Difficult chambering and extraction

[woowoodady]

Anybody else have issues with this gun? Some rounds will work fine whle others are anywhere from "slightly sticky" to 'get me a hammer to open this $#%&%%#$@ bolt" stuck. The gun otherwise functions fine and the liftinb of the bolt has gotton easier with time

Thanks for all responses.

[Eric in NC]

hard to open bolts (after firing a round) is a classic sign of high pressure. Factory rounds? Handloads?

[woowoodady]

Thanks for the quick reply. Both. Most rounds are very difficult to chamber as well. No cratered primers and well under max for handloads.

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Hard to chamber? Sounds like the brass needs to be resized. Full length or shoulder bump and neck size. Hard to open bolt? Same thing.
Brass too tight in the chamber going in and worse after it's fired.
You're shooting reloads so your brass needs attention.

[woowoodady]

I am full length sizing and using the lee factory crimp die as well. I have no problems with my AR with any of these rounds. I also check case length with a gauge. I am confused about the factory rounds sticking as well.

[higgite]

Caliber? Bullet type and weight?

[woowoodady]

.223 55 gr BTHP over 21.4gr H335

[JW]

.223 55 gr BTHP over 21.4gr H335

Looks like you are below minimum charge weight according to sierra load manual
This could cause pressure problems also
But if factory ammo is doing the same thing, it goes back to the chamber not being sized correctly

[teebirdhyzer]

i have shot quite a few factory brands and loads, and loaded up a few different ones that worked good, but i did try some ultramax 40 grain nosler BT 'remanufactured' factory loads that made the bolt really sticky. Primers, and everything look ok, but after the 3rd one that i could barely get the bolt open, i retired the box for this gun! not sure what the reason would be