Setting dies for a belted mag?

[Steve O]

I was told in order to get the most accuracy out of a belted mag to set your dies to head space off the shoulder and not the belt. How do I do this?

[Grumulkin]

There are a couple of ways to do it. One would be to get a set of Redding competition shell holders. The other is to adjust your die to size just enough so that the case chambers easily.

I don't think head spacing off the shoulder is done so much to improve accuracy as it is to improve case life. The same principle applies, by the way, to bottlenecked rimmed cases.

[Steve O]

Thanks!

[J E Custom]

Originally Posted by Grumulkin

There are a couple of ways to do it. One would be to get a set of Redding competition shell holders. The other is to adjust your die to size just enough so that the case chambers easily.

I don't think head spacing off the shoulder is done so much to improve accuracy as it is to improve case life. The same principle applies, by the way, to bottlenecked rimmed cases.

+1
I neck size only as long as it will chamber after the first firing.

Case life is improved and accuracy benefits from not full length sizing.

J E CUSTOM

[BountyHunter]

Originally Posted by J E Custom

+1
I neck size only as long as it will chamber after the first firing.

Case life is improved and accuracy benefits from not full length sizing.

J E CUSTOM

Got to strongly disagree, that is an old wives tail not backed up by facts for an across the board statement

The majority of the BR (both SR and LR) FL size based on surveys at Br central! They are after accuracy. So that really kills the NS is "the" superior for accuracy theory.

Properly sized dies that are adjusted correctly lead to better accuracy and case life.

NS is touted when people do not know how to adjust the dies, buy oversized dies, then NS and suddenly think it helps them. Yes compared to what they were doing, but not compared to proper dies and correctly setup to FL size.

NS and then body bump die is NOT NS, that is FL size, just done in two steps.

Specific example, world record 5 shot 1.4" group at 1k was shot with shortened 338 Lapua brass that was shot 54 times at time of record setting. Thrown away after 80th reloading. NO NS only brass has remotely every done that.

BH

[J E Custom]

Originally Posted by BountyHunter

Got to strongly disagree, that is an old wives tail not backed up by facts for an across the board statement

The majority of the BR (both SR and LR) FL size based on surveys at Br central! They are after accuracy. So that really kills the NS is "the" superior for accuracy theory.

Properly sized dies that are adjusted correctly lead to better accuracy and case life.

NS is touted when people do not know how to adjust the dies, buy oversized dies, then NS and suddenly think it helps them. Yes compared to what they were doing, but not compared to proper dies and correctly setup to FL size.

NS and then body bump die is NOT NS, that is FL size, just done in two steps.

Specific example, world record 5 shot 1.4" group at 1k was shot with shortened 338 Lapua brass that was shot 54 times at time of record setting. Thrown away after 80th reloading. NO NS only brass has remotely every done that.

BH

It doesn't matter if you agree with me or not !!!!!

I answered his question about a belted case . the 338 Lapua is Not belted !!!!!! (A belt is the ring
at the rear of the case body that the round head spaces on). Just incase you don't know that.

I don't know why you dont like Neck sizing But that is your choice and as far as how I size brass
I think after over 50 years of reloading I do know how to reload. and I do know how to set
any die properly.

We can debate how many more loadings you can get than me but that does not help the guy
that ask the question. If you would spend more time trying to help those that ask for help
instead of finding fault with everyone that you don't agree with it would be productive.

Post your opinion and let the poster decide. Yours is not the only way to do something.

Besides how many benchresters use belted cases ?

Stick to the questions and refrain from the character assassination and we will do fine, I respect
your opinion but this is of no help to the man that ask for help.

Enough said .

Sorry Steve O. and Len.

J E CUSTOM

[boomtube]

As JE very correctly suggests, neither neck sizing nor full length sizing iof themselves offer any magic or certain results for either accuracy or case life.

The effect on case life depends entirely on the specific diameter dimensions of the individual's chamber and size die chamber. If a the body of a FL die is largish and the chamber is smallish then FL sized cases won't be excessively worked and splits will be delayed.

So far as the case's neck or type of die goes, if necks get worked more than the body, the necks will split sooner than the bodies. No great puzzle about that is there? And just how much it gets worked is, again, dependant on the actual diameters of the die and chamber necks. Conventional dies, any type, normally sizes necks down a lot more than would be best and then get expanded back up.

On average, conventional neck sizers work the necks as much as conventional FL dies so there is no certainty that neck sizing will increase case life. Bushing neck dies, used correctly, can work necks less but we have to fiddle with finding the exact diameter bushing and that's a PITA as well as costly. I MUCH prefer using Lee's inexpensive Collet Neck Sizer, it obtains the best neck internal diameter without concern about how thick the necks are and it works the neck the absolute minimum to do it. The Lee neck die used with a body die is the best of all possible combonations, IMHO.

Accuracy is often equal no matter the sizing method. The only way for anyone to KNOW which, if either, method works best in his rifle is to try both ways.

I strongly suspect the record breaking 80 times fired case mentioned above was "FL sized" in a cusom made die, not a store bought one, and the chamber probably only had maybe a thou of clearance for the loaded cartridge. Neither of those conditions are normal so the results aren't normal and therefore it means nothing to us.