The PRC die "problem"

[tim_w]

Never mind Alex answered my question before I posted.

 

[IHFarmer07]

On the facebook prc groups, guys using the forster dies having the same issues.

I have a forester 6.5prc die and it seems like it took more "times" fired before the click came up in my rifle compared to what others' are having this issue. I first noticed it shooting load development for the 156 Berger and because I took it as pressure signs I'm setting at around 2900fps, some are getting 100fps higher. I had at that time fired my Gunwerks brass 6 to 7 times, annealed every firing.

 

[Kimber7man]

Alex has this figured out, Broz reamed his this weekend and apparently solved the issue.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

Do not forget, this chamber design will not fix a bad die. This chamber allows you to make a die that will work with hard brass like ADG. The die still has to be in spec or the clickers will eventually come back. Also, be aware that if you have fired brass to the point of clicking, and your die was out of spec, you may not be able to salvage that brass. Brass has to be maintained from the start, its very tough to bring it back once oversized.

 

[tim_w]

What are people getting for a dimension at the top of the web on virgin ADG brass?

 

[DellaDog]

Wow, I'm in the same boat and stumbled across this thread when googling my stiff bolt issue. 300 PRC, ADG Brass, Whidden die, Defiance Deviant. First two firings on cases with 26 gr RL 26 @ 2900 fps no issues and great accuracy out past 1 mile.

This weekend on the third firing (second sizing) the bolt was very difficult to open. At first I thought I had a pressure problem, but my initial firings were in much warmer temps here in Texas, 90º vs 50º.

I've called Whidden twice now with promises of a call back, but haven't heard back yet. Extremely disappointed because everything has been great till now - and I hate to think I've toasted 200 pieces of rare earth ADG brass!

So my question is:
What is the the solution to date? Are we to rechamber according to Alex's reamer specs and locate a proper die? Or can a new, properly sized die correct the problem?

I've got 150 loaded rounds that I'm holding off shooting in the hopes of preventing further ruining the brass.

Thanks

Edit: Followup

Spoke this morning with a die specialist at Whidden. Very friendly, very understanding, and very familiar with the issue. They are seriously considering custom dies only for PRC cartridges due to the expansion issues. They will build a custom die based on 3 fired cases and credit the cost of the existing die. I think that's a very fair solution.

Hopefully it won't take months.

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

What are people getting for a dimension at the top of the web on virgin ADG brass?

Vrigin - 0.5290
1x fired- 0.531

 

[c-ne-elk]

I am getting the same as NWMNBOWHUNTER out of 2 different rifles. 0.531 after first firing.

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

After second firing the web expands in my rifle to 0.5315. The next firing is where i get clickers and blew a primer early... again in MY RIFLE.

 

[Rhovee]

.531 is typical and fine. It's the chamber clearance that really matters. If your brass can remain at .531-.5315 thats good.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

My 300 PRC ADG brass is .530" on new brass just above the extractor groove.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I got a PM asking about clickers. I had a youtube video up, its now on my own site since Im no longer on youtube, https://www.wheeleraccuracy.com/videos

 

[tim_w]

I got a PM asking about clickers. I had a youtube video up, its now on my own site since Im no longer on youtube, https://www.wheeleraccuracy.com/videos

Yep why upload to YouTube giving them advo revenue to help support their antigen stance and they do not even give you the % kickback everyone else gets.

 

[FlyGuy11]

Flyguy11 - here are some real conditions that you were asking for...

I have two 6.5 PRC's and both are having bolt click issues after about the 3rd loading.

Both rifles are custom, one is a Gunwerks and the other an Alamo Precision. The Alamo Precision was built on a Defiance action.

I am using Berger 156g EOL Elite Hunting bullets in both rifles.

In the Gunwerks rifle, 57.0 g H1000 (well below max load) and Fed 215 primers at 3,043 fps (from a Labradar)

In the Alamo, 55.6 g H4831SC (also well below max load) and CCI Mag rifle primers at 2975 fps. (from a Labradar)

I am using ADG brass and have also tried Gunwerks brass (made by ADG) and I even tried some Hornady brass. Same issue with each type of brass.

I typically anneal every shot using an AMP annealing machine calibrated for the brass. But with this issue I even tried not annealing some cases to see how it worked and still got the hard ejection after the 3rd or so load.

I have not paid attention to see if I am seating the bullets to SAMMI spec depth as I worked up loads moving my bullets off the lands in increments until I got the best groups and SD's from the load.

I bump the shoulder's back on both rifles 0.002" (I use two different sets of resizing dies) using Redding a Redding full length Match Die Set and seat bullets using a Redding Competition Bullet Seating die.

I have talked to both Gunwerks and to Alamo Precision and they are both aware of the problem. The issue is real and unless you have a chamber that has been opened up at the base or was originally built a bit too large at the base you will have this issue.

I also know of 2 other PRS shooters here that are having the same issues with their 6.5 PRC's, while I do not have their data nor do I speak for them, I know they are suffering the same "bolt click" issues.

Any solution found? I am using 57.2 grains of Reloader 26 and did not get pressure signs until about 58.5 grains. Again factory action so not as tight as a custom rifle. I have read in other posts that the Gunwerks brass due to thicker cases require a lower load due to reaching higher pressure faster. I have been only trimming my cases down to SAMMI minimum length with a .002 bump as well. Please post if you found the solution.