40mm Bofors Question

[Rob Fast]

Yes, my gun barrel is still pinned and deactivated, but capable of firing blank 2 oz. black powder cardboard plug blanks. I have cut off some old Bofors shells to a 6 inch length, loading by hand through the top, no rammer involved. If I would use a full length shell and the rammer with no tapered head inserted in the shell, it just gets caught up and bent up in the barrel opening. I am having a heck of a time getting the shell rammed all the way into the barrel, so the breech face can clear the primer on closing and firing. Why are things so tight? Have the old brass shells expanded at their base? The shell has to be rammed into the hole to the max before the breech face will clear, and the extractors release. Maybe thing are just not clean enough down in the hole? Any thoughts? Thanks Rob