military brass problem

I have been using 5.56 military brass and 7.62 military brass. The crimp is not my problem. on both brass the measurements are good but they get caught up on feeding and the ejecting is really tough. The bolt won't lock forward. I'm using a Lee challenger press. Mostly Lee equipment. Just looing for some advice thanks

It sounds like you need to turn your sizing die down a tad. Turn it down about 1/16 turn until you fix the problem. Check the chambering and lock up of your bolt after each adjustment.

Thanks I'll try that

if you are reloading for semiauto's look into these, oh & lube well


http://www.midwayusa.com/product/681255/rcbs-small-base-2-die-set-308-winchester

I bet that will fix it. You are not bumping the shoulder back enough. Common mistake. Small base dies won't help your problem. Matter of fact I don't know of anyone who uses small base dies, all they do is over work your brass.

Yeah I'm new to reloading so what is a small base die? Again thanks for all the help guys

http://m.dillonprecision.com/mcontent/p/98/catid/14/artid/311

all dillon rifle dies are small base, but I am a fairly new reloader too, I went with all dillon including dies

Small base die sizes cases close to factory size. In other words it puts more stress on the brass. I don't recommend them.

Small base dies are usually only needed if you are processing 5.56 and 308 (7.62X51) that was fired in machine guns, the base of the brass expands more and generally won't chamber in other guns without using small base dies that do tend to over work the brass.

I don't think it was ever fired out of a machine gun. Anyway if I take my decapping pin out and run the round in and out it will chamber but if the pin is in the round won't chamber. But if the pin is not in then the projectile won't go in. Do I have the wrong size pin or something crazy I bought all my stuff new.

I suppose it is possible but unlikely that you have the wrong pin. The pin is supposed to size the neck upon exit. Did you turn the sizing die down a tad? If so, I would next seat a bullet in an empty case (using the pin), no primer or powder and see if that will chamber.

What length are your trimming to?
What guns are you using?

OK gotta wait till the weekend but thanks

I would also agree with "A Vriginian" and "Va Hunter" in that cranking down the die a tad will probably work, but here is something to check also.....

Hard to know when not looking at it, but here is something to check.....your decapping pin that runs down the middle of the die, may be extended to long, which may stop you from running the brass thru a full resize stroke. It only needs to be long enough to pop the spent primmer out when at full cam over. It could be hitting the bottom of the case if extended too long.

Puddle

Going to throw an obvious answer out there, but you are trimming the brass before reload, right? If you are firing once fired Military grade brass, it will almost certainly need to be trimmed before reload.

If so, then the rest of the answers proposed will probably solve your problem.

And check neck thickness, too. Probably not an issue, but eliminate it.

If you aren't using carbide dies turn the die down until it contacts the shell holder.I have been using military brass for 40 years I still have some I started with lost more than I split.
I have been using sb sizing dies and a taper crimp die for about 5 years with out any ill effects.
I have loaded and fired hundreds of thousands .556 some weapons need sb dies most don't, I don't trim .556 the taper crimp does the job.
If you only have a couple of hundred rounds of brass results may differ.
Main thing is have fun be it shooting or reloading.