204Ruger

I have two 204's, a 700 Rem and a 16 Savage. Just fired 125 rounds in the 700. Resized them and most do not fit in the 700 or the Savage. I'm tempted to think it's the die. I have measured them and other than some of them are over length. This brass was all new on this firing. Should I try another die?

Anybody else who has ever had this problem

Anybody else who has ever had this problem

I routinely neck size only and my finished cartridges always fit back into the rifle that fired them. Something funny is going on with your reloads. I would take measurements of the expander ball first off.

I mostly only neck size brass fired in the rifle, being used. I FL size when they show signs of becoming tight on bolt closing. Make sure you are not over length and if so trim to the length shown in your reloading book for that cartridge.
And make sure your dies are adjusted correctly in your press.

I have neck sized before as well. The Redding tech thinks it's the shell holder not allowing it to resize to headspace the brass. I will measure the expander ball and seek what I find.

What part of the casing will not fit your chamber? Is it the neck, the shoulder or the base of the brass?

Each one of these potential issues has it's own fix, so without knowing where the obstruction lies, it's hard to tell you how to proceed. Maybe use some die-chem to see where the issue lies, or even a non-permanent marker, candle soot, etc.

But as has been mentioned, any neck sized case should go right back into the chamber it was fired in. A F/L sized case too, but most of us only neck size to save the brass from overworking it. I don't think I've ever F/L sized a 204 case, and I started shooting this caliber when it first came out in 2006. I've got a new, unused Redding F/L bushing die sitting in it's box in my gun room....just in case anyone thinks they must have one.

Check out where the problem lies, and we'll try to get you up 'n running again.

One of the best tools you can buy is a cartridge case gauge. It points out;
- if the case is to long or short;
- if the case is under or over sized.

If you're going to use these cases in multiple rifles I'd suggest F/L sizing when switching, otherwise I'd stick to neck sizing. FWIW, when I set up F/L dies by the supplied instructions more often than not my brass is undersized and will-not chamber.

What Rick suggested should yield the problem area.

Good luck,

The issue seems to be either the neck or base, as some have posted. You either need to adjust your die/shell holder properly or obtain a small base FL sizing die. Bill K

If you can...Mill off ten thousandths off the top of your shell holder. See if that fixes it. Many years ago, I had a bum shell holder and had this problem.

My guess is it's the case shoulder not being bumped back enough. Had that trouble with the .20 VT brass I made from .223 brass. Even though my sizer die was set up right, I was getting a little spring-back on some of the brass. I had to run each piece of brass through the rifle to see if it would chamber before adding powder & bullets. Those that didn't chamber were run back through the die for a bit more shoulder space. Good luck-lots of advice here and any of could be your solution so let us know what you find. Randy.

If he was starting with once fired 204 brass, it is unlikely due to forming issues.

If these were fired from his rifle, it has to be in the resizing.

I have a pre 64 Win. Model 70 (270 Winchester) that will fire just about anything. I have a Ruger #1 in 270 that I have to keep rounds separate for. I can neck size for my M70, but always have to full size for my #1...even rounds fired through that #1.

I have a #1 in 25-06 that the chamber is much more forgiving.

You might also invest in a head space gauge and make sure there are no issues in your rifles. Honestly, I have only run into a problem there a couple of times in 40+ years. It is the last thing I chec.