by in2anity » 25 Sep 2023, 10:44 am
Lots of good points by Jorlcrin. Normally a sticky unlock indicates oversized body with the cartridge in question. It usually happens when cartridge has been once fired in chamber B, and then recycled again for use in chamber A (without adequate body/shoulder sizing). Sometimes even your standard full length sizing die won't suffice in sizing down an oversized shoulder and body, to at or below SAAMI.
I suppose the factory PPU brass might be too big for your chamber from the get-go (never heard of this; but there's a first for everything), you may never fix this issue by subsequent full length sizing. My only "free" suggestion is to perhaps try increase the cam-over on your press when sizing, if top dead center is before the end of the stroke, like the style of a modern hornady press.
The proper remedy is to use a small base body die and perhaps a taller shell holder like the +.002″ holder from the Redding Competition Shellholder Kit #1. If you do that, and it's still sticking, then either the loads are too hot, or there's something up with your chamber (as Jorlcrin said). There are other shoulder bumping solutions also, google around.
I would love to see a nice closeup of the primers, to see what sort of pressures we are dealing with here.
In2.
Last edited by
in2anity on 26 Sep 2023, 9:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
At what point does lack of maintenance become patina?