bulging at the base of the neck in a 243 win

I've been a reloader for decades. In my 243 win I've found a little bulge at the base of the neck which when you seat the bullet it puts a little pressure on the bolt when closing. Thought it was my aged Lapua brass so I started over with new Lapua brass. After one firing the bulge is back. You can actually feel it with a finger nail. Not heavily. I use comp Redding dies. Using a body die to bump .002 back, bushing die for .002 neck tension. Thought maybe it is the body die? Thought maybe too deep a throw with the neck bushing bulging below the neck. Match grade chamber in a Brux barrel. What do ya think?

I have seen a bulge in my case necks occasionally because the bushing does not size the neck all the way to the shoulder but I have never had one cause me issues when chambering. I usually turn my case necks though and that will remove enough of the area in question to not cause issues.

I would guess it has something to do with the bushing not resizing the whole length of the neck. What is the outside diameter of the eck on a fired case? And what size bushing are you using?

Ditto for what ShtrRdy and Deviant said. I see that some in my .243 Lapua brass worked with a Redding bushing die also. I dont turn necks and havent had an issue with it....

ShtrRdy said:

I would guess it has something to do with the bushing not resizing the whole length of the neck. What is the outside diameter of the eck on a fired case? And what size bushing are you using?

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272.5 on the fired case and I'm using a 271 bushing. I've noticed after I have resized a case using the sizing die with a .008 comp seater for .002 bump it chambers perfectly but the sizing die somehow closes up the bottom first .010 or so of the neck. To the point that a bullet inserted stops at that that point. once I get to the seating of the bullet is where the friction of chambering starts. If I remove the bullet from the case it chambers fine. I've checked to be sure I had at least .003 neck chamber clearance with a loaded round so its not that. I think I'll buy a different die and start over. I've varied neck bushing length to be sure I wasn't creating the bulge. Crazy stuff.

Just out of curiosity, what stage is your brass in? Once, twice, three times fired? Can you post a pic of the bulge?

Deputy819 said:

Just out of curiosity, what stage is your brass in? Once, twice, three times fired?

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2 times on lapua. 105 VLD and ELD-X 103 @ 3100FPS or less using RE23. no pressure signs other than a slightly flattened primer. I don't usually load max charges.

Here's what my twice fired brass looks like. Best I could do with this phone...

Deputy819 said:

View attachment 114267
Here's what my twice fired brass looks like. Best I could do with this phone...

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That's it right there. Admit though my brass isn't quite as pronounced. Need to figure out why. Mine still closes fine but with some resistance. I feel there should no resistance. That bugs me.

I enlarged that pic quite a bit with my phone. It's just barely visible looking at it on my bench. Even my twice fired brass still hasnt all fully expanded to chamber dimensions and I've got a minimum spec chamber. Havent begun bumping shoulders back on any of it yet. Still have @ .001 to go.....

Just to be clear, is that what it looks like coming out of the rifle, or after you size it?

nmbarta said:

Just to be clear, is that what it looks like coming out of the rifle, or after you size it?

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Me or the OP?

You, I actually mixed up both of your posts when I was reading and thought you were him.

That's what a piece might look like after resizing with a bushing die set to resize about 2/3's of the neck, a lot of guys leave the bottom third unsized to help the round center in the chamber.
A second look at it seems like no lube was used or something as it seems to bulge out a bit below the area that was resized....I am curious !