Thread: Sticky bolt?

I’m thinking the score on the base may be a red herring. I’ve checked it for length and it’s well inside others that chamber and extract fine. I’ve neck sized it and it is still sticky, only after I FL size does it go back to behaving itself. I think I’m going to chuck the brass and try some fresh stuff. I’ll also go to a different powder but I really don’t see the load ever getting warm. 2208 is just too bulky to make the 308 overloaded.

Originally Posted by kiwijames

2208 is just too bulky to make the 308 overloaded.

Not correct- can easily be done esp with a combo of high neck tension/ fouling/ heavy brass/ hot primers/...

2208 is in fact an ideal powder for 150 class projectiles in a .308- ask any fullbore shooter

Originally Posted by 6x47

Not correct- can easily be done esp with a combo of high neck tension/ fouling/ heavy brass/ hot primers/...

2208 is in fact an ideal powder for 150 class projectiles in a .308- ask any fullbore shooter

I'd agree with this 100%. There are many loads out there that are way over normal limits. I often run the loads people on here "mention" on Quickload and while there are a lot of variables in the estimates it gives, its a great tool.

Recently I was in the LGS and he hand me a Tikka T3 action. It had enormous setback on the locking lugs, something like 8 thou as I recall (so much its a wonder it was still firing). I'm no fan of Tikka's bu they are very strong actions . . . . for one to have that much setback it must have been operating at truly horrific pressures. The thought occurred to me looking at this action was "how the hell did the brass stand the pressure without a failure".

I'd say brass is very much better than it was 10 or 20 years ago and reloads of 70,000 psi are not uncommon - they go ok in modern rifles in good condition but its a game of chance.

The SAAMI max pressure for 308 is 62,000 psi. You don't give the barrel length of your Forbes but to get 2750 from an 18" barrel with a 150 in a 308 and 2208 you'll be running at 65,000 psi - not way outside the limit but getting close to "tolerance" if there is something not normal with your rifle or brass etc.

Originally Posted by 6x47

Not correct- can easily be done esp with a combo of high neck tension/ fouling/ heavy brass/ hot primers/...

2208 is in fact an ideal powder for 150 class projectiles in a .308- ask any fullbore shooter

Or you can try plugging the barrel with dirt too if you really want to be silly, ask any halfwit.
I have 0.003" neck tension, low fouling and standard CCI BR2 primers in Lapua ex military brass.

My charge is 46.0g 2208.
Hogdons has 47.0C g Varget only reaching 50K CUP. I'm not totally discounting it but it is also not going to be on my most likely list.
My reloading is quite consistent so I will also discount error as a probable cause.
The fact that it is an inconsistent problem has me scratching my head. Most scenarios offered should be more repeatable.
I have inspected both the bolt and the chamber. Neither appear to have blemishes or other errors that stand out.