16ga.com ~ View topic - If a shell fits a tight chamber, will it wobble in another?

Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 231

Hi Guys,

Not specifically related to my 16 gauge shotguns, but it could be…

I’ve never had problems with my 20 gauge reloads chambering in my Citori’s or in a Franchi Instinct SL. But I bought a wonderful Superposed 20 gauge earlier this year, and the shotgun absolutely will not close on my reloads. It just seems the chamber is too tight. It will close on FACTORY shells, but not my reloads.

I load 20 gauge on a Mec 9000. It’s a great reloader and really pumps ‘em out, so I like it.

My question is this: if I adjust the 9000 to size the brass on the shells down to fit the chamber in the Superposed, will they “wobble” in the chambers in my other shotguns? Will this affect the “accuracy” in some way?

It just seems weird that the Superposed won’t take the same shells as all of the other shotguns.

8mmFan

Hello 8mm :

I think you will find that it is your rim thickness, not the diameter of the case

Skeetex shared the Lachmiller resizer with me many years ago , the brass case heads were never a problem with the MEC sizers , but the steel case heads came along and one needs the fully supported sizing capabilities of the Lachmiller sizer.

The Lachmiller takes the case head back to factory specs including the rim thickness.

Hope this helps .

Regards Nick

Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 231

Thanks, Charles. I can see how that would make a difference, but why would the reloads work in the newer shotguns, and not in the Superposed?

I’m probably missing the obvious; just trying to figure out how to shoot this Superposed with my reloads and the 9000 that I have, if that’s possible.

Have never heard of the Lachmiller re-sizer, and would like to avoid buying one if I can. I did just check it out on eBay though, and it looks like quite a piece of equipment.

8mmFan

Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 542 Location: WI

I would suggest you precisely measure your reloads and see how the resized dimensions compare to factory loads. I'm going to bet that the sizing was quite a bit smaller and tolerances tighter in the older Superposed guns, so maybe measure the chambers and rim counterbore sizing in the breech too.

The breech sizing on the newer guns is probably larger, so if you resize your reloads to get near the same size as factory, they should load fine in all three guns. The "Super Sizer" on the MEC 9000 is adjustable, so just set it up so you are resizing closer to factory.

Joined: 07 Mar 2010 Posts: 522 Location: South Eastern PA

Check your crimper for excess pressure. You might be resizing or using hulls that should work but you could be causing them to bulge a tad during final crimping.

Joined: 22 May 2020 Posts: 357 Location: Ky

What Charles said is most likely the problem. Several of my European guns won’t close on a B&P comp rim even after a sizemaster.

All things come down to tolerance, I cut many hundreds of chambers in competition shotgun barrels over the years , the guys in Europe were on the shame your buddies plan , hitting exactly on the numbers was a badge of honor.

Today as reamer sharpening takes place or not is not up to the operation individual, it's up to a CNC that might get a cutter change when it needs it and let's run it a bit more even though the amps draw on the motor is up there .

Then here comes steel case heads fired at max pressure in order to operate any and all action types out there to reduce manufacturing litigation .

Brass doesn't play like steel which has a huge memory issue.

100 percent rim issue is your nemesis.

I could not get any MEC resizer I own to correctly resize the rim , made the comments about steel case heads to SKEETEX , next thing I knew I had a package from Mikey with a Lachmiller resizer in the box .

Ta-da no more case rim issue on any case run through the Lachmiller, plunk test in all chambers passe with flying colors.

Regards Nick

Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 231

Thank you for all of the fast responses, guys.

I will try all of the above, potentially up to and including the Lachmiller. I looked some up on eBay today. They run anywere from about $85 to $150 with shipping. Not sure it’s worth it for one shotgun; I haven’t had this problem in any of my other 20 gauges.

Interestingly, I had the same issue in my 16ga Browning Gran Lightning a few years ago. I think I even asked about it here, but I don’t remember. My 16 gauge shells have always been reloaded on a 600 Jr. which, as you know, has a different sizing method. The hulls that I was having trouble with were the ones that came in the white Winchester box (Super X?). I could not figure out what the problem was, and I sent the barrels back to Browning in Utah. They sent them back, and I never had the problem again.

I really appreciate you all jumping in here to help. I do love this little Superposed 20, and I deplore buying factory for anything other than bird hunting. Would love to figure it out and, in the end, it may be worth getting the Lachmiller if it comes to that. I paid $1,900 for the shotgun on GB.

Thanks again.

8mmFan

Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 231

Correction: the problem was in my White Lightning. I don’t have a Gran Lightning.

Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 231

Charles,

I think you hit the nail on the head. I went through a bunch of reloads with said Superposed, trying to load various shells.

The ones with obvious steel, or “washed” steel, wouldn’t load. The old hulls with obvious brass case heads loaded just fine.

So I think instead of buying another specialized press like the Lachmiller, I’m going to instead try and find a source for brass 20 gauge hulls. It’s just this one shotgun that seems to have the problem.

Thanks, all, for your help.

8mmFan

Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 1553 Location: Western WA

Had a spate of problems with a 725 failing to close. I solved it with a very messy ugly fix: I took a plastic dispenser bottle of 3 in 1 oil and attempted to apply a drop or two in a very precise surgical manner. To my surprise the nozzle popped open, and a heavy stream of oil spewed all over and into the action, hinge, ejectors, breech, etc. I spent the next 15 minutes trying to clean up the mess before it soaked into the wood. Then at home I disassembled what I could and did my best. But amazingly the gun closed so easily afterwards that I could do it one handed with the flick of the wrist. So something was going on there that I was unaware of. Maybe the flood of oil washed away some contaminants in the hinge or bites. It might be worth a try if all else fails.

B.

Joined: 17 Mar 2007 Posts: 231

Thanks Brewster. A clean and properly lubricated gun definitely helps.

This had more to do, though, with a Superposed that won’t close on some shells, but will on others. We boiled it down to the rim not being properly re-sized on steel-based shells, vs being re-sized just fine on brass-based shells.

8mmFan

After Mike told me about the Lachmiller and sent me one , I went on the hunt and bought several .

Never want to be without one.

Glad it helped you , can thank Skeetex for that one.

Regards Nick

Joined: 09 Feb 2015 Posts: 952

I agree with ROMAC. HAPPENS from different brands if you mix them durring loading.