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+--- Thread: stuck round; HELP!!! (/showthread.php?tid=984)
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stuck round; HELP!!! - txgunslinger - 08-29-2011
I am new to reloading but I love shooting my grendel so I decided to start and apparently I failed. I did everything by the books, and got most of my equiptment and advice from an experienced reloader in the family. apparently I went wrong on the 1st rattle out of the bag. I chambered a round to make sure it would go in and out and well... here we are; stuck, wont budge. Is there anything I can do without breaking something or am I effed? Also, what could I have done wrong? Now I am kinda scarred to load anymore maybe I should just stick to the factory stuff.
stuck round; HELP!!! - bwaites - 08-29-2011
Wow, there probably isn't reloader on here that hasn't done this at least once, and probably more. Reloading is all about the process, and experience comes from making mistakes. The important thing is to not make dangerous mistakes! This isn't a dangerous one!
9 times out of 10 with the Grendel this happens because you don't set the shoulder back quite far enough when you are resizing.
Generally, the easiest and safest way to get the cartridge out is to see if you can get the extractor to hook over the edge and then buttstroke the rifle on the ground. It that isn't possible or doesn't work, then remove the upper, remove the bolt carrier group, put the cartridge end of the upper on something soft, like a towel, and then use a cleaning rod to tap the round out gently from the top end.
In the future, before you load live rounds, set your dies, and size one piece of brass, then see if it chambers. If it does, then place the primer, powder and bullet, and recheck to make sure it chambers. If it doesn't, tighten your die a half turn, resize, and repeat until it chambers easily. Generally if it chambers easily, it will fall out or extract easily, too.
stuck round; HELP!!! - Malchira - 08-29-2011
bwaites Wrote:Generally, the easiest and safest way to get the cartridge out is to see if you can get the extractor to hook over the edge and then buttstroke the rifle on the ground.
When I insufficiently adjust my sizing die and lock the action up tight, I've taken to using a ~1/2" polymer dowel and a small mallet to tap against the charging handle. A few medium hits and it loosens up; doesn't take a lot of force. Not a field-expedient solution, but works well in the workshop.
stuck round; HELP!!! - QuadCam - 08-29-2011
get a sheridan function gauge, too. it is sized to the grendel chamber and you can drop your cartridges into to check them before loading one into your rifle. it's a great tool! It's one of the tools that helped me realize I had a chamber issue in my barrel. Ammo fit perfectly in the sheridan gauge, but would get stuck in the barrel's chamber.
http://www.alexanderarms.com/item/13/160/65GrendelAmmunitionGauge.htm
![[Image: 456-820.jpg]](http://www.alexanderarms.com/pics/items/456-820.jpg)
stuck round; HELP!!! - LRRPF52 - 08-29-2011
Does the bolt close on it fully? You also might have jammed the bullet into the rifling, which is very common with new reloaders and the Grendel. I remember many threads like this on the old forum. "Help! It's stuck!"
If you do use the "mortar" technique to remove a stuck cartridge, and have a collapsible stock, make sure you retract the stock to its shortest position first. This will help the actual receiver extension tube take more of the brunt of the impact, versus your space-age polymer stock...
stuck round; HELP!!! - txgunslinger - 08-29-2011
Thanks for the replies so quickly! I have really become to love this gun especially after the three axis it dropped over the weekend, I hate to see it on the DL list. I am going to try to fix it some more this weekend. Also, no the bolt is not closed all the way, almost but not quite. More later on my sucess, or lack of with fixing my problem
stuck round; HELP!!! - StoneTower - 08-29-2011
If you don't have a cleaning rod and you are out hunting, you can insert a screwdriver (or similar tool) in through the magwell and pry the bolt back. I taped up the screwdriver with electrical tape and you are screwdriver tip only touches the metal bolt carrier where the bolt goes in. The tape protects the magwell. I would not knowingly do anything that would mark up one of my guns and if this technique is used properly and carefully there will be no damage to the finish of the bolt carrier or the magwell. You could also apply a slight pressure to the charging handle while using the screwdriverto distribute the force.
stuck round; HELP!!! - warped - 08-29-2011
No worse than when I loaded a round, got a call, went back to loading and forgot the freaking powder on just one out of a 1000 rounds.
The magnum primer put the bullet into the rifling, I just tapped it out using my carbon fiber cleaning rod and a blunt tip I made from a worn out brush.
I keep that on hand on range days so I can deal with squibs, it even happens on military issue ammo on occasion.
stuck round; HELP!!! - mtn_shooter - 08-29-2011
warped Wrote:No worse than when I loaded a round, got a call, went back to loading and forgot the freaking powder on just one out of a 1000 rounds.
The magnum primer put the bullet into the rifling, I just tapped it out using my carbon fiber cleaning rod and a blunt tip I made from a worn out brush.
I keep that on hand on range days so I can deal with squibs, it even happens on military issue ammo on occasion.
I once had a jam in my powder thrower and loaded 3 M1 Garand clips worth of .30-06 with 3-7 grains of powder. Luckily it was just enough to get the bullet started, but not enough to let the next round chamber, resulting in a jam. needless to say that ended the M1 fun for that day.
Don't get discouraged. You're going to crush cases, not fully size cases, not fully seat primers, and when you try new bullets you'll leave them out of the case too far and get them stuck in the rifling, then yank the charging handle and fill your rifle with powder
Just be cautious, even when you're confident. I don't expect screw-ups, but if my reloads start acting funny I triple check everything.
stuck round; HELP!!! - RangerRick - 08-29-2011
txgunslinger Wrote:I chambered a round to make sure it would go in and out and well... here we are; stuck, wont budge. Is there anything I can do without breaking something?
If slamming the butt doesn't work, put the muzzle on the floor, take a large flat head screwdriver (a foot long or so), stick it in the magazine well and catch the edge of the bolt carrier. Lever it against the front of the mag well by pushing the handle of the driver down.
The idea is to get the carrier to move back a little. That's all it usually takes. Once it gives a little let it up slowly so it doesn't slam forward and stick again.
Then pick up the rifle and use the charging handle to eject the round.
Don't push in on the driver or it might scratch your bolt.
Use even pressure so it doesn't scratch the mag well, don't pound on it.
If you are careful You can pop it loose without scratching the inside of the rifle.
Bump the case shoulder back by putting the sizing die all the way down on the shell holder and/or seat the bullet deeper.
What kind of bullets are you using?
Rick
stuck round; HELP!!! - RStewart - 08-29-2011
I use a dowel and rubber mallet on the charging handle....that is if I ever have one and uhh have to get it out....but, of course I have never had that happen. Lol.
stuck round; HELP!!! - txgunslinger - 08-30-2011
OK, got it fixed thanks to the great ideas everyone has given me. I just took off the upper and tapped it out with a cleaning rod, no big deal. found out my problem IS my brass. tried chambering an empty brass and would not go. now how do I fix this problem? I tightened my sizing die WAY down but brass would still not go in. factory ammo basically falls right in and out. Also, the shoulder angle looks a little different than the factory stuff, should I keep tightening the die down or is there something else wrong, also Rick to answer your question I am loading the new 100 gr A-Max
stuck round; HELP!!! - txgunner00 - 08-30-2011
What part of Texas are you in?
Been there- done that. (more times than I care to admit)
First I try a rubber or wooden mallet on the charging handle. If that doesn't work I have a sick of 1/4" brass rod for that purpose which as worked in all but one case.
I had a 160 grain projectile (LOTS of bearing surface) from a sub-sonic load that was too weak get STUCK about 1/2 was down the tube. I tried everything with the brass rod- solvent, gun oil, penetrating oil, small hammers, big hammers even a 3 lb sledge. I finally had to resort to HSS drill rod wrapped in electrical tape. The force that finally broke it loose was applied by...... an electric chipping hammer.:o Fortunately no damage. At lease none that affected it's performance. I printed a .5 MOA 5 round group at 1K this weekend with it.
stuck round; HELP!!! - StoneTower - 08-30-2011
WOW...that kind of problem has QUALIFIED GUNSMITH written all over it. I have learned to go slow and experience has taught me that when frustration/desperation sets in, it is time to get help.
In such an extreme "stuck" situation it would probably be best to push the projectile towards the muzzle as if you were "slugging" or hand lapping the barrel.
Kroil is the oil to use in such cases.
http://www.kanolabs.com/google/
I hope to never have such a problem with one of my guns.
txgunner00 Wrote:What part of Texas are you in?
Been there- done that. (more times than I care to admit)
First I try a rubber or wooden mallet on the charging handle. If that doesn't work I have a sick of 1/4" brass rod for that purpose which as worked in all but one case.
I had a 160 grain projectile (LOTS of bearing surface) from a sub-sonic load that was too weak get STUCK about 1/2 was down the tube. I tried everything with the brass rod- solvent, gun oil, penetrating oil, small hammers, big hammers even a 3 lb sledge. I finally had to resort to HSS drill rod wrapped in electrical tape. The force that finally broke it loose was applied by...... an electric chipping hammer.:o Fortunately no damage. At lease none that affected it's performance. I printed a .5 MOA 5 round group at 1K this weekend with it.
stuck round; HELP!!! - RangerRick - 08-30-2011
txgunslinger Wrote:OK, got it fixed thanks to the great ideas everyone has given me. I just took off the upper and tapped it out with a cleaning rod, no big deal. found out my problem IS my brass. tried chambering an empty brass and would not go. now how do I fix this problem? I tightened my sizing die WAY down but brass would still not go in. factory ammo basically falls right in and out. Also, the shoulder angle looks a little different than the factory stuff, should I keep tightening the die down or is there something else wrong, also Rick to answer your question I am loading the new 100 gr A-Max
The bullets should be no problem then assuming you are seating to 2.26 or less then.
Depending on your press, dies, and shell holder you need to put the sizing die all the way down to where it touches the shell holder. Them cam it all the way over.
I had to shave off the bottom of my first die (a Forster) with the Hornady shell plates in a progressive reloaded. Some guys sand, file, or lathe the shell holder instead.
I got a set of Redding bushing dies and didn't need to do that with them.
You need to get a Grendel case gauge. It is just a metal tube with a Grendel chamber bored in it. They carry them at midwayusa.com and most other online sites with reloading gear. I have a L.E. Wilson, but there is another brand some other guys have that is supposedly better.
You just size a case and drop it in. If it is slightly below flush with the bottom, you are good to go. Then try the resized but empty case in the rifle. If that works, then load up that case and try again with the finished round. Then try it in the gun again.
Once you get a good fit, you are ready for mass production. If the empty case fits but the loaded ones don't, you may be seating too long. Check the bullet for rifling marks.
You are having the normal teething pains when starting to reload, particularly with an unusual caliber. Hang in, you'll get it working.
Rick
stuck round; HELP!!! - RangerRick - 08-30-2011
PM sent to RStewart on another matter, sorry for the delay.
Rick
stuck round; HELP!!! - txgunslinger - 08-31-2011
well ive done some work this evening and I think I have finally hit paydirt. I believe my problem was not the shoulder being far enough back, nor the bullet being stuck, but both! after playing with the sizing die and getting a brass to seem to chamber fairly easily I then seated a bullet in the brass at 2.24, the same depth I had the other day. with no powder nor primer to be safe. I pushed the bullet down to 2.18 and viola!! it chambered like a champ, I am going to try it at 2.2. I am loading the 100 gr A-Max whic may have been getting stuck at that length ( the same as the 123 factory stuff)
stuck round; HELP!!! - txgunner00 - 08-31-2011
StoneTower Wrote:WOW...that kind of problem has QUALIFIED GUNSMITH written all over it. I have learned to go slow and experience has taught me that when frustration/desperation sets in, it is time to get help.
In such an extreme "stuck" situation it would probably be best to push the projectile towards the muzzle as if you were "slugging" or hand lapping the barrel.
Kroil is the oil to use in such cases.
http://www.kanolabs.com/google/
I hope to never have such a problem with one of my guns.
I consulted a couple gunsmiths and had one look at it whom I have dealt with for a while. Some problems require a bigger hammer, or a powered one.
stuck round; HELP!!! - txgunner00 - 08-31-2011
txgunslinger Wrote:well ive done some work this evening and I think I have finally hit paydirt. I believe my problem was not the shoulder being far enough back, nor the bullet being stuck, but both! after playing with the sizing die and getting a brass to seem to chamber fairly easily I then seated a bullet in the brass at 2.24, the same depth I had the other day. with no powder nor primer to be safe. I pushed the bullet down to 2.18 and viola!! it chambered like a champ, I am going to try it at 2.2. I am loading the 100 gr A-Max whic may have been getting stuck at that length ( the same as the 123 factory stuff)
I had the same issues with the 100 Amax- I had to seat them at 2.150. I thought it might be the brass at first but turned out to be the bullet.
stuck round; HELP!!! - Jaywalker - 08-31-2011
I've had a problem with my Forster 7mm-08 dies not setting the shoulder back enough, even when bottomed out - I sent it back to them twice. The second time I just told them to take .006 off the bottom and be done with it. It works fine after I adjusted it to the proper headspace, but I won't be able to sell those dies when I sell the rifle. Somebody would just forget what I told them and bottom the die. After that, I just stuck with RCBS dies.