Headspace

dwm

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2003
Messages
756
Location
Texas
I was talking to a friend of mine who shoots benchrest and he was telling me that I should set up my shoulder bump/full length dies to headspace just enough to push the ejector back some.

I have in the past been setting them up so that the bolt will close on a resized case with little to no resistance. (As the instructions for the dies recommend.)

He was telling me that for benchrest they headspace the case so that they can fell just a little resistance when the bolt is closed. This is done with the firing pin removed to take away the resistance of compressing the firing pin spring.

What do you guys think of this?

Doug
 
Many precision shoters, as well as many top-ranked gunsmiths tighten up the headspace to remove the variability between how the cartridge rests in the chamber. If the cartridge will chamber with just a little effort, all should be well.

Mark in Utah
 
Depends on the rifle. If this is a production rifle, you will have to play with the sizing to see which works the best. BR guns are set up with very little tolerance and are as straight as can be. They also run fitted brass, etc, etc, etc.

In a "hunting" rifle, the action may have some slop or the chamber not perfectly concentric. Partial or FL sizing may give better results.

In general, I neck size as often as I can. I find this produces the most accurate ammo in general and longest brass life. I do not bump the shoulder leaving the fireformed brass as it comes from the chamber. I use the Lee collet neck die if available. I try to make the most concentric ammo I can.

When the case gets stiff to chamber (sometimes as high as 10 firings), I usually throw it out. By then, there are other wear related issues and sizing down can lead to head separation.

if you can get a commerical sizing die to just bump the shoulder and squeeze the base so that chambering is firm but not tight, you are a very lucky man. Chances are your buddy is using a custom die cut from the same reamer that cut his chamber. Big money and not always possible with a commerical rifle.

Try both neck and FL sizing and see which shoots the best in your rifle. Brass life may have to take second place.

Jerry
 
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