Trouble Chambering .30-06

I agree with mehavey, if the round chambers with a little bit of force, shoot the darned thing.

I do think it's best if the case is full length sized just enough to let the bolt close without any binding whatsoever. And there's only a few thousandths slop it its fit to the chamber; case headspace is about .002" to .003" less than chamber headspace. That can be done by measuring a fired case, then again after full length sizing it; the dimension after sizing should be about .002" less than when fired. This is what that Hornady LNL gauge, or the RCBS Precision Mic will show. Neither have an exact reading of the case headspace, both are just compariters. The RCBS Mic is zeroed on a reference gauge made to chamber headspace shoulder references; even those for belted cases are in spite of their official headspace is referenced on the shoulder at .220".

Often, I think such tools should be called "differentiaters" as they only show the difference between the case headspace dimension after firing and after resizing.

One can get a fairly accuracy chamber headspace measurement by measuring a fired case (normal, max load) headspace with a calibrated gauge, then adding .001 inch to that amount. Virtually all fired case's headspace at their shoulder is about that much less than that of the chamber it was fired in.
 
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and the bolt only takes a small little effort to close it,
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Sizing the case with the bolt when chambering a round is a bad habit. I know, most members sound like Wallace Berry "It's OK there little buddy, you just go on and continue chambering those bullets and sizing those cases with the bolt" If you do not know or understand what is happening find out, do the research. If you believe the cases require sizing to reduce the length of the case from the shoulder to the case head, reduce the length of the case.

If you do not know when a case is sized to minimum length purchase a feeler gage, you could use light, warning I have a book that includes measuring with light. Before I do that I will put my Pratt and Whitney gage back together. I could dig out my air gages and or electronic micrometers, again, I am not in mortal combat with reloading.

I use the companion tool to the press, the feeler gage. I could use a tool with more prestige like the height gage or the depth gage or the dial caliper. I am the fan of the transfer, the standard and the verifying tool, the feeler gage.

F. Guffey
 
Chamber an 8mm57 round in a 30/06 chamber. Then
apply "As long as the bolt completely closes" logic.
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TG -- sooner or later one has to stipulate enough sense on the part of the shooter to survive getting out of bed.

A 30-06 bolt would also close on a 338 Federal -- but I give [ "most" ] shooters credit for knowing the difference.
 
adjusted the sizing die to knock the shoulder back further, sized two .30-06 cases, and when I put them in my brother's rifle, they champered fine. Just to be sure, I tried a case that had not been sized properly, and like you said, it was tough to get in.
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John mentioned new handloads. But I suspect it was someone else's fire formed brass prior to his use.

What should I do with the ammo that isn't sized right?
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Buy a Kinetic Bullet Puller. Knock them apart.
Save the powder and bullet.
Resize that brass again with your Resizer Die having its (decaping pin) intentionally removed.
(Just) the pin itself. (Not) the whole decapping stem assembly.)
Its Decaping Stem Assembly other than its (pin) must be left mounted in its die.

Reload them up again for there second time and go do some shooting.

There is little mention of a Comparator Tool being used to set up John's seater die in this thread. Comparator use is perhaps a topic that needs a light touch of information being passed on as to its purpose. Although I see little need to go into a detailed explanation of its use. (kiss) applied.
 
TG -- sooner or later one has to stipulate enough sense on the part of the shooter to survive getting out of bed.

A 30-06 bolt would also close on a 338 Federal -- but I give [ "most" ] shooters credit for knowing the difference.
mehavey is online now
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And then a shooter walked into a central North Texas gun shop with a locked up rifle. He was going to sue everyone. He volunteered to zero a friends rifle. He purchased 308 Winchester ammo for a 25/06. it was not necessary for him to fire more than one round to determine something was wrong.

A neighbor of the smith built a rifle, loaded his ammo and went to the range. He chambered a round, after pulling the trigger he walked up the range to retrieve his barrel. The story went something like the man that pulled into the wrong driveway and hit a tree he did not have.

Stuffing ammo into a chamber with the bolt is a bad habit.

F. Guffey
 
Hooligan1, if I tell you a chicken dips snuff, do not argue. All you have to do is catcher the chicken and look under its wings to determine if it carries the can on the right or left side.

F. Guffey
 
Hooligan1, forgive.

The standard response goes something like this:

"I bet the bullet must have been 2 1/2" long when it left the barrel" At one time I would suggest a reloader think about it, and then I gave up. I only know of one bullet maker, he takes special orders. He is told what is wanted and he determines if it is possible.

F. Guffey
 
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