OP stated he has stiff bolt closing on some of his rounds. So what happens if some of his primers are protruding when he closes the bolt. Meaning the primers might not be seated properly and his bolt is seating the primers.

Sorry newmexkid if my two dyslexic typing fingers confused you.

 

[Mike 338]

I could be wrong but...I have never heard advice given to seat primers level with the base of the case. For sure don't try that with an AR! In many pages of shooting forums the old age debate flares up occasions as too how deep should primers be seated below the case head.

Like all manufactured things, a lot of primers may be out of spec. For that matter, the primer pockets on the brass may be out of spec as well. Anyway, Savage rifles are usually set to minimum headspace, so that means a primer that's flirting with not being "below" the mouth of the primer pocket may cause either a stiff bolt or a bolt that won't close at all.

I don't think anybody is trying to seat primers "level" but rather, they need to be recessed. Just last year, I banged out 20 rounds to hunt with. I always cycle my hunting ammo though my gun just to see if there is a problem. Sure enough, 2 failed to chamber. Primers not recessed. I just stuck them in my primer tool and gave them another push and they both chambered fine.

 

[sourdough44]

COL to long? As posted check the empty cases after resizing, and trimming to length. At times I resize a case twice, rotating it 180 degrees in the shell holder for the second time. I only do this if I 'sense' a case may need a little more help to resize.

I doubt if there is anything wrong with your rifle, since all factory ammo seems to work.

 

[SemperFi]

COL to long? As posted check the empty cases after resizing, and trimming to length. At times I resize a case twice, rotating it 180 degrees in the shell holder for the second time. I only do this if I 'sense' a case may need a little more help to resize.

I doubt if there is anything wrong with your rifle, since all factory ammo seems to work.

I had the same problem with some Lapua brass. Turns out the base was just a little big for the chamber, and resizing did not go all the way to the very bottom. Factory ammo was fine, just the Lapua brass was ever so slightly bigger. Reamed the chamber base just a touch and no more problem! This was on a 17 mach IV.

 

[Bigeclipse]

I had the same problem with some Lapua brass. Turns out the base was just a little big for the chamber, and resizing did not go all the way to the very bottom. Factory ammo was fine, just the Lapua brass was ever so slightly bigger. Reamed the chamber base just a touch and no more problem! This was on a 17 mach IV.

I have no gun Smith's near me if this is truly the problem. Are there any dies out there that can full size down to the base of the brass?

 

[SemperFi]

I have no gun Smith's near me if this is truly the problem. Are there any dies out there that can full size down to the base of the brass?

No. I talked to redding about this, and they said to send it to them and they would check it out. I just used some polish on a drill and worked the chamber very carefully. I will probably catch some flak for saying that, but it worked for me.