sticky extraction solutions
Posted: 01 Mar 2024 18:15
I've been experiencing difficult extraction with all sorts of loads in my 9x80R drilling. I'm seeking solutions.
Here's some background.
The cartridge is considered a straight case, no bottleneck.
The chamber measures 80 mm in length, somewhat more than 3". There is a gradual taper from the head to a point about 1.25" from the mouth of the case, or end of chamber. That last 1.25" is cylindrical. It seems to me those long parallel surfaces grip the case too much.
Fired brass measures .001" to .002" larger out within 3/8" of the mouth than it does back towards the head of the case.
I most often simply neck size the end of the case with a modified Lee collet die. Occasionally I need to partially size the body of the case to ease chambering a live round.
This is Bertram 9.3x82R basic brass that I've shortened and sized. All the cases in my possession have been loaded and fired upwards of 10 cycles.
The rifle's chamber does not appear to be flared towards the end. It seems to me that the last 3/8" of the cases just may be work hardened to the point that they don't spring back enough after firing to release from the chamber.
Historically I did not experience this extraction difficulty. I've moderately then drastically reduced powder charges in various loads with no real difference. I can break open the drilling just fine. I just cannot pull the case out farther than what the extractor lifts it.
Any ideas what may be going on here?
I'm thinking I need to anneal this old brass.
Would anyone point me towards a simple annealing method I could try first before spending big bucks on an annealer? In 60+ years of reloading, I've never felt the need to anneal a case. Maybe that's about to change, right?
Here's some background.
The cartridge is considered a straight case, no bottleneck.
The chamber measures 80 mm in length, somewhat more than 3". There is a gradual taper from the head to a point about 1.25" from the mouth of the case, or end of chamber. That last 1.25" is cylindrical. It seems to me those long parallel surfaces grip the case too much.
Fired brass measures .001" to .002" larger out within 3/8" of the mouth than it does back towards the head of the case.
I most often simply neck size the end of the case with a modified Lee collet die. Occasionally I need to partially size the body of the case to ease chambering a live round.
This is Bertram 9.3x82R basic brass that I've shortened and sized. All the cases in my possession have been loaded and fired upwards of 10 cycles.
The rifle's chamber does not appear to be flared towards the end. It seems to me that the last 3/8" of the cases just may be work hardened to the point that they don't spring back enough after firing to release from the chamber.
Historically I did not experience this extraction difficulty. I've moderately then drastically reduced powder charges in various loads with no real difference. I can break open the drilling just fine. I just cannot pull the case out farther than what the extractor lifts it.
Any ideas what may be going on here?
I'm thinking I need to anneal this old brass.
Would anyone point me towards a simple annealing method I could try first before spending big bucks on an annealer? In 60+ years of reloading, I've never felt the need to anneal a case. Maybe that's about to change, right?