[GulfcoastHNTR]

Freaked out!!! That's the best way to explain how I felt when I went to the range today and loaded a spent cartridge from the last session at the range due to a conversation with a very nice gentleman about reloading and pressure signs. He was explaining the bulge in the shell I noticed after firing. The expansion sue to heat/pressure and the shape of my chamber. Any way when I dropped the block to eject the spent cartridge and nothing!!! I was embarassed first of all because I'm sure he thought my gun was dirty, (not the case by any means) or so I thought. I tried to clear the shell with my rod but no luck. The gentleman I was speaking with earlier said to wedge a knife in there and pry it out!! REALLY!! This gun is like a child to me. I emediately left the gun range and drove 40 miles to the sharp shooter where I purchased the gun, shell still lodged and pissed since it was previously owned and they assured me of the condition, the owner having known the old owner. Any way they were able to clear the shell with a rod and a little more gusto than I was willing to apply previously. By this time the owner was involved who by the way is a Avid single shot shooter and claims to own nothing except single shot rifles. He asked to look at my shells, which I had. He and another reviewed and then went and got a "bore scope" I think that's what it's called. It is a metal tube with a magnifying eye piece that a light attaches to and you can see your barrel on a microscopic level. Now understand that if u were to look down my barrel it looks like freshly cleaned glass. I was WRONG! Looking through the scope I saw rust copper and god knows what else. And the same was the case for the breech. He used something, can't remember the name, that foamed and let it sit. Then polished the breech with a cotton tipped thing attached to a drill and some polishing compound on it. I was amazed at what came out of the breech and the barrel. The gun ejects fine now and I'm fairly certain it will shoot better next time I go to the range. I want y'all to know that I take pride in my guns and my ability to maintain my equipment. I learned a huge lesson today and just wanted to share with all because I believe everyone on this site is of like mind. I am 31 hrs old and want to give this gun to my son some day, so whoever says clean gun after season or not that often, IMHO, is wrong after seeing the rust and or copper that was infecting my barrel. I'm sure this is no news for the experienced guys but guys like me that strive to be at least proficient if not the best at what I do here you go. And any other advice is always appreciated

 

[smokinfz1]

sounds like that chamber is cut to the lowest of tolerances, which is good for brass life. Unfortunately you may have to keep your chamber cleaner else deal with ejecting issues. I'm down to cleaning my barrels about every 3rd time at the range. I guess like everything else, every gun has its own characteristics.

 

[GulfcoastHNTR]

Yea that's what I thought. Not sure now though. Talked to some other guys,may be that it was a spent cartridge. That hadnt been repressed in a die yet. I think it was a combination I went to cabelas over the weekend and bout a book but chickened out. I bad 300 bucks and some necessary cleaning tools e.g. Carbon fiber rod, jags, etc.

 

[smokinfz1]

if it was a cartridge that had been shot in another chamber that was cut larger than yours, then it was neck sized only and reloaded, is what they are probably referring to but I would think that if that were the case you would have had issues with getting the round into the chamber. When you finally got the case out was there any physical damage to the case, scratch marks, bulges, shiny spots?

 

[GulfcoastHNTR]

The case was shot in my barrel only and put back in there. I'm going tomorrow now that it's been cleaned. I'll let y'all know.

 

[Chief RID]

A noticeable bulge in your case is not something to be ignored. I think that is a completely different issue from your dirty chamber. I may be missing something though. I think I would go by the gun shop again and see if they will check the headspace for you. They seem to be very helpful. If they have the gauges there it will save you some headache and cash. Good luck at the range. the stuck spent cartridge could be just the extra length after firing which could be normal. I don't know about 22-250 but I bet most of the brass flows to the front on firing and the spent cases would have to be trimmed.

 

[smokinfz1]

I must appologize to you for my earilier responses, after reading Chief RID's response I went back and reread your initial post and I totally missed the part about the brass bulging. That can definately be indicative of a serious issue. I do have one question; why did it come out of the chamber upon the initial firing but not the second time you loaded the case? after the round was spent the brass and the barrel I would think would be approx. the same temp. therefore I would not think thermal growth would be an issue. Could the case have been misformed in any way between the initial firing and the second insertion of the spent case? and are any more of the spent cases bulging like this?

 

[GulfcoastHNTR]

Sorry I haven't gotten back until now but I really apreciate all the help. I did get to the range today after 3 days of rain. I shot about 80 rounds through the 1885 22-250 and I'm glad to say NO JAMS! The gun performed well better than me actually I finally got to sit down and shoot some different brands and weights. Y'all were right about the heavier bullet helping out with accuracy also. The 50-60 grain shot the best groups. I'm still getting occasional flyers though. At 100 yards my groups are consistently mow but every 5-8 th shot I get one 1-2 inches high or to the left. I think it's me. Is this common. I'm not the most experienced but I'm trying to be thorough as possible. Any way. I really apreciate all of the feedback. Thanks again!!

 

[smokinfz1]

Most of the people I talk to these days blame flyers on misalignment between the center line of the bullet and the centerline of the case. I know several reloaders that claim if you check bullet concentricity and fix any round reading more than .002" total idicator reading or greater than .001" out radially, and you will fix your flyer problem. I can't say for sure, even though I have the equipment to check I just don't. I don't shoot competatively other than against myself, and the flyers can be very frustrating even then. Personally, the number of flyers occuring with me seem to be coming down with practice.

I think the next time I go to the range I will take a set up with me and sort my rounds and see if my groups improve. If they do, it will be a step I add into my loading.

 

[Chief RID]

We all strive to get 5 in a bug hole. As you shoot you will get better. If you have one flier per 5 shot group, it is probably you and I don't mean your shooting ability. You can put them down range. It may not be just one thing in your set up or your trigger pull or the place the rifle rests on the rest. To me it sounds like you will get a bug hole soon to hang on the wall.