New 35 Whelen misfires

[hunternunez]

Just bought a 35 whelen last month. Loaded some ammo to sight in. Had 50% not fire. Had to snap them up to three times to fire. After getting home I loaded just primers in all and the same thing happened. I am very frustrated because I heard that is why H&R discontinued them the first time. Anyone had this happen? Anyone have any ideas for me to try?

[quickdtoo]

Yours is the first report here of FTFs on an Ilion produced Whelen, I'd contact H&R. Is the loaded round flush with the chamber face if you place a straight edge across the chamber, or is the round slightly recessed below the straight edge? Ideally there shouldn't be any gap there,  if there's very much, you'll get no fires. If the chamber isn't cut too deep, they can modify the hammer to allow a deeper pin strike, you could do it too, but a chamber cut too deep allows too much headspace which isn't good. It could be bad ammo too, the shoulder pushed back too far during manufacturing, you might try a different source of ammo to see how it fits in the chamber.

There's a cure for the excess headspace too, I've done it on my 35Whelen Improved, you remove the extractor and thin the back side of the extractor post so that it's about .020" thinner so it will hold the round against the standing breech, it has to be thinner so it doesn't stop against the breech face before it has removed all of the excess headspace, then silver solder or epoxy a steel shim to the front side of the post so the case can only go into the chamber so far when the action is closed, I've done this on a few others that had too much headspace, it works well.

Tim

[hunternunez]

Thanks,  I inserted the spent handloaded cases in the chamber and looked at the fit. There is a small clearance in the hand loaded cases.  None in the factory ammo I purchased. Could I be causing this while priming cases?

[quickdtoo]

You may be pushing the shoulder back too far when resizing, did factory ammo work? If the unsized brass is recessed, you'll either need to seat the bullets long and load them hard into the lands with start loads to fire form them to your chamber, or use a false shoulder as described in the FAQs, or modify the extractor to eliminate the excess headspace.

Tim

[hunternunez]

I looked at the remainder of my new cases.they fit into the barrel flush, not like the ones I loaded before which had a few .000's gap. Could I be misadjusting the sizing die? It is a RCBS full length die. Should I consider neck sizing instead? Don't want any misfires during hunting season..lol. 

[quickdtoo]

I start by just partial neck sizing with the full length sizing die, back it out a couple turns, size the case and you'll see where it sized the neck only, turn the die in just a little at a time until you just size the neck only, any further and the shoulder will be changed. On fired brass, you'll probably have to turn the die in just enough to size the brass so it fits flush like the new stuff. 

Tim

[hunternunez]

Thanks, seems like that is my problem. How will I tell if it only sizing the neck. Can't really tell. Will a neck sizing die eliminate this?

[Sourdough]

The full length resizing die can be set just a little too far down in your press.  I full length resize since I reload for different guns in .35 Whelen.  My reloads are a little tighter fit in my bolt gun than factory loads, but they fit my Handi just fine.  Have never had a misfire with my reloads in the Handi.  Did have a few at first with factory loads.  Now I only shoot hand loads so no problem.

[quickdtoo]

Thanks, seems like that is my problem. How will I tell if it only sizing the neck. Can't really tell. Will a neck sizing die eliminate this?

Follow the directions I gave and you'll be able to see the neck being sized with each adjustment. 

Tim

[billy_56081]

Are yopu using the same sized shell holder as die? Some brands have slight differences.

[hunternunez]

rcbs dies and shell holder. Neck Sized and primed 10 new cases that fit good in my barrel and had 3 misfires. Think it's time to send my 35 to the gunsmith or back to H&R. I'm very disappointed @ this time.