Sticking bolt ....hot loads not the problem

[ROOSEVELK]

I'm pretty new to reloading so I'm up for any suggestions.

I bought a LR-1200 7LRM from Gunwerks last year. I've been shooting their stuff and getting used to the gun and long range shooting. Their gun and ammo has worked flawlessly .

At about the same time last year I bought all new RCBS reloading equipment and bought exactly the same components and I am loading them exactly the same as they do. I'm relatively sure that my press is set up correctly and I full length size everything. Every time I shoot one of my loads, my bolt sticks really tight....sometimes to the point that I'd almost need a rubber mallet to free it up.

This Sunday I chrono'd Gunwerks loads and my loads....they were essentially identical. I thought that maybe my H1000 was hotter than theirs and that was the problem...but obviously that's not the case.

I'm thinking that I'm probably screwing something up.....but I've measured all I can measure and everything is the same. Though I cannot measure the neck angle etc with my equip.

Before firing , the load chambers fine ...no sticking or tightness

If someone reads this and has a suggestion, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!!

 

[SidecarFlip]

You checking headspace?

 

[Young-Gun]

the shoulders on the cases might need bumped back.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Check your brass and make sure your neck is the right length, and not too long... If so, it can catch the inside of your chamber and hold on when you fire off your round, causing sticky bolt extraction.

 

[ROOSEVELK]

I think headspace is ok. I'm new to this...but my thinking was that since it loaded so easy, I thought the shoulder was ok. I will try that tomorrow. How much do you think I should bump it back? Probably do a few incrementally starting off small? I kind of tried that once....but I didn't do a very good job of it...I'll do it more methodical this time .

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply.

Anymore suggestions I should try while I'm at it?

 

[Bodywerks]

Same primer, brass brand, and bullet seating depth? Differences in any of the three can be the difference between heavy bolt lift/pressure and not.

 

[outback andy]

Its sounds to me you are not trimming your cartridge to the right lenght, or try trimming .005 under that should do the trick.

 

[Lefty7mmstw]

This Sunday I chrono'd Gunwerks loads and my loads....they were essentially identical. I thought that maybe my H1000 was hotter than theirs and that was the problem...but obviously that's not the case.

I'm thinking that I'm probably screwing something up.....but I've measured all I can measure and everything is the same. Though I cannot measure the neck angle etc with my equip.

Before firing , the load chambers fine ...no sticking or tightness

If someone reads this and has a suggestion, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!!

Are you sure their loads have h1000 in them??

This sounds like high pressure to me; the round should show resistance to chambering if dimensions are off. You need to back of the charge and work up to just before you notice pressure signs and consider that your absolute max..

Pressure signs DO include heavy bolt lift. Triple check your dimensions compared to the spec's and factory ammo; if you aren't wonky somewhere your pressure is to high; probably at proof levels. Also either smoke or magic marker one of your loads and insert/fire the round. The marker/ smoke will rub of worst where the interference is.

 

[BrentM]

Kinda wonder about the powder type as well. It sounds like high pressure node from any of the things mentioned. Sucks to have this stuff and it not be an obvious issue. On the powder side of things you may have to bump a powder weight way up in order to get the same results in FPS.

Case length
Head Space
Hot loads
Seating depth

I am sure you have thought of this stuff too, but if you can double check the case neck to shoulder junction and measure to case head. Compare that to a fired case and then resized case. You should see a difference in the numbers.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

I had this same problem with a remington 700 30-06. The problem was the brass had been reloaded to many times and so when it was fired it expanded the casing too much which resulted in my bolt sticking badly. So badly, that i literally and to reef
on the bolt as hard has i could in order to get it out. I started running some newer brass through it and didnt have a problem. Hot loads were not the issue. I was runnin 56gn. of IMR 4064 at roughly 3000 fps.

 

[BrentM]

OK, WOW, 3000 FPS out of an 06. Even with a 150 or less pill that is amazing. That is 300 WM levels.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

OK, WOW, 3000 FPS out of an 06. Even with a 150 or less pill that is amazing. That is 300 WM levels.

You think so? i didnt have any pressure signs. I thought about trying to push it even more but i figured that 3000 fps was enough.

 

[BrentM]

Well, I suppose it depends on the weight of the pill. It seems like with the same powder weight a 180 is was at 2750.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

I was runnin a 150 sst. absolute devastating combo.