Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Reloads won't fire

New to reloading so I'm unsure what to ask and I certainly don't know what I don't know.

Started in May reloading for my two 308s. Started with once fired RP brass (from those rifles) and worked up loads that made me happy. Everything was fine. Consistent groups.

Last week, my local shop was having a pre season sale and had new RP brass so I purchased a bag. Measured the brass and everything seemed to be fine. Loaded 10 rounds, COAL is where it always was, chambers without an issue. Not a single round fired in my Savage. Tried a couple of rounds a couple of times and nothing but a dented primer. I have not tried the once fired, or several times fired, brass again.

Stuck them in my Sako and every one fired.

Tried a box of factory ammo in the Savage and they all fired.

Like I said, I'm not sure what to ask. Not sure if it is a rifle or ammo issue.

It is not an ammo issue if they fired in your other rifle. Maybe some trash in your firing pin ... clean and shoot a little oil in there and I bet it works. Maybe you need a heavier spring for the pin.

I’m betting the shoulder is a bit short on the new brass.

New brass....headspace, especially true if you ran those new cases in your FL die before loading.

You measured the cases, but the headspace you didn't. New cases run shallow.

Thanks everyone

I didn't FL size before loading but am wondering what I could do now, if anything. Neck size only?

I was also thinking of checking the firing pin but what was throwing me off is that factory ammo fired just fine.

Had that problem with new Winchester cases in my 7mm08 one time. Ended up pulling the bullets and doing the cream of wheat method to blow out the shoulders. They worked fine after that. You could also seat the bullet out where it holds the case in place while doing the first firing, but that scares me. miles

I believe brass quality is becoming an issue.

It might be worth having the rifles headspaces checked by a smith or yourself with a go /no-go gauge,

Yep. Will the fired brass fit in the Savage chamber? If so, reload them again without bumping the shoulder, I'll bet they will be fine.

Take the bolt apart and clean the spring and firing pin. Then check the head-space on those loaded rounds. I've never had an issue like you describe, but I guess the head-space could be off.

I think you guys have his problem worked out.

If the ammo didn't fire in either rifle, I'd look to oil contaminating the primers.

Tom

Don’t hunt with virgin brass.



P

So I assume that this advice applies to every hunter using factory-loaded ammo too?



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Exactly.




P

I generally use Redding dies (or Forsters) for my rifle reloading.

Redding makes a tapered expander. Take out the expander, install tapered expander one caliber larger and open the necks. The adjust FL die until you get chambering in both rifles. I do this with belted mags to eliminate the no-headspace stretch on the first firing.

Or fire all in the one gun and partial FL size and set the die so ammo works EVERY TIME in both rifles.

I've had this issue with some very good Swedish and Finnish brass and ammo from Europe in three rifles from Europe and one a custom....some of the brass was new, some from the 1970's.
It can happen at any time.

Should note I had a headpsace gauge; 99.9% were fine, but since I had about 2200 cases, I did find the offenders after loading all up and getting occasional clicks. It wasn't any of the rifles.

Belted Weatherby brass cartridges fire every time 🤣

Right here !!! Been there we ith BIL's savage axis . Axis pin protrusion and spring are minimal. Combine that with new brass at the shoulder is probably set back just a bit too far and no bang. Easiest way to make that brass work is to seat bullets into lands . Than be sure and only set shoulder back 2-3 thousands on the next sizings