Chambering live rounds safely

Improving and repairing firearms. Rifle bedding, barrel work, stock replacement and other ways to improve your firearms.

Chambering live rounds safely

Post by Blr243 » 23 May 2026, 3:28 pm

I have a sauer 100 270 win. And I have some reloaded ammo not chambering I don’t think it’s from lack of case trimming , more likely from the expander ball dragging the shoulder area forward when sizing ( prob dry carbon inside necks ) Is like to run them through the chamber but I won’t do this at home for safety reasons. If I remove the firing pin is it then safe to do this ?
Blr243
Major General
Major General
 
Posts: 4861
Queensland

Re: Chambering live rounds safely

Post by fussy » 23 May 2026, 3:50 pm

In a Mauser, for example, I remove the pin.
Remember, if the bolt face or firing pin hole hits a 'proud' primer, or has some burring, it may (theoretically) still fire.
So, as always, safe direction and don't slam the bolt quickly.

Better yet: make a dummy load exactly the same as the others, but NO primer or powder.
If that cycles, 'should' be no problem.
fussy
Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
 
Posts: 111
Queensland

Re: Chambering live rounds safely

Post by morerams » 23 May 2026, 5:52 pm

Yes, removing the firing pin is the safest option.
morerams
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 14
Queensland

Re: Chambering live rounds safely

Post by GQshayne » 23 May 2026, 7:03 pm

Hmmmm..........

I am only a hunter, and pigs are my favourite quarry, so no target shooting for me. So I want rounds to chamber very easily, and quickly. If I encountered this problem, then the only option for me would be to remove projectiles and powered and start again with a re-sized case. Given the cost of fuel etc nowadays, the waste of a primer is a small consideration.
GQshayne
Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
 
Posts: 985
Queensland

Re: Chambering live rounds safely

Post by Wapiti » 23 May 2026, 7:33 pm

Got a collet bullet-puller you can screw into a press?
It's the best investment for this you can make - chambering a cartridge even without a firing pin in suburbia is not anything I'd do... but hey I'm different.
Pull the projectile, tip out the powder and adjust your FLS to get the cases chambering.
The primers will be decapped, but seat them again afterwards, they will work 100% still.

That's my answer to the question anyway. If they won't chamber easily, why keep trying by "shaking hands with danger". They need to be fixed and the die adjusted right.
Or you could ask Yuri Gellar to stare them back to correct size.

As GQShane is hinting at, if they let you down after spending $1000 on a trip and the biggest pig or most vicious dog you've ever seen, you will be very annoyed, just quietly.
"The only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing."
Aristotle.
Regards G,
AKA Dr. Doolittle
Wapiti
Lieutenant
Lieutenant
 
Posts: 2374
Queensland


Back to top
 
Return to Gunsmithing