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  • Younggun

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    I’ve never owned a case gauge. This is the first time in 30 something years I’ve had a problem. Never blown a case except case separation during fire forming for Ackley rounds. Thousands upon thousands of rounds down range and through animals.

    I’ve had similar issues once or twice. It turned out to be an issue with the shell holder. The dies were made to work with a shell holder of the same brand. The shell holder I was using was slightly thicker above the rim causing the die to set slightly longer. Switching the shell holder solved the problem.


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    robertc1024

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    I’ve had similar issues once or twice. It turned out to be an issue with the shell holder. The dies were made to work with a shell holder of the same brand. The shell holder I was using was slightly thicker above the rim causing the die to set slightly longer. Switching the shell holder solved the problem.


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    I like this suggestion!
     

    deemus

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    morning, was this brass fire formed in this rifle? if not the chambers
    of the original rifle might b different?

    come from cases fired in different rifles purchased as
    1x. fl
    sizing in the norm will fix the
    case problem. rotors insert is a viable solution.
    is the brass of the same make?
    justme gbot tum


    Had this issue more than once.
     

    rotor

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    I’ve never owned a case gauge. This is the first time in 30 something years I’ve had a problem. Never blown a case except case separation during fire forming for Ackley rounds. Thousands upon thousands of rounds down range and through animals.
    When I made this really flippant comment I really didn't know how hard it would be to get this brass. It seems to be made out of unobtainium and so the purchase of a case gauge would be worthwhile. You probably will have to convert 6mm Lapua to 7mm BR to do this and it seems like a big chore. I would invest in a case gauge if I were going to do this as you need to be able to set your resize die exactly and not waste even one case. The case gauge helps you set the full length resize die to spec as far as datum line, etc. It does not tell you if the case thickness is correct. With a case gauge it shouldn't matter what shell holder you use as long as it's consistent. They don't make an ammo checker for this cartridge as far as I can see. From the prices on gunbroker for a box of this stuff I can see how valuable it might be to have some. I saw one site where they sell one cartridge for $7.50 plus postage. If you can develop the technique to make new 7mm BR (from some other brass) you may have a little new business.
     

    Lonesome Dove

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    The owner has a three die set to make brass from one time made thin wall small primer 308 brass. Remington made this brass but like the original it has gone the way of the Bison. Since this stuff is so scarce I’m not going to mess with cutting it down and forming it. I think it will
    Add value to the gun itself. I’ll figure it out sooner or later. You can obtain 6mm BR brass here and there and neck it up. This is a cool gun and cartridge to just let sit and not be used.
     

    usedtobelockhart

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    You didnt say what bullet you loaded. I had this same problem in an xp-100 that I had rebarreled to 7tcu. Hornady 139 grain bullets seated to the cannelure would not chamber without alot of muscle. Long story short, the gun had a short leade, had to seat the bullets just to where the cannelure wasnt showing. Voila! End of problem.
     

    Lonesome Dove

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    You didnt say what bullet you loaded. I had this same problem in an xp-100 that I had rebarreled to 7tcu. Hornady 139 grain bullets seated to the cannelure would not chamber without alot of muscle. Long story short, the gun had a short leade, had to seat the bullets just to where the cannelure wasnt showing. Voila! End of problem.
    LOL that’s the bullets we have. Though I did seat one down until no cannula was exposed. Then I realized the empty resized brass was the problem.
     

    usedtobelockhart

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    I have heard that Remington only makes one run of 7BR brass each year, and unless you are really on the ball, it will be gone before you have a chance to buy any. The xp-100 I converted to 7tc was originally in 7BR, so I had it rebarreled to 7tc. I campaigned an xp in IHMSA silhouette for about 15 years and did well with it. But 7br brass is tough to find and there are tons of .223 brass, so that decision was a no brainer. Case capacity is about the same and I never have to worry about finding brass.
     

    Lonesome Dove

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    ^^^ Yes if it were my gun I would rebarrel. I shoot a 2nd gen contender currently. As it is my friend is just trying to resurrect it for his father. They have about 20-25 rounds left and maybe the same of empty brass.
     

    just country

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    Dec 9, 2019
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    I’m 99% sure all the we have was shot in this gun. I think there may be a case gauge in another die set we have. Brass is all same make only one maker ever made brass for this cartridge. I’ve come to the conclusion it’s a die adjustment problem and that this gun has a tight chamber possibly.
    thank u
     

    Dawico

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    When I made this really flippant comment I really didn't know how hard it would be to get this brass. It seems to be made out of unobtainium and so the purchase of a case gauge would be worthwhile. You probably will have to convert 6mm Lapua to 7mm BR to do this and it seems like a big chore. I would invest in a case gauge if I were going to do this as you need to be able to set your resize die exactly and not waste even one case. The case gauge helps you set the full length resize die to spec as far as datum line, etc. It does not tell you if the case thickness is correct. With a case gauge it shouldn't matter what shell holder you use as long as it's consistent. They don't make an ammo checker for this cartridge as far as I can see. From the prices on gunbroker for a box of this stuff I can see how valuable it might be to have some. I saw one site where they sell one cartridge for $7.50 plus postage. If you can develop the technique to make new 7mm BR (from some other brass) you may have a little new business.

    If the shell holder has a thicker rim than the die is made for the case won't go into the die far enough to resize fully.

    Case gauges are a waste of money. If it fits in the chamber what does it matter if it gauges correctly? Answer in search of a question in my opinion.

    Once you start neck sizing or bumping shoulders a gauge is worthless anyways.
     

    just country

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    If the shell holder has a thicker rim than the die is made for the case won't go into the die far enough to resize fully.

    Case gauges are a waste of money. If it fits in the chamber what does it matter if it gauges correctly? Answer in search of a question in my opinion.

    Once you start neck sizing or bumping shoulders a gauge is worthless anyways.
    morning, very good point. justme gbot tum.
     

    dee

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    Nov 22, 2008
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    Buy a bump gauge and measure the shoulder bump. If the brass was fired in the gun it should still chamber unless something is wrong in your sizing process. If you are running an expander ball with no lube you can pull the case from in spec to out. Case gauge will only have you sizing to sami standards not what your chamber may be.

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    rotor

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    If the shell holder has a thicker rim than the die is made for the case won't go into the die far enough to resize fully.

    Case gauges are a waste of money. If it fits in the chamber what does it matter if it gauges correctly? Answer in search of a question in my opinion.

    Once you start neck sizing or bumping shoulders a gauge is worthless anyways.
    I don't agree. Rifle case gauges help you set your full length resizing die. You can be sure that the case is not too long or too short and that the datum line is in the right place and meets specs. A too short case will fit in the chamber just fine. Is that what you want? With a micrometer you can measure the full case length but that doesn't mean your datum line is correct even though your case length is. A case gauge makes all of that easier. You only use a rifle case gauge after you neck size and bump shoulders to see if you have done it to spec. If not you readjust your die.
     

    Lonesome Dove

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    A39CA06F-209F-45B7-9C97-B58BD65BDFCD.jpeg
    Well I want to seriously Thank all that replied here. Thank you!
    I got the little suckers done I was on the verge of turning necks but knew that wasn’t the problem. I sat back and took all replies into thought then realized crap! I can just neck size or partial size these. As mentioned though doing this slipped my mind or I had a Serious brain fart. Well that worked. Loaded up 20 now we have to send some down range and see what we got.
    Side bar: I don’t normally neck size except for one cartridge and I haven’t had to load that one in years. I always do FL.
     

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    Deavis

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    I don't agree. Rifle case gauges help you set your full length resizing die. You can be sure that the case is not too long or too short and that the datum line is in the right place and meets specs. A too short case will fit in the chamber just fine. Is that what you want? With a micrometer you can measure the full case length but that doesn't mean your datum line is correct even though your case length is. A case gauge makes all of that easier. You only use a rifle case gauge after you neck size and bump shoulders to see if you have done it to spec. If not you readjust your die.

    Too much logic in that post and it's like you want your cartridges to work in any gun compliant with SAAMI standards. How dare you try to use ammo fired in one gun in another, you heretic! All reloaders should use specific (advanced) techniques that potentially limit your ammunition to a single firearm and not use basic ones that guarantee functional, properly headspaced, and trimmed cartridges. That's why case gages are a waste of money and are useless objects put upon this earth by the devil to distract you from the higher calling of ammunition that is made for only a single chamber. It is the only way, unbeliever!

    Most people who have problems chambering due to case sizing are NOT experts by the very problem they face. They would benefit from owning a case gage (they are cheap), learning the basics of why, how, and when to use one before moving to advanced techniques. I touched the shell holder with my die but the bolt doesn't close... drop it in the gage and find out why without needing your gun. Walk, then run. Just my opinion and I thi k your position is right on.
     

    dee

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    Nov 22, 2008
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    View attachment 198961 Well I want to seriously Thank all that replied here. Thank you!
    I got the little suckers done I was on the verge of turning necks but knew that wasn’t the problem. I sat back and took all replies into thought then realized crap! I can just neck size or partial size these. As mentioned though doing this slipped my mind or I had a Serious brain fart. Well that worked. Loaded up 20 now we have to send some down range and see what we got.
    Side bar: I don’t normally neck size except for one cartridge and I haven’t had to load that one in years. I always do FL.
    Be careful partial sizing (using a fl die to nk size) it can cause some very strange problems. German Salazar had a large article on sizing (nk, partial, fl and bushing fl) and the effects each had. Partial caused some pulled cases and something else from what I remember. Not sure if his articles are still available if so they are worth a read.

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