Trouble getting consistent shoulder setback.

Having a heck of a time getting consistent shoulder setback on my 300WM brass.

Using Redding Type S FL
Dillon 550B and Lyman Orange Crusher single stage (tried both presses and get same problems)
MAI Brass (Norma), salt bath annealed, several firings in my rifle.
Hornady comparator set, using 0.400 bushing to measure shoulder datum.

The brass come out of the rifle at ± 0.0005, so I don't think it's my measuring skills/setup.

Want to set them back 0.002, and I get variation from no setback, to as much as 0.004". Trying to get my die set is like playing whack-a-mole. Think I have it, then run a few and now I find they're too short, adjust the die, run a couple more, then I realize they're now coming out too long! Rinse and repeat. I'm even indexing the die/nut, and noticing different set back at the same locations.

Never tried to pay this much attention to shoulder setback, and loads were fine, but I'm being meticulous this time around just to see if I notice anything better/worse.

Any ideas or tips on setting up the die?

I had this problem when learning how to set back the shoulders with precision. A little heavy on the case lube gave me inconsistent readings along with not lubing inside of neck properly. When sizing the case and the handle is all the way down, hold it there for a brief moment. Seems like that helped bring more consistancy to my measurements.

I would suggest you use a single stage press and buy a set of Redding Competition shell holders. Then you can maintain a consistent cam over of your press. Which will give you the results you are looking for. The shell holders are thicker by .002 up to.010. you can set your head space and return to it every time.

.420 is the correct bushing, not .400.
I find hovering at full stroke and slight cam over helps me get consistent bump.
If I cannot get a little cam over with the shell holder I'm using, I try other brands or machine the TOP of a shell holder to get the cam over required.
I also persue body dies if a FL/Bushing or such die doesn't do it for me.
Removing ALL flex in the press is key to eliminating inconsistent bumps.

Cheers.

the body die will do this very well.

Perhaps neck sizing pressure is affecting my consistency. Suppose I can just remove the bushing, and size in two steps? Bump the shoulder, then run it through again with bushing in place?

body die , bottomed out on redding competition shell holders , with press cam over

you can put feeler gauges between the shell holder and dies to accomplish the same thing , as long as you can bottom it out and not over size

comp shell holders#6 https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1012456684

ya they are 50 bucks but the#6 can be used for your 300 win & all of the following

• 223 WSSM
  
• 6mm-300 WSM
  
• 25-300 WSM
  
• 25-300 Remington Ultra Magnum
  
• 257 Weatherby Magnum
  
• 257 STW
  
• 264 Winchester Magnum
  
• 6.5mm Remington Magnum
  
• 6.5mm STW
  
• 6.5mm-300 WSM
  
• 6.5mm-300 Weatherby Magnum
  
• 6.5mm-300 Remington Ultra Magnum
  
• 270 Weatherby Magnum
  
• 270 WSM
  
• 270-300 Winchester Magnum
  
• 270-300 Weatherby
  
• 270-300 Remington Ultra Magnum
  
• 284 Baer
  
• 7mm Remington Magnum
  
• 7mm Remington SAUM
  
• 7mm WSM
  
• 7mm Weatherby Magnum
  
• 7mm Hart Magnum
  
• 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum
  
• 7mm STW
  
• 7x61mm Sharpe & Hart
  
• 7x66mm Vom Hofe S.E.
  
• 7mm- 300 Weatherby Magnum
  
• 7mm-300 Winchester Magnum
  
• 7mm-300 Remington Ultra Magnum
  
• 7mm-350 Remington Magnum
• 30 Hart Magnum
  
• 30-338 Winchester Magnum
  
• 30-8mm Remington Magnum
  
• 30-350 Remington Magnum
  
• 300 H&H Magnum
  
• 300 Winchester Magnum
  
• 300 Weatherby Magnum
  
• 300 Mashburn Magnum
  
• 300 Jarrett
  
• 300 Remington SAUM
  
• 300 Remington Ultra Magnum
  
• 300 WSM
  
• 308 Baer
  
• 308 Norma Magnum
  
• 8mm Remington Magnum
  
• 8mm-338 Winchester Magnum
  
• 8mm-300 Winchester Magnum
  
• 8mm-300 WSM
  
• 8x56mm Mannlicher
  
• 338 Winchester Magnum
  
• 338 Baer
  
• 338 Jarrett
  
• 338-308 Norma Magnum
  
• 338-300 WSM
  
• 338-8mm Remington Magnum
  
• 338-300 Winchester Magnum
  
• 338-350 Remington Magnum
  
• 340 Weatherby Magnum
  
• 338 Remington Ultra Magnum
  
• 35-8mm Remington Magnum
• 35-338 Winchester Magnum
  
• 35-300 Weatherby Magnum
  
• 35-300 WSM
  
• 350 Remington Magnum
  
• 358 Norma Magnum
  
• 358 STA
  
• 9.3x74mm R
  
• 9.3mm Wilson
  
• 375 H&H Magnum
  
• 375 Mashburn Magnum
  
• 375 Weatherby Magnum
  
• 375-300 Winchester Magnum
  
• 375-300 WSM
  
• 375 Remington Ultra Magnum
  
• 375-8mm Remington Magnum
  
• 375-338 Winchester Magnum
• 375-350 Remington Magnum
  
• 416 Remington Magnum
  
• 416-300 Remington Ultra Magnum
  
• 416-300 WSM
  
• 416 Hoffman
  
• 416 Taylor
  
• 416 Express
  
• 425 Express
  
• 450 Ackley Magnum
  
• 450 Marlin
  
• 455 Webley
  
• 458x2" American
  
• 458 Winchester Magnum
  
• 470 Capstick

the competition shellholder set works great . it eliminates the gap between the die and shellholder . when there is a gap you will have inconsistent shoulder bump .

jimbires said:

the competition shellholder set works great . it eliminates the gap between the die and shellholder . when there is a gap you will have inconsistent shoulder bump .

Click to expand...

+1!!!

I don't have a gap. The die hits the base plate (Dillon) and/or shell holder (Lyman) in order to get the bump I need.

I suppose this could be the fundamental issue. The bump is being controlled by the amount compression of the holder/plate/die/press.

Are you using the expander ball with your bushing die?

Westex91 said:

Are you using the expander ball with your bushing die?

Click to expand...

No.
When running Dillon, I will use another 300WM die, raised way high, and with polished expander button, to round out any neck dents before going through Redding.

I have used some huge presses in the past thinking this was necessary to get the desired outcome.
Came to realise that my 60's era Rockchucker was sufficient, but soon moved to the Rockchucker Supreme due to case lengths I had moved into, Gibbs and Rigby based cartridges are LOOOONG.
CAM OVER is key, it controls bump to .001" springback consistently and hovering, doubling or rotating the case often helps too.

My Redding Big Boss II gathers dust now, never use it.

Cheers.

poor quality lube can cause inconsistent bumps too . I tried a few different lubes , I'm back to using the lube pad with RCBS case lube .