IHFarmer07
Well-Known Member
Page 3 post 40.....
The PRC die "problem"
- Thread starter Alex Wheeler
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Its204fast
Well-Known Member
Its204fast
Well-Known Member
A while back (I don't remember where I read this) on a .204 Ruger forum, a guy posted he got tired of trashing .204 brass because it wouldn't hold primers any longer. he made a push-thru type die that shrunk the base of the case ultimately tightening the primer pocket. I feel like something like this would help with the problem you are discussing here.
There is also a "bulge Buster die" made by WILLIS for belt bulge on belted magnum cases.
I feel most of ya'll are looking for more than "minute of deer" accuracy out of rifle and don't know how the bulge buster will affect accuracy.
There is also a "bulge Buster die" made by WILLIS for belt bulge on belted magnum cases.
I feel most of ya'll are looking for more than "minute of deer" accuracy out of rifle and don't know how the bulge buster will affect accuracy.
I must be missing something here. I have not had trouble to date and NO ONE is stating real conditions such as: what load data is being used, rifle type (custom or production), and are you seating to SAMMI? I am curious because I have a new Bergara b14 in 6.5 PRC with: Federal Gold Metal Match Magnum LG rifle primers, Berger 140gr VLD hunting, Reloader 26, and Gunwerks brass. Using Redding FL resizing die and Standard Redding seating die with micrometer VLD stem upgrade. I am using I think 54 grains of powder (on work travel so it's not accessible) the lowest charge for barrel break in once I get home. Those having issues are you annealing? Please do not tell me what you heard, first hand experience only please.
PendletonCowboy
Active Member
Hmmm, sounds similar to what phorwrath did in post #13.
vancewalker007
Well-Known Member
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- Mar 30, 2013
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I am using a custom. It's the SAAMI diameter but not SAAMI length. It's lead is set up to have the 147 bullet base to be just above the neck shoulder junction. Of course OAL length doesn't have anything to do with this issue. It's a base growth issue. It happens to a lot of cartridges. I am running 143s at +3100 fps and 156s at 3040fps. So not over pressure but right near max. I am using Hornady brass. I started noticing this issue after about 5-7 reloads, but not on all cases. You may never notice it.
.300 Dakota
Well-Known Member
How in the heck did you get it to come out just right without messing up a bunch of them with trial and error? Did you just take off a little at the time and try it and go again? Looks like what you have is a special body die now instead of complete FL die...If you've got two sets of resizing dies, here's a poor man's solution... Required a side grinder with a metal cutting blade and submerging the die under water while cutting off the top and some of the bottom off a spare full length resizing die... If you own or have access to a lathe, even better.
Whidden made me three resizing dies for my 338 Lapua Rogue. Tried they're darndest, yet none of them were small enough in ID to sufficiently resize near the case head. I cried uncle and modified one of the spare resizing dies to resize my cases near the case head. It's a very special "customized", custom Whidden resizing die.Look's like I found it in a dumpster, but it works superbly. It's very adjustable. I adjust it down on the case during resizing just enough for easy chambering.
Look's like I should apply for a patent.
View attachment 226632
Thanks for this info, and I am eagerly awaiting your response.
Phorwath and I in essence made our own small base dies.
I incrementally moved the sizer ring deeper, checking fit of sized brass in the rifle. When there was no resistance to primary camming action when opening the bolt it ending up being enough to work when firing the cartridge. If I were to slightly oversize the base doubt it would ruin the case.
You could always sand of some metal from the rear of the chamber.....
I incrementally moved the sizer ring deeper, checking fit of sized brass in the rifle. When there was no resistance to primary camming action when opening the bolt it ending up being enough to work when firing the cartridge. If I were to slightly oversize the base doubt it would ruin the case.
You could always sand of some metal from the rear of the chamber.....
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.
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.
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
EXACTLY!! Undersize not overpressure is the issue!
Jeff99
Member
I have been shooting a 6.5 prc CA Mesa LR for a few months now and have had no problems. The dies I am using are just cheap RCBS dies too. Maybe I got lucky?
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
You probably have a loose chamber
Another Casual
Well-Known Member
PVA savage small shank prefit here, Hornady brass and dies, firing #4 and no issues.
Alex Wheeler
Well-Known Member
This really isn't a poll on how many have not had a problem. If you are not having an issue, this thread is of no use to you. For those that are, the prints should be ready soon.
