Proven load now resulting in clickers?
- Thread starter Jakeweb09
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That's what I experienced.
Just measured Federal and ADG brass at the web. The Federal was noticeably smaller. Both would still chamber but I suspect that after firing the ADG would tighten up and my resizing dies will not touch this web dimension. Guess I have to get a specialty sizing die. Does anyone have any suggestions for a source.
Actually this is where the problem with the chamber/brass design exists. SAAMI brass spec is .532 at the web and chamber spec is .533. That's just not enough space from what I've been told for proper case expansion. I've been told that .003-.005 is required which when the brass is new seems to be fine. My case sizes down to .531 using my Redding dies. Alex Wheeler has discussed this in length and has actually designed a modified chamber reamer. New ADG and Hornady Brass is .528 at the web. Some have tried custom dies with good success but mostly only on Hornady brass. I'm probably going to open my chamber up to .535 which is what I believe Alex specs his reamer to. This should allow everything to function as it should and also allow for further load development. My clickers started on my 4th and 5th reloading of ADG. Anyways…. glad some are not experiencing the issue. How many reloads on your brass and what brass are you running Vance?
Whidden, but others have gotten custom dies and are still experiencing the issue.
Rardoin
Well-Known Member
It is the feeling/sound made when a case that has the body area just ahead of the web expand at firing and become very tight in the chamber. Upon extraction the bolt is raised until it starts on the extraction cam where is gets difficult to raise the handle more. When enough lift force is applied the handle snaps upward as the case pulls free from the chamber wall making an audible/palpable click. Sometimes it hardly upsets the gun but, if it is really tight, I have to 'pop' the handle up with my palm to get the case extracted. Hot loads cause this, with other associated pressure signs, in any chamber but mild loads can do it in 'fat cased' magnums using moderate loads. This occurs after a few firings when the die is not sizing that area enough. Solutions, as mentioned, can be a small base die, a new custom die based off your fired brass, or having your gunsmith open up the lower 1/4-1/3 of the chamber about 0.001-0.0015" with emery cloth on a dowel while the barrel is chucked in a lathe. In my experience, once the brass starts clicking after a few firings that area is hard to bring back down to an appropriate size due to work hardening. New brass is suggested in addition to the above measures to keep the new brass from taking that expanded set.
spin-one
Well-Known Member
I am having issues with my 6.5 PRC. I decided to go with the custom die route because I also reload for two friends that also have a PRC. Lead time on the custom die from Widden is 15 weeks. I am keeping my fingers crossed that a custom die will correct the problem
What brass? The more the brass is fired the problem seems to worsen.
spin-one
Well-Known Member
I am using ADG and the clickers started after the second reloading. My other two friends are using Hornady brass, one is just starting to have issues after the forth reloading and the other has a new gun so no issues yet on his second reloading. Before I changed my brass to ADG I was using Hornady and it also started having issues after the 4th or 5th reloading
Thank you for taking this time to explain, well done! I've had lots of sticky bolt handles over the years of load development...but never heard the term Clickers before. Here in Canada we just call those....Mo#$ *#@#$&ers! Thanks again!
I have new Peterson brass arriving today. Hope to test it soon but it'll be a while before I get into 3-4 firings. Going to also have a die made by Whidden and am waiting for JGS tooling to call me about the chamber reamer.
How about just loading three shells and fire them three to four times! Quicker and would only ruin 3 casings if the problem is the same!
