Testing Cases After Resizing?

[General RE LEE]

Newbie alert...I am new to reloading and have full length resized some 7mm STW, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308. I deprimed as well on the press.

I thought I would chamber a few empty cases and see how they cycle. I noticed the bolt was more difficult to close on the newly resized brass. Is this normal? No bullet in the case, no primer but I did deburr the outside and inside of case after resizing.

 

[ButterBean]

Did you trim them?

 

[Hela52]

You may need to adjust your sizing die down a little bit.

 

[entoptics]

Are you measuring how much you bumped the shoulders back?

I've found that if you aren't setting the die deep enough to hit the shoulder, the base to shoulder length will often grow a few thousands. Presumably because the body gets squished, and that has to go somewhere, which ends up being towards the top of the case.

If these are once fired cases, close to the actual size of your chamber, it wouldn't take much growth to cause a crush fit when chambered.

 

[General RE LEE]

I did not trim the cases. Per die instructions I threaded die into press until the sizing die touched the ram in the up position. I know nothing about bumping shoulders and such.

 

[General RE LEE]

Are you measuring how much you bumped the shoulders back?

I've found that if you aren't setting the die deep enough to hit the shoulder, the base to shoulder length will often grow a few thousands. Presumably because the body gets squished, and that has to go somewhere, which ends up being towards the top of the case.

If these are once fired cases, close to the actual size of your chamber, it wouldn't take much growth to cause a crush fit when chambered.

These are once fire cases. If I ever get primers and actually start to reload live ammo, is a tight case fit from a once fired case going to cause pressure issues?

 

[ButterBean]

These are once fire cases. If I ever get primers and actually start to reload live ammo, is a tight case fit from a once fired case going to cause pressure issues?

It will Not

 

[Ken61]

I set my sizing die with my rifle on the bench. I do what ever adjustments it takes to get proper bolt closing before proceeding with resizing.

 

[Laelkhunter]

These are once fire cases. If I ever get primers and actually start to reload live ammo, is a tight case fit from a once fired case going to cause pressure issues?

Were they fired in the same rifle that you are trying to chamber them in now?

 

[General RE LEE]

Were they fired in the same rifle that you are trying to chamber them in now?

Yes

 

[General RE LEE]

You may need to adjust your sizing die down a little bit.

Does that mean threading the die deeper into the press or backing it out?

 

[General RE LEE]

I set my sizing die with my rifle on the bench. I do what ever adjustments it takes to get proper bolt closing before proceeding with resizing.

Thank you how do you do that excactly? What are you doing with the die exactly along with the case and the rifle.

 

[Hela52]

Remove the case from the press. Screw the die farther into the press a small amount; probably less than 1/8 turn. Run lubed case through die. See if case will chamber easier. Should be better. If not - repeat. Don't screw it in any further than you have to.

 

[entoptics]

Thank you how do you do that excactly? What are you doing with the die exactly along with the case and the rifle.

https://www.hornady.com/reloading/precision-measuring/precision-tools-and-gauges/lock-n-load-bullet-comparator#!/

I'd suggest getting this tool, and the appropriate inserts for the calibers you reload. If you get the 0.416 and/or 0.375 caliber insert, it can be used as a case gauge for most shouldered "big bores". Obviously, it's good for measuring base to ogive, and other bullet dimensions also.

To measure base to shoulder on a piece of brass, you attach the gauge to your calipers with the 0.375 or 0.416 insert, place the case in the gauge so it sits on the shoulder, and record the measurement from base to shoulder. Measure several once fired cases to get a baseline. Then, size a case and measure it. You are aiming for 0.002" less than your unsized measurement. Adjust your die down 1/16 of a turn at a time (screw it in further), until you get 0.001-0.003" less than your once fired cases before resizing.

If you're already screwing the die in to touch the shell holder, and the cases aren't being bumped short enough (can't be sure that's the problem till you measure), then you may have to sand your shell holder down a little to increase the amount you can screw it in for sizing. Some sandpaper on a flat surface, and some elbow grease can take off a few thousands of an inch easily enough.

Doing it this way will greatly improve your brass life, by preventing excessive work hardening from being squished too small during sizing, then blown back out during firing. It will also potentially improve accuracy, by providing a consistent chamber fit, while still sizing the case small enough to chamber easily.