Hard bolt pull?

[JAYgs8163]

Do you have Wilson Chamber gauge? If so, maybe check every piece after you resize. Also you mention it's the 3rd or 4th shot always. Are these quick follow up shots or are they allowing the barrel, chamber to cool some? Are you chambering a round and then waiting some before firing which would then allow the powder to heat some. I'm not very familiar with the powder you're using and how temperature stable it is. Just curious and I'm no expert but may be something else to check.

 

[Bob Wright]

Primarily designed for AR type feeding rifles. That's my take but I may be mistaken. They size the case just a tad smaller than a standard die does. I've been told this is to help eliminate feeding issues. I've never used them and if I'm wrong someone please correct me.

My small base 223 dies measured .0005 smaller than standard 223 dies at the case above the extractor. This was taken from the resized brass fired from same rifle, same ammo. You're correct.

 

[blueprairiedog]

I agree it will Band-Aid the issue if the load is not so hot OR the brass so soft that the case expands to fully fit the chamber. Working the brass that much will lead to case head separation.

Another cause of difficult primary extraction is a rough or out of round chamber.

Before blaming the dies, I would do a borescope look and a cerrosafe cast to eliminate those.

10-4 on that

 

[338 dude]

The term clicker comes from the click made when the primary extraction cam breaks a tight case loose from the chamber.

If you are getting a click, that means you have primary extraction and at that point the case is free in the chamber and the bolt would come back easy. My bet is your primary extraction is lacking and you are having to do the job by pulling the bolt back, and it will be stiff. Primary extraction and clickers occur at the top of up stroke. Clicker = very tight case diameter after firing, and is not usually a pressure sign. It has nothing to do with length, that would be a stiff bolt from the very bottom of the lift and is usually a pressure sign.

To understand clickers you need to understand what is happening in the chamber. When you fire a case it expands to fit the chamber, the barrel steel also expands slightly. Both the steel and brass will spring back after the pressure drops. Brass has a much lower yield point than steel so it will yield some when the chamber steel is expanded under pressure. Now your barrel steel springs back to normal size and your brass does not since it has yielded and now you have an interference fit (tight case). This is most common just above the base of the extractor groove because that is thicker brass and many dies do not do a good job of sizing that area. The reason that sizing that area is important is because the brass will still spring back some amount after the pressure drops. If the fit in the chamber is already tight, it will not spring back enough to eject freely. The very simple way to never experience this issue is to make sure the die is sizing correctly.

There is a good explanation and an opinion that I would definitely listen to Y Z

 

[Lee Goodwin]

Excessive head space, too many loads on the brass and too hot loads.

What did I do to find the cause?...
I misread the ? Earlier.

What I did to find the cause for sticking bolt on extraction was asked wise old men in person and came to LRH for further advice.

I was also getting case head separation with the sticky bolt but all this issue didn't show til about the fifth firing of the brass. FL resizing every time on a 300WM.

 

[Rhett Crider]

Do you have Wilson Chamber gauge? If so, maybe check every piece after you resize. Also you mention it's the 3rd or 4th shot always. Are these quick follow up shots or are they allowing the barrel, chamber to cool some? Are you chambering a round and then waiting some before firing which would then allow the powder to heat some. I'm not very familiar with the powder you're using and how temperature stable it is. Just curious and I'm no expert but may be something else to check.

RL 15 is very sensitive to temp.. If you are shooting 4 shot strings it very well could be a pressure issue from that. You would be way better using RL 16. Roughly 75-80 more velocity at the same pressure but the best thing is RL 16 is like Varget on temp sensitivity. Plus RL 16 will give you a much better case fill. Powder Valley has it in 8 lbs only. Just another possibility.

 

[okie man]

Necks could be getting tight also if the chamber is min spec!

 

[YZ-80]

My small base 223 dies measured .0005 smaller than standard 223 dies at the case above the extractor. This was taken from the resized brass fired from same rifle, same ammo. You're correct.

Yeah, I know what you guys are sayin'. I got small based dies for my ARs and I use one of the Wilson gages with the .005 groove on one side and the .010 groove on the other to check the .223 cases. Not a single failure to feed yet. Makes me think that maybe when Daniel Defense designed the D5 they were in gas gun mode and gave them tighter chambers!

 

[YZ-80]

RL 15 is very sensitive to temp.. If you are shooting 4 shot strings it very well could be a pressure issue from that. You would be way better using RL 16. Roughly 75-80 more velocity at the same pressure but the best thing is RL 16 is like Varget on temp sensitivity. Plus RL 16 will give you a much better case fill. Powder Valley has it in 8 lbs only. Just another possibility.

Thanks. Definitely something to consider. RL-15 could be contributing to the issue.

 

[DWier]

I'm new to reloading and definitely appreciate these threads. While I'm not familiar with all the terms I'm learning a lot (and recognizing BS). Again, thanks.

 

[blueprairiedog]

Are you sure it isn't "cluck"?

It was snap

 

[Stammster]

Why not try to re-chamber the spent casing, without any preparation and see if it is hard to chamber the last 1/4"? Or if it's similar to extract the second time.

Then do the same with a factory load.

Compare measurements of web diameter and case length. If you have a chrony, see if the velocity of your handload is higher than expected/previous. This will rule out any hot load / RL15 temp sensitivity issues.

I'd also give that chamber a good cleaning, especially up to where the rifle lands start, the chamber, and lugs. Remove all oil when done.

 

[Hawk in WY]

New rifle you say?

How does the bolt run without ammunition.

I smell a too long rear action screw.

Worth checking.

 

[Coldfinger]

Guys,

I got my Delta 5 shooting pretty good with the 6.5 CRDM barrel. Today at the range, however I had a bit of an issue on occasion pulling the bolt back. No heavy lift. It would happen about every 3rd or 4th round. I'm running 4th cycle gunwerks brass and I'm bumping .002 to 1.504" on the Sinclair comparator. No signs of pressure on the brass, no cratered primers, etc. Headspace is good. This is a 37.2 grain charge under a 143 ELD-X and I'm .003 off the lands. I'm wondering what gives? I have a theory that maybe the neck turning striations have created more friction in the throat upon expansion but I didn't have any loads that were un-turned to test this theory. Maybe that or dirty bolt raceways or mortises? Any ideas? It didn't seem to do this as a .308. Thanks in advance for any insight.

Might want to run to local auto parts store and buy a set of inexpensive feelergauges. Start putting them between case base and shell holder till nice and snug. Then resize cases it'll be a pain but cases may size better. Worth a shot instead of reading people arguing. Good luck!