sizing die

[Mikecr]

I missed that you were just trying for partial NS only.
I don't know what 2 turns out from shell holder caused for neck sizing, but it takes very little neck sizing length to hold bullets.
Maybe you could go 2.5 turns out.

 

[QuietTexan]

I've used FL dies to only size about half the neck and had bullets hold fine. Mind you at that point I'm working to get the cases fired and grown and stabilized before using them for anything serious, I'm not headed out on week long hunt with once first cases and bullets barely hanging in the necks.

I prefer to use either a neck sizing die or bump die set high for the first few firings, but if FL is all you have it does work. Mainly I use bushing dies, as FL dies are almost universally fixed with too tight of sizing and requires a button or mandrel to open back up.

Forster "bump" dies don't size the body at all and come with three bushings, those are a good first upgrade from FL. If you run into needing body sizing you can set the FL die high and not necessarily hit the shoulders with it and then bump back in the Forster.

 

[Trnelson]

No problem with what you are doing. A lot of guys treat belted cases like this to make them fit the chamber better and not stretch as much on subsequent firings. The neck tension should be sufficient to hold a bullet, as long as it isn't a compressed load. Once it gets tough to close the bolt give the die a turn and carry on.

 

[Clem Bronkoski]

I've used FL dies to only size about half the neck and had bullets hold fine. Mind you at that point I'm working to get the cases fired and grown and stabilized before using them for anything serious, I'm not headed out on week long hunt with once first cases and bullets barely hanging in the necks.

I prefer to use either a neck sizing die or bump die set high for the first few firings, but if FL is all you have it does work. Mainly I use bushing dies, as FL dies are almost universally fixed with too tight of sizing and requires a button or mandrel to open back up.

Forster "bump" dies don't size the body at all and come with three bushings, those are a good first upgrade from FL. If you run into needing body sizing you can set the FL die high and not necessarily hit the shoulders with it and then bump back in the Forster.

Forster makes a bump die set with bushings (3) and and also make them with a single bushing. What are the advantages of having multiple bushings?

 

[Trnelson]

Forster makes a bump die set with bushings (3) and and also make them with a single bushing. What are the advantages of having multiple bushings?

Allows you to set the neck tension

 

[243winxb]

backed it out 2 full turns.

To save components, i would suggest .010" between shell holder and botton of fl die to start. Same process, but you will get there quicker. I use a feeler gauge.

With case volume changing every loading, using the 2 turn up method, the groups on target may mean little to nothing.

The Redding Competition Shellholder Set can be useful to control sizing. When shellholder & fl die make contact, this squares the fl die in the press. Then die is locked in. Also removes any spring/flex in the press.
Most dies need .003" to .005" between shellholder & fl die for a crush fit, when closing the bolt.



The Redding Competition Shellholder Kit consists of five shellholders in varying heights with increments of .002". Allows you to increase or decrease the case to chamber headspace.

 

[243winxb]

the expander ball

On factory fl dies, expanders can also thin the case neck walls, in a few sizings. Control neck sizing with a Redding type S fl Bushing die.

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

..backing out two full turns sounds like way too much. Your likely not touching much of the body at all and are neck sizing only..in a hunting rifle and hunting cartridges there's nothing wrong with complete full length sizing. Your target area is big, your not benchrest shooting but getting a cartridge to chamber is the only 'must' in the field..

 

[243winxb]

Mainly I use bushing dies, as FL dies are almost universally fixed with too tight of sizing and requires a button or mandrel to open back up.

I agree.
I use Redding Type S fl bushing dies in 243 & 6.5 CM. Best way to go for case life.
This die allows how much neck sizing is done (as i am sure you know).
The unsized part of the neck centers the bullet in the chamber, improving accuracy.

Under 1" groups @ 300 yards are possible. Rem 40X rifle. 243.

 

[QuietTexan]

Forster makes a bump die set with bushings (3) and and also make them with a single bushing. What are the advantages of having multiple bushings?

More options without buying separate items. 3 is normally enough to get the benefits of bushing sizing on different brass brands of brass with varying neck thicknesses. 1 bushing is kind of just a hope that it's a better fit than your FL die.

If you go down the rabbit hole of setting neck tension with bushing, mandrels, start turning necks, then the bushing increments matter enough that you end up with a ton, not just 1 or 3.

..backing out two full turns sounds like way too much. Your likely not touching much of the body at all and are neck sizing only..in a hunting rifle and hunting cartridges there's nothing wrong with complete full length sizing. Your target area is big, your not benchrest shooting but getting a cartridge to chamber is the only 'must' in the field..

There's no need to set a FL die to resize a once fired case that rechambers with neck sizing only, regardless of the usage case. Oversizing is oversizing.

 

[Mikecr]

Just be sure to load develop with your sizing plan (whatever it is).
You can't have sizing changing after load development and expect same results.
This why it's important to take your brass to stable-sized condition after full fire-forming.

Minimal sizing, minimal changing.
There are a lot of folks who jump right into FL sizing of new cases. They will never obtain stable brass with that plan.
Instead, they'll have fleeting success and tail chasing.
These are folks who continually trim, and who imply that neck thickness changes after initial turning,, they get popping extraction without adding even more sizing,, they excessively anneal, and have a high turnover rate of their brass.
All prices of excess sizing (both up & down)..
The guy who fully fire forms and minimally neck sizes & bumps -with an actual plan,, has none of these issues. He load develops in that stable condition and wears out barrels with that brass, rarely showing up on forums with problems.

 

[Clem Bronkoski]

Just be sure to load develop with your sizing plan (whatever it is).
You can't have sizing changing after load development and expect same results.
This why it's important to take your brass to stable-sized condition after full fire-forming.

Minimal sizing, minimal changing.
There are a lot of folks who jump right into FL sizing of new cases. They will never obtain stable brass with that plan.
Instead, they'll have fleeting success and tail chasing.
These are folks who continually trim, and who imply that neck thickness changes after initial turning,, they get popping extraction without adding even more sizing,, they excessively anneal, and have a high turnover rate of their brass.
All prices of excess sizing (both up & down)..
The guy who fully fire forms and minimally neck sizes & bumps -with an actual plan,, has none of these issues. He load develops in that stable condition and wears out barrels with that brass, rarely showing up on forums with problems.

I finally got my brass to the point we're they were a bit hard to rechamber I trimmed them all to .010" under max and set my sizer for .002" shoulder bump.
I'll see how these shoot and then spend the $$ and get a Forster sizing die w/bushings.

 

[lyle2231]

I f8nally got my brass to the point we're they were a bit hard to recharger so I trimmed them all to .010" under max and set my sizer for .002" shoulder bump.
I'll see how these shoot and then spend the $$ and get a Forster sizing die w/bushings.

FWIW….I recommend Redding. Just my 2c

 

[Clem Bronkoski]

well I ordered the Forster bump sizing die with bushings for the 300WM and the 6.5CM and also micrometer seating dies. Now I guess I can recoup some $$ by selling my standard RCBS dies.