Hello, Im going to try to make this brief. I dont know if thats going to be possible... sorry.
I build / repair medical lasers for a living, I am very mechanically inclined, and have built an AR15 from the ground up, so give me the benefit of the doubt here that I know what I'm doing a little bit. I purchased a Criterion remage barrel from Northland Shooters Supply, and am having issues.
I put the barrel on the action, and then verify with a go/no go gauge (close on go, wont close on no go). I load a factory Federal berger cartridge, cycles no issue (just putting to battery then cycling bolt to remove, not firing). I load a factory barnes ttsx cartridge, cycles no issue. I load a factory nosler cartridge, and the cartridge gets stuck. I can put rearward pressure on the bolt, and with enough force it will come out, but its a crazy amount of force that requires me to regrip the bolt and barrel. This occurs with all nosler factory cartridges, and is fine with all federal and barnes factory loads. I check with an OAL gauge and see that my barrel seats a bullet 2.9" to the lands with the exact same spec nosler accubond bullet (I reload as well). I take a full length sized peice of once fired brass, and load a accubond bullet to 2.89" (0.010 off the lands). bullet goes into batter, and cycles just fine. Therefore the bullet is NOT getting stuck in the lands, its a brass issue.
Again, this is an issue with only the nosler factory cartridge. This problem doesnt exist with factory barnes, federal, or a full sized once fired case.
Heres the troubleshooting I have done. I colored the full piece of brass with sharpie, loaded and unloaded, I saw what appeared to be a gouge near where the chamber opening would be. I check with a flashlight and see a small scratch near the opening. I take some 500 grit sandpaper, and very carefull, 2 strokes max with no pressure, remove the burr. The scratches in the brass no longer occur, but it doesnt change it getting stuck. I am not comfortable on a brand new barrel sanding anything that I cannot visually see.
I have contacted NSS, and was told they have never seen an issue with a barrel being reamed bad or having and issue as I describe. Im sure it was just perspective, but I feel like it was implied that I was doing something wrong. They forwarded my information to Criterion, and I was told they would contact me. NSS would not provide me the email or phone number of the Criterion guy. Its been 4 days and I havent heard anything. Im having trouble being patient at this point...
Any insight? sorry if this is the wrong forum, I did not see a smithing or any other applicable forum.
I build / repair medical lasers for a living, I am very mechanically inclined, and have built an AR15 from the ground up, so give me the benefit of the doubt here that I know what I'm doing a little bit. I purchased a Criterion remage barrel from Northland Shooters Supply, and am having issues.
I put the barrel on the action, and then verify with a go/no go gauge (close on go, wont close on no go). I load a factory Federal berger cartridge, cycles no issue (just putting to battery then cycling bolt to remove, not firing). I load a factory barnes ttsx cartridge, cycles no issue. I load a factory nosler cartridge, and the cartridge gets stuck. I can put rearward pressure on the bolt, and with enough force it will come out, but its a crazy amount of force that requires me to regrip the bolt and barrel. This occurs with all nosler factory cartridges, and is fine with all federal and barnes factory loads. I check with an OAL gauge and see that my barrel seats a bullet 2.9" to the lands with the exact same spec nosler accubond bullet (I reload as well). I take a full length sized peice of once fired brass, and load a accubond bullet to 2.89" (0.010 off the lands). bullet goes into batter, and cycles just fine. Therefore the bullet is NOT getting stuck in the lands, its a brass issue.
Again, this is an issue with only the nosler factory cartridge. This problem doesnt exist with factory barnes, federal, or a full sized once fired case.
Heres the troubleshooting I have done. I colored the full piece of brass with sharpie, loaded and unloaded, I saw what appeared to be a gouge near where the chamber opening would be. I check with a flashlight and see a small scratch near the opening. I take some 500 grit sandpaper, and very carefull, 2 strokes max with no pressure, remove the burr. The scratches in the brass no longer occur, but it doesnt change it getting stuck. I am not comfortable on a brand new barrel sanding anything that I cannot visually see.
I have contacted NSS, and was told they have never seen an issue with a barrel being reamed bad or having and issue as I describe. Im sure it was just perspective, but I feel like it was implied that I was doing something wrong. They forwarded my information to Criterion, and I was told they would contact me. NSS would not provide me the email or phone number of the Criterion guy. Its been 4 days and I havent heard anything. Im having trouble being patient at this point...
Any insight? sorry if this is the wrong forum, I did not see a smithing or any other applicable forum.