416 rem mag issues in a rem 700

[WoodencrossIII]

I have a Remington 700 416 Remington Magnum the rifles in really good shape. It’s a left-handed rifle although I’m not left-handed I bought the gun to have the caliber but I’ve only been hand loading for it. I’m using brand new Hornady brass i’ve made two loads one with 350 grain Barnes TTSX and another with a 400 grain Hornady dangerous game solid. the issue I’m having is that the gun will not at times allow me to close the bolt on a loaded cartridge the bolt just doesn’t want to close. I’ve measured the brass. I’ve measured the cartridge overall length everything is within spec if not a little bit under I’ve resized the brass and that didn’t solve it. I’m needing help and I’m just wanting to just sell the gun and all the components and everything at this point.

Thanks

 

[M70375!]

Get yourself a model 70

 

[matt85]

Didnt you already make a post about this?

Thread 'Issues with a 416 Remington'

Jun 5, 2026

I have a Remington 700 in 416 Remington mag and I’m having issues with bolt not wanting to close on the rounds I’ve measured the COAL and the brass trim to length it’s Hornady brass and I’m confounded I haven’t shot the rifle with anything else but only using Barnes ttsx and Hornady solids the bolt is just not wanting to close at times to chamber the round please help me figure it out I’ve even bought a different set of dies some Redding dies to try to see what’s the issue

Thanks

• WoodencrossIII
• Replies: 36
• Forum: Reloading

 

[WoodencrossIII]

Yeah looks like it I actually made two posts to see if anyone would have an idea the other post about it got the most activity

 

[Gomer]

Any scratches on the brass? You may have a protruding scope base screw.

 

[BlueFlyer]

Is the projectile touching the lands (where the rifling starts in the throat)?

 

[WoodencrossIII]

I pulled the scope and it’s easier but it’s not easy, thing is rifle is left handed and I’m not left handed I’m right handed the bullets aren’t touching the lands but I’ll say it does seem to have a bit tighter chamber now with the scope gone it’s been easier for me to close but I’m having to operate it opposite form being in my right hand, it’s the weirdest thing once I’ve got the bolt canned over and the bolt face has secure contact it’s easy as pie to open and close the bolt simple and easy but it takes some momentum on closing the bolt I almost have to give it a slight slap to close it home like I said once that is done it’s easy to open the bolt and close it it’s almost like the bolt face has a hard time locking over the rim or something but I’ve also checked my plunger it’s functional and not stuck or anything

 

[BlueFlyer]

Primers fully seated?
If it is difficult, then once you close it, it becomes easy. then you are changing something by chambering the round. It is most likely an issue with your ammunition. You have just got to find it.

 

[Muskox]

Probably the web above the belt has expanded and the die is not touching that part of the brass.

The best solution is heavy duty 1 inch dies instead of the normal 5/8ths die.

There was a guy that made a tool for that, but I never felt like it really worked.

 

[45-70guy]

I would just cerosafe the chamber and get an exact measurement of your chamber to be sure.
I had a rifle once that was supposedly just built, come to find out there was no throat just went from case mouth to rifling. I couldn’t get anything to chamber even after the original owner told me he had shot it.
They gave me my money back.
The other thing to check is with a tool like the hornady comparator and check the shoulder bump. If your boarder line too close it only takes a few thousandths to not fit.

 

[hntr58]

Is this gun a custom build or one that came out of the factory? Maybe a Remington custom shop rifle? I have two of them , one in 416 Rem the other in 458 Win. Nothing but trouble from day one

 

[R eight]

I pulled the scope and it’s easier but it’s not easy, thing is rifle is left handed and I’m not left handed I’m right handed the bullets aren’t touching the lands but I’ll say it does seem to have a bit tighter chamber now with the scope gone it’s been easier for me to close but I’m having to operate it opposite form being in my right hand, it’s the weirdest thing once I’ve got the bolt canned over and the bolt face has secure contact it’s easy as pie to open and close the bolt simple and easy but it takes some momentum on closing the bolt I almost have to give it a slight slap to close it home like I said once that is done it’s easy to open the bolt and close it it’s almost like the bolt face has a hard time locking over the rim or something but I’ve also checked my plunger it’s functional and not stuck or anything

“I pulled the scope and it’s easier but it’s not easy,”

I think that’s probably something to investigate further. Removing the scope should have made NO difference.

 

[M70375!]

try some factory loads in it

 

[PARA45]

You are not resizing the brass enough. The 375 headspaces at the belt, and if you are having issue closing the bolt, it is your reloaded brass.

How does it cycle with factory ammo?

 

[fourfive8]

The only way a scope or scope mount can affect bolt closure is if a base screw is impinging into the bolt lug channel. Oopsy when drilling/tapping hole then mounting with over length screw.

Otherwise…most likely cause is case swelling just forward of belt that normal sizing dies don’t correct. Proper use of Larry Willis Innovative Technologies collet sizing die will correct the issue. I use one SOP for several belted cartridges and it works perfectly if used correctly. Requires understanding of function, proper adjustment and good lube.