MNbogboy
Well-Known Member
Another test you might do is to try and chamber one of the fired cases (wipe it clean first - no oil). If it chambers normally or maybe a little stiff then remove it and completely color it with a "sharpie". Chamber it again, open close the bolt a couple of times, remove it and see if the Sharpie had been rubbed off on most areas and "corners" of the shoulder area.Ok back to this topic. This whole deal has turned into a giant ball of confusion for me but also a lot of good info came out of this thread for rookies like me.
A little more background, my father in law was given this rifle, brass, and the dies from his uncle. So I think this turned into the telephone game.
Now my father in law is telling me the brass may already be fire formed. So I have a couple new questions:
1- What is a sure fire way for me to know if it has been fire formed? Are there certain areas on the case I can measure that would be a tell tale?
2-If it is already fire formed, I am assuming I was getting these dents because the die was set wrong and I was crushing the shoulder. What is the appropriate method for setting the die up and making sure the case fits the chamber right?
Side note I just measure the neck opening on a couple of these fired cases at 6.90mm for what that's worth.
If it appears that it was fireformed in that chamber it will probably be obvious by the wear marks on the coloring.
Clean and lube the same case. Remove the decapper/expander from the die. Back the die out about one full turn from touching the shell holder. Run the case into the die a little at a time (1/16th turn) until resistance is felt. Try it in the chamber again. Cases normally get longer as they are squeezed in a die. It may now NOT fit. Run the case into the die about 1/16 turn per try until the case does fit. At this point you are close (one direction or the other).
Obviously if the case dents reappear before the case fits then there is a problem between the chamber/die pair. If not, fine tuning can be done to your "bump" length (another search for you).
Note: if all works after you reinstall the decapper/expander on the RCBS die there may also be a little more adjustment required for desirable case fit.
Hope you gain progress on this problem,
Randy