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I have a custom 35 Whelen with a pretty tight chamber. It works perfectly with virgin brass but my Redding sizer die doesn't resize the cases enough so I get hard bolt closure on resized fired brass. I sent the dies to Redding with 5 cases and they said the lower part of the cases aren't being sized enough. Their die is within specs and they aren't making any special order dies these days so I need to find another solution. I really don't want to modify the chamber unless I have to since virgin brass works perfectly and it shoots great.

At the Nosler forum I was given some names of custom die builders but was wondering if there are any other solutions. Lee says their Pacesetter dies will resize down more than other brands so they may be an option.

Think about options in a .30-'06 small base body or small base bushing die. Small base body dies are readily available Maybe a small base bushing die with the appropriate bushing or neck sizing as a second step. Not so easily found.

35 Whelen into a 30 cal die. Yeah right.

You may be able to size base smaller with a Redding Competition Shell holder. My Redding 6.5 X 284 dies would not resize base enough for my tight chamber 6.5 X 284.

Sold the dies bought RCBS dies, RCBS modified dies to work, no charge ( Removed Material from base of Die)

I would assume, I could have done the same with Redding Competition shell holder.

Wouldn't that push the shoulder back too far?

I would try a case with shim and see, my 6.5 X 284 case was a little long as well. So bumping the shoulder was needed. Use a felt pin to mark case and see if you can reduce case base, and leave shoulder alone. Or does Redding make a 35 Whelen body die?

They don't make one and have suspended all custom work for the time being.

If you take a fired case and cycle it through the action (before sizing at all) does the bolt lift feel like virgin brass?

Nope, it will chamber hard,

It sounds like the brass does not spring back the minor amount that it should, what brass are you using? I have 51pcs (new)of 35Whelen brass here that you could try. If its just the bottom part try lubing it 'liberally' the hydraulic action of the lube might size a bit more.

Remington brass which I have a good supply of. Just started using some Norma brass but haven't had a chance to see if they act the same.

Have you 'miked' the fired brass ( in several places around its circumference), just on the off chance something isn't round.

Try a 444Marlin FL die ... its essentially a small base straight 30/06. Remove the decapper obviously.
Cheers...
Con

Felt pen will tell you a lot on oversize case.

Redding Comp. shell holders increase the head space between the bottom of the shell holder and the shoulder of the die..
ie. they are thicker than a standard shell in increments of .002" IIRC..
So they won't help..
I had problems with my 7 SAUM not chambering once fired rounds so I simply ran the shell holder over a file until I the round would chamber..
Decrease your headspace??
Yes, but that maybe part of your problem..
Bet you have a few extra shell holders around..

Feeler guage is cheaper if not as convenient, slip it under the case head in the shell-holder to take some slop out.
Cheers...
Con

First, MAKE SURE the problem is at the body/base of the case. I had similar problem with a 300 Sav and it turned out that that cases were too long and the mouth was hitting the end of the chamber. Trimming case length fixed it.

My custom 7x57 had a tight chamber in the body area. Even virgin brass and factory rounds chambered with difficulty, or not at all. Small base dies are common for military rounds fired in semiauto rifles (223, 308, 30-06), but not so common for other rounds, and custom dies are expensive. Not wanting to spend the money, I fixed the chamber with Emery cloth wrapped around a cleaning jag, chucked in a drill motor. Had to increase chamber body diameter about 0.012" before anything would chamber and fired cases would extract easily. It takes courage to do this on a 'beloved' rifle, but it can be done. If you do this and get to a point where rounds will chamber but fired cases won't extract easily, then more should be removed. Make sure the load is not over pressure because that itself will make fired cases extract hard and the rifle unlock hard. Go slowly and test constantly. The process takes a couple hours or more depending on how much the chamber must be opened. Keep testing with a blackened case so you know what part of the body is tight. It is easy to work too much in the middle and not enough toward the base and shoulder, resulting in a "bubble-shaped" body.

Shimming the cases in the shellholder or shortening the sizing die by grinding off the bottom will not work. I know because I tried it. You would have to shove the case 0.060" farther into the die to decrease the body diameter by 0.001" due to the shallow angle of the case body. It won't work. Do the math.

Trim the shell holder in a lathe. Pushes the case further into the die. Worked for me.

Denny.

I've done that, but keep that shell holder separate from other rifles to avoid excessive resizing in longer chambers.

Have you tried another Brand name of resizer die by chance?