Body die issues

[huntsd123]

I run the Redding small base body die in my 223 and 6.5 cm. After 1x firing I set the shoulders back .002" and lock die ring. I use a forester co ax. I run a few pieces through the press and none come out .002". They range from being set back .003"-.001".

Any suggestions?

 

[PddPdd]

You may need more firings before the brass if fully sized to the chamber. Were you having any issues chambering the once fired brass before resizing? If not, I would not resize until 3X firings. Note the initial firings should not be at max loads. It would be better to gently "chamber size" them with nominal loads so you don't weaken (thin out the brass) in the area that is about .2" from the case head. I only push the shoulder back when there is an issue with chambering. I anneal before resizing as it makes it easier for the brass to reach chamber size with fewer firings.

The information I'm sharing is my own experience plus the experience of many other knowledgeable reloaders on this forum.

 

[huntsd123]

You may need more firings before the brass if fully sized to the chamber. Were you having any issues chambering the once fired brass before resizing? If not, I would not resize until 3X firings. Note the initial firings should not be at max loads. It would be better to gently "chamber size" them with nominal loads so you don't weaken (thin out the brass) in the area that is about .2" from the case head. I only push the shoulder back when there is an issue with chambering. I anneal before resizing as it makes it easier for the brass to reach chamber size with fewer firings.

The information I'm sharing is my own experience plus the experience of many other knowledgeable reloaders on this forum.

thank you. I took measurements of all the brass beforehand. They all had expanded to
The same dimension.

 

[PddPdd]

To confirm that the expansion is complete, I would load a few pieces of the once fired brass a second time then shoot & measure. This would confirm complete expansion to chamber dimensions IMO.

 

[huntsd123]

To confirm that the expansion is complete, I would load a few pieces of the once fired brass a second time then shoot & measure. This would confirm complete expansion to chamber dimensions IMO.

thanks. even if the brass is not fully expanded. Correct me if am wrong but does this not solve the issue. I measured 6 pieces of brass. all expanded to same length. I set one back to .002 then ran the remaining through the die. The remaining came out .003-.001.

could this be some sort of spring back if not fully expanded?

 

[lancetkenyon]

Anneal your brass. Worked brass doesn't always harden the same for each piece. Annealing will bring them back down, and SHOULD allow for more uniform sizing.

Also, using the same amount of resizing lube helps greatly. Too little, sticks in the die a hair, causing inconsistencies.

 

[Mikecr]

Should mildly anneal shoulders before fire forming, and then fire form 3 times (with no bumping) -before bumping.
With this, you won't be chasing your tail.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Should mildly anneal shoulders before fire forming, and then fire form 3 times (with no bumping) -before bumping.
With this, you won't be chasing your tail.

My guess (with the OP running SB FL dies), is these might be for an AR/semi-auto rifle? Making shooting 3 times before FL sizing more difficult for feeding issues.

I could be wrong, he may just have a tight chamber.

 

[huntsd123]

My guess (with the OP running SB FL dies), is these might be for an AR/semi-auto rifle? Making shooting 3 times before FL sizing more difficult for feeding issues.

I could be wrong, he may just have a tight chamber.

Shooting both 6.5cm and 223 out of a tikka t3x

 

[lancetkenyon]

Shooting both 6.5cm and 223 out of a tikka t3x

See, told you I could be wrong!

What is your reasoning for going with small base dies in a bolt action?

 

[Seabeeken]

It took 5 firings with only neck sizing to fully form some Norma 223 brass last UBR season. Annealed each firing before neck sizing. Once they fully formed they sized consistently. I wasn't hot-rodding them though.

 

[huntsd123]

Begging to think this a press issue. I seated some bullets last night. Getting huge variances per stroke. Some would come out perfectly seated, the. Next would be .005 shorter then next would be .001 longer ect…

 

[lancetkenyon]

Begging to think this a press issue. I seated some bullets last night. Getting huge variances per stroke. Some would come out perfectly seated, the. Next would be .005 shorter then next would be .001 longer ect…

What did you do different for neck prep this time?

Anneal?
Expanding mandrel?
Virgin brass or 1x w. some carbon in the neck?
Change seating stem?
Bullet sort?

 

[huntsd123]

What did you do different for neck prep this time?

Anneal?
Expanding mandrel?
Virgin brass or 1x w. some carbon in the neck?
Change seating stem?
Bullet sort?

my process is 1 popped the primers out 2 cleaned in a wet tumbler 3 body size 4 neck size with mandrel 5 trim (all brass is same length) 6 chamfer and debur 7 prime 8 charge 9 seat

This is all 1x fired