30/40 Krag problem

[mm1ut1]

I used Lee dies to full length resize some once fired 30/40 brass. The resized brass won't chamber . It sticks about 1/2" out. I think it's hitting on the shoulder. I cleaned the chamber, no luck. Any guesses as to why the brass won't chamber ?

[Dan Cash]

An oversized chamber vs incorrectly cut dies.

[curator]

Broken shell in chamber?

[elk hunter]

Try to chamber a factory round if it goes in it's your fired cases if it doesn't go in then it is a chamber issue. If it is a fired case issue try a different set of dies.

[Adam Helmer]

mm1,

Was your once-fired .30/40 brass fired in your rifle? If not, maybe it is .30/40 brass fireformed for some wildcat round. I would try a factory load. If it chambers, fire it in a safe location and then compare it with your once-fired brass. I always have my rifle at the bench and set my resizing die by trying a sized case in the rifle. Are you using a .30/40 die and shellholder? Have they worked ok in the past?

Hope this helps.

Adam

[historicfirearms]

If you find out it's your dies, contact Lee and they will make it right. I had a tight chambered 308 and they ground a little off the sizer die to fit my chamber.

[mm1ut1]

Ta Da !!!!167042

[shredder]

Well that sure solved it! Looks like a whole case neck stayed in there.

[adrians]

:holysheep,,,,,,,,,,,,,[smilie=w::awesome:.

Shoot away and enjoy,,,,,

[Adam Helmer]

mm1,

Please elaborate ON "TA DA." What CHANGED? Will you please answer my prior questions?

Adam

[mooman76]

Looks like he did a chamber cast and pulled out part of a stuck case.

[mm1ut1]

It was a stuck case. Used Cerrosafe to get it out. Krag was sitting in a safe for over fifty years. Current owner never saw his father shoot it. Now we know why !

[Adam Helmer]

mm1,

Thanks for the photo. My 70+ year old eyes did not see the extracted case. Best of luck with your Krag; I only have two rifles and a carbine.

Adam

[curator]

My suggestion was not a lucky guess. I had seen several Krags with this problem when I was buying rifles for a Spanish American War exhibit we were assembling about 20 years ago. Back in the late 50s .30-40 Krag ammo was very difficult to get but inventive reloaders could get .303 british brass and resize it even though it is a little bit short. After a couple of resizings and reloadings, the old and brittle .303 case would rupture right were the original shoulder was leaving the case neck stuck in the Krag's chamber. Many times these rifles were sold off as wall-hangers. Judging from the Cerrosafe chamber cast that's what happened here.