What's happening here? (hard bolt lift)

gbflyer

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Feb 20, 2017
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I have a 7-08 reamer from PTG that makes a “clicker” chamber every time. I was baffled by it at first thinking it was a primary extraction issue with the action. Sent the reamer to a third party to put under an optical comparator. Undersized. So it takes some effort with the 220 grit on the lathe to polish the chamber just enough to make the click go away. I should just throw the reamer away.

I also have a small base die cut down from a .308. That works but it’s kind of silly to have to do it.
 

Carl Ross

Lil-Rokslider
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Oct 30, 2014
Messages
139
I have a 7-08 reamer from PTG that makes a “clicker” chamber every time. I was baffled by it at first thinking it was a primary extraction issue with the action. Sent the reamer to a third party to put under an optical comparator. Undersized. So it takes some effort with the 220 grit on the lathe to polish the chamber just enough to make the click go away. I should just throw the reamer away.

I also have a small base die cut down from a .308. That works but it’s kind of silly to have to do it.

Tight web's suck, and will reliably produce clickers. When it's the reamer, I think tossing it is the move.

Small base sizing everytime can work but you end up moving so much brass, I avoid it with trying to match dies/chamber/brass better if at all possible.
 

Marble

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May 29, 2019
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Not sure if it is the same issue as the OP is having, but I recently loaded a bunch of ammo and had hard to chamber issues with the entire set. After I looked closely at the brass I noticed the primers were not fully into the case. My bolt was turning against the printers, thus making it hard to close the bolt.

I couldn't get the primers any further into the brass and upon taking some measurements, realized my depriving pin was too far out of the resizing by about .005. It was pushing the primer pocket out. This was Noslwr brass.

You would see substantial marks on the primers if this was the issue.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk
 

Ucsdryder

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Jan 24, 2015
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6,645
Not sure if it is the same issue as the OP is having, but I recently loaded a bunch of ammo and had hard to chamber issues with the entire set. After I looked closely at the brass I noticed the primers were not fully into the case. My bolt was turning against the printers, thus making it hard to close the bolt.

I couldn't get the primers any further into the brass and upon taking some measurements, realized my depriving pin was too far out of the resizing by about .005. It was pushing the primer pocket out. This was Noslwr brass.

You would see substantial marks on the primers if this was the issue.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk
Did this one one case. Glad it was only one!!!
 

Untamed

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Sep 9, 2016
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Idaho
Ran into the click on ADG brass with 300 Norma. Switched to Lapua and no more click.
 
OP
rootacres

rootacres

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Jan 5, 2018
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Ok all, I went ahead and order the custom Whidden resizing die. I received it this week. I have some loads ready to roll. This won't be an exact apples to apples because I am shooting some 168 vlds now. The issue was happening with 143 hammers. Both loads are loaded to at or near published max so we will see tomorrow if the problem is still there.
 

Harvey_NW

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Feb 13, 2019
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Ok all, I went ahead and order the custom Whidden resizing die. I received it this week. I have some loads ready to roll. This won't be an exact apples to apples because I am shooting some 168 vlds now. The issue was happening with 143 hammers. Both loads are loaded to at or near published max so we will see tomorrow if the problem is still there.
So come to find out through an issue with a Sherman cartridge, ADG shrunk their case head and web area by .0023" to prevent clickers in the 7 SAUM chambers. Rumor is Gunwerks got a batch of tight reamers and they're ADG biggest contract so they paid for the tooling to do so. So if you can get your hands on some, that will likely solve your issue. I'm on the opposite side of the issue so I feel your pain. Hope you get it figured out.
 
OP
rootacres

rootacres

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Jan 5, 2018
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Well I am pleased to report. . no clickers. The 168 gr Bergers loaded with 55 - 56 grains of H4350 (56 is max published) resulted in no clickers. I fired a total of 18 rounds at this session. The real test will be with the Hammers again. I followed the YouTube video from Whidden on how to setup the die. Its a little strange but two stuck cases later I have it all figure out. Im hoping this is the end of my problems.

168 gr Berger VLD
2.855 COAL
55.5 gr H4350 (best results)
ADG brass
Federal 215

If anyone has any questions on the process with Whidden feel free to reach out.
 
Last edited:

ID_Matt

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May 16, 2017
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Southern ID
Digging this back up... 3rd and 4th firing 7SAUM ADG has developed a terrible click. Was using redding dies but just ordered a new batch of ADG and whidden dies to see if it goes away. Really hoping Peterson or someone else makes saum brass soon to test that out as well.
 
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