Handload 7mm Brass Issues

[iron_road]

I had a Model 700 I recently I sold because I wanted a Ruger M77 because my dad had one just like it. I had a bunch of brass left over I fired from the previous gun. I tried using my Lee Resizing Die and even then still the brass won't fit. So what this tells me the brass after being fired is formed to my prior guns chamber.

My question is how do I correct this brass to fit my M77?

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[RVTECH]

even then still the brass won't fit.

What exactly do you mean by 'won't fit' ?

Will the brass not chamber at all? Just partially?

Does it chamber completely but the bolt won't close? (I had this issue once)

Please describe exactly the degree of 'won't fit'.

 

[2ndtimer]

No personal experience, and assuming you are talking about 7mm Remington magnum, many have suggested this expensive cure for proper sizing of belted cases.

Innovative Technologies - Reloading Equipment

Our patented resizing die can reload Winchester, Remington and Weatherby belted magnums up to 20 times, instead of just 2 or 3 times and the top of the die is a chamber width gauge.

www.larrywillis.com

I have managed to avoid belted magnum cartridges in my 40 years plus of reloading, with the exception of my son's old Savage in .300 Win Mag. Which reminded me of why I have avoided them.

 

[HighlandLofts]

Maybe try a set of RCBS or Hornady dies.

 

[iron_road]

What exactly do you mean by 'won't fit' ?

Will the brass not chamber at all? Just partially?

Does it chamber completely but the bolt won't close? (I had this issue once)

Please describe exactly the degree of 'won't fit'.

The brass is going far enough into the action that it will go what I can describe as 90% of the way before getting stuck. Need to use a cleaning rod to push the case out.

I forgot to mention when I bought the gun the man who sold it to me gave me a box of ammo with spent cassings. Last night out of curiosity when I was running into this issue I ran those in my resizing die and no problem.

 

[iron_road]

Maybe try a set of RCBS or Hornady dies.

Interestingly enough most of the brass is resized by RCBS. When I ran into issues of the completed dummy cartridge not working I I resized with my Lee die but still no luck.

I talked to my uncle to see what he thought and we initially believed it was because I wasn't resizing the case mouth down near the shoulder.

But even that wasn't the issue.

 

[Nwcid]

Which 7mm, there are lots? Are you using the correct die for the correct 7mm? I know it seems like a silly question but it happens.

Get your calipers out and start measuring to see what part of the case is not in spec.

Once you have identified what is not in spec, identity the cause. Is the die the correct die? Is it set in the press property? Is it brand specific on what case is not working? etc.

 

[bcp]

If 7mm Remington Magnum, here are the measurements:



Bruce

 

[hawmanai]

Also check that the shell holder is the same brand as dies.

Found a slight difference between Lee and RCBS shell holder/die mismatch that would not size brass small enough to fit a tight chamber.

 

[iron_road]

Which 7mm, there are lots? Are you using the correct die for the correct 7mm? I know it seems like a silly question but it happens.

Get your calipers out and start measuring to see what part of the case is not in spec.

Once you have identified what is not in spec, identity the cause. Is the die the correct die? Is it set in the press property? Is it brand specific on what case is not working? etc.

Yes I am using the right die. It's 7 Rem Mag. Brass brand, die brand doesn't seem to matter. Brass wont seat.

 

[iron_road]

Also check that the shell holder is the same brand as dies.

Found a slight difference between Lee and RCBS shell holder/die mismatch that would not size brass small enough to fit a tight chamber.

Tried that. Didn't do a damn thing.

 

[Koda]

Are you full length sizing them?
Whats the trim length after FL sizing?

 

[bcp]

You may have checked or eliminated some of these, but it may help someone else with a similar problem.

Most instructions say to screw in the die to touch the shellholder at full up stroke. But...

when you are resizing the brass, at the top of the stroke, with full pressure on the handle, is there any space between the die and shellholder? If so, screw the die down a bit more and try again. Some presses are less rigid than others. Let us know.

Just to eliminate another possibility, remove the decapper/expander from the FL die. Resize some brass then see if it will chamber. Sometimes expanders will stretch the case a bit when withdrawn. Let us know.

Blacken/color a resized case with a marker on the neck, shoulder, and base above the belt. Carefully chamber and extract it. See where the color is scraped off. That's where the case is binding.

You didn't say which version of the M77 you have. Some have a spring-loaded ejector in the bolt face. If the ejector is stuck or binding, the case won't chamber. Remove the bolt, hook a case under the extractor, and using the case for leverage, try depressing the ejector. It should work smoothly and fling off the case if you let go.

Bruce

 

[bcp]

deleted, moved up^^^^

 

[iron_road]

Are you full length sizing them?
Whats the trim length after FL sizing?

Yes. I would hope so, considering I have two different manufacture die sets one of them is bound to be full length. And as per my OP at first my uncle and I thought I was getting deep enough to the shoulder so we screwed the die body further into the press making a top of the stroke press not possible because the case is in there. At that point we just became puzzled as all hell.

 

[iron_road]

You may have checked or eliminated some of these, but it may help someone else with a similar problem.

Most instructions say to screw in the die to touch the shellholder at full up stroke. But...

when you are resizing the brass, at the top of the stroke, with full pressure on the handle, is there any space between the die and shellholder? If so, screw the die down a bit more and try again. Some presses are less rigid than others. Let us know.

Just to eliminate another possibility, remove the decapper/expander from the FL die. Resize some brass then see if it will chamber. Sometimes expanders will stretch the case a bit when withdrawn. Let us know.

Blacken/color a resized case with a marker on the neck, shoulder, and base above the belt. Carefully chamber and extract it. See where the color is scraped off. That's where the case is binding.

You didn't say which version of the M77 you have. Some have a spring-loaded ejector in the bolt face. If the ejector is stuck or binding, the case won't chamber. Remove the bolt, hook a case under the extractor, and using the case for leverage, try depressing the ejector. It should work smoothly and fling off the case if you let go.

Bruce

I typically screw my die body down to account for that small gap. However that decapper idea is something to consider for sure, thank you. I would assume my M77 is one of the first generations sporting the red ruger recoil pad and sporter stock.

 

[iron_road]

So I applied some dye chem on my brass and that showed scratching after attempting to cycle through the gun.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I'd imagine were a neck expanding ball large enough it might deform/ lengthen the brass. You could probably measure. Also, you might have buckled the shoulder on seating.

 

[DLS]

Yes. I would hope so, considering I have two different manufacture die sets one of them is bound to be full length. ...

Not necessarily. How are the dies actually marked? You may have two neck sizing dies.

 

[DLS]

So I applied some dye chem on my brass and that showed scratching after attempting to cycle through the gun.

Describe the scratching please. Is it longitudinal? Where on the case is it located, etc.?

Use a properly sized chamber brush to clean the chamber and try again?

Pictures would be helpful. If the ejector is still in the bolt that may be normal scraping.

Are you feeding from the magazine (which might account for the scratching) or sliding the case into the chamber directly then trying to finish chambering with the bolt?

Besides the scratching, where is the actual hang up occurring? Is it the neck,, shoulder, somewhere on the case body? If so where on the case body?