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Thread: 243 reload problem

  1. #1
    GunLoad Trainee medman's Avatar
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    Default 243 reload problem

    I reloaded some 243 100gr Sierra Game Kings for a friend. I measured every case after sizing and again after loading (2.710) and all dimensions are correct. He called me tonight and told me that his gun (Remington Auto), won't automatically feed from the magazine after the first shot. What is the best next step to see if it is a reload problem or a gun problem?

  2. #2
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    Seems the best way to determine if it is a gun problem or reload problem would be to run some factory rounds through the gun. If those cycle, then the problem must be with the reloads.

    If the loads are a problem then it gets more complicated figuring out what exactly the problem is.

  3. #3
    GunLoad Trainee medman's Avatar
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    I just got the gun, Remington7400. removed the magazine and watched the attempted load with the gun upside down, the bolt will not go forward completly. I am going to seat the bullet deaper and see if that fixes it.

  4. #4
    GunLoad Trainee medman's Avatar
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    Ok. Either i cannot read reload case size specs or the ones in Sierra's book are wrong. 2.710 is what is in the book. 2.59 is what it has to to seat at to load.WTF? Went back through and reseated all 40 rounds. 1:10 will not chamber. Took the whole gun apart and cleaned it, chamber is clean, no pits. Bolt face is good and guide rails are smooth. I put it back together and have the same results, same rounds will not fully chamber.

  5. #5
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    New brass or once fired?

    Did you FL size?

    Pick up a box of factory ammo with the same bullet weight and measure it, see if the load data is wrong (most of my books only give case data, not OAL.)

    You may need to invest in a small base sizer die. sometimes the chamber of certain guns is on the small side of the tolerance band, and a standard sizer (which sizes to the middle of the band) is just too large.

  6. #6
    Dogs Like Him versifier's Avatar
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    There is nothing wrong with the load data. rtracy has pinpointed your problem. You need to get a SB sizer to size the cases down to factory specs. It is not an uncommon problem with certain lever actions and many autoloaders, especially with Remington autoloaders. The return? springs on them aren't very strong and the bolts lightweight, so there isn't a lot of force available to chamber the round out of the mag.

    A standard FL sizer will not return the case all the way down to factory specs. This is both to save wear and tear on the brass and because most rifles have chambers generous enough to work well. Hopefully a .243 SB die will not be too expensive, the more common ones like .308, .30-06, and .223 aren't. (Price one for a .300Sav and you'll choke.) RCBS stocks them if your regular supplier doesn't.
    "Stand your ground.
    Do not fire unless fired upon.
    But if they mean to have a war let it begin here."
    - Capt. Parker, Lexington Militia, April 19, 1775

  7. #7
    GunLoad Trainee medman's Avatar
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    Thank you. I have not been reloading long only a couple of years and thought I was missing a step. I will check on the SB sizer RCBS.

  8. #8
    Dogs Like Him versifier's Avatar
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    I first ran into the problem with the same rifle in .30-06 and have met others in -06 and .308 that have the same trouble, so I'm not at all surprised that a .243 has the same attitude. I never run into it with either my Garand or M1A, though some have, especially with match chambers.

    My bro and friend's dad each have Sav99's in .300Sav that won't feed anything run through a standard FL sizer. No big deal fro my bro as his is a collector in 99% condition, but my friend's dad would shoot his a lot more if he could afford to. Neither one wanted to come up with the cash for the die, so they use factory ammo in them.
    "Stand your ground.
    Do not fire unless fired upon.
    But if they mean to have a war let it begin here."
    - Capt. Parker, Lexington Militia, April 19, 1775

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by versifier View Post
    Hopefully a .243 SB die will not be too expensive, the more common ones like .308, .30-06, and .223 aren't. (Price one for a .300Sav and you'll choke.) RCBS stocks them if your regular supplier doesn't.
    As of 10/11/09, RCBS.com sells the smal base dies for the 243 for $34.95 ea. The 300 savage is $42.95. Funy thing is, almost everybody else sells the dies for less. (MidwayUSA has the 243 SB for $33.95 and the 300 Savage for $37.49)

  10. #10
    runfiverun runfiverun's Avatar
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    your die may be too long in the headspace also i have had to grind a few thou off a couple of sizer dies before.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check        

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