Topic: odd issue with .308 handloads: round won't chamber

[mjmcmahon]

All this turned out to be user error: the instructions for the Hornady FL sizing die indicated that you should screw it in so that it touches the shell holder and then adjust as necessary by testing each round in the chamber of the rifle you're loading for and making 1/8 - 1/4 turns.  Unfortunately, I put it in touching the shell holder and then never adjusted it.  Once I actually got hands-on with FALex's rifle, 1/4 turn was enough to get the cartridges seating normally.

I had another question while I have the experts on-hand: I discovered while getting setup for loading FALex's rifle that my Lee caselength gauge was allowing the brass to be trimmed MUCH lower than spec (minimum of .020", sometimes as much as .050"!).  I'm tempted, in the name of consistency, to trash a lot of this brass.  Most has been shot at least 5 times and some appears to be hardening because my chamfer tools are beginning to make irregular cuts in it.  Getting more brass isn't a huge deal, just wondering if I'm sweating the petty things.

Thanks again to everyone who shared their experience and advice!

Mike

[J Mack]

Your die should be 7/8” X 14 threads this means that it will move .071” per turn or .017” per ¼ turn. FYI most guys try to only bump the shoulders of their cases something a lot less than .017” 
I’m not sure it’s possible to get a .030” difference in case OAL with a properly set Lee caselength gauge, these are a few suggestions.
1)   Check to confirm your numbers.
2)   Are you trimming after sizing the brass and was all the brass sized the same?
3)   I’ve seen where the “mandrel” caselength gauge portion get pushed into the cutter portion after trimming dry cases “no oil on the necks” and this could cause the issue you describe but it should be obvious by looking at mandrel to see if it has cutter marks in the base and should have been a gradual change meaning your last case trimmed is shorter than your first and the ones in the middle should be just that.
4)   Trim then measure one case at a time and only note the cases that have had material removed, if these cases are under minimum by the amounts you describe and you have no cutter marks at the base of your mandrel return your Lee caselength gauge as you have one that is out of spec.
I think the Lee case trimmer is a good setup and I have trimmed many thousands of rounds with good success.   

[mjmcmahon]

J Mack -

the problem here is that the case length gauge wasn't correctly set from the outset...like a fool, I screwed the gauge all the way in (as they indicate in the instructions) and it was cutting too deep, sometimes as low as 1.945", although the majority are at 1.975-1.985.  All this brass has only been neck-sized after the original firing.  I've almost completely stopped using the mandrel case-length gauges now, choosing to go with an RCBS case length trimmer instead.  I'm trying to decide now whether to add the power module to that trimmer or replace it with another option (probably NOT a Giraud, though...$450 is a bit much!)