Small Base Dies

I've been reloading for my M1 Garand with normal RCBC FL dies without any problems. There seems to be real mixed opinion on this. If you've already got some dies then I'd say just try them and see. If you don't, 30-06 is crazy popular, maybe a friend can lend you a set of dies and see if they work?
 
Get a Redding Body Sizing Die. If your rounds don't fit the chamber you run the loaded round through the body size die. Sure saves pulling bullets to resize them.
 
Depends on the gun. My GF shoots a 7400 carbine in 3006. it is very picky on what it will shoot. i shot a 740 in 3006 and it will digest anything i throw at. this year i loaded on small base dies for the GF and she had zero problems and two deer to show for it.
 
They might be necessary, but maybe not. I have SB dies in .300 Win Mag and 30-06 and haven't noticed any difference in case life or accuracy at all. A friend often gets me to size his free source of .300 Win Mag brass acquired from another friend who uses a BAR in that caliber. He can't chamber those cases in his own rifle even if he full length sizes them. I give them a squeeze once and he's good to go.
 
I use to use SB dies in .223 and later changed to regular FL sizing dies. Regular dies never gave me a problem. Small base dies can be harder to use in that you need more umfh to sqeeze down the base of the case. Makes them look squished as well. My expirence has been that small base dies are not needed.
 
I've loaded for quite a few 760/7600s over the years, including .308, 30/06, 270, 35Whelen, 358Win and .223.

NONE required a SB die. All I did was FLR and had no problems.



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It all depends on the individual chamber. If you are having trouble with reloads then it would be worth a try. Load up a round with your normal dies and then compare to factory rounds using a guage. That should tell the tale. Dave
 
Does the SB die re size the head on the brass? I have been reloading for my Tikka T3 Varmint in .223 in some once fired brass I picked up and I'm only able to close the bolt on about 70% of the cartridges I load! After carefully checking them all and finding all measurements to be perfect I noticed the heads have nicks and marks... even warpage on a few and when I gently file them I was able to close the bolt on a few more, but not many. I was using full length pacesetter, Lee dies and figured I'd have no trouble, but now I'm looking at throwing away a bunch of brass that I don't want to.
 
I've seen quite a few guns that required SB dies.
Two Browning 308 BLR's purchased at the same time by brothers strangely both needed them!
My Winny 100 needs SB dies.

Dogleg " Does any-one make a SB die in 35 Whelen? I could use one for my 7600 pump."

I donno! but you could always "Filing a bit off the top of a shell holder" :evil:

Course that would set the shoulder back :D
 
jimpruner said:
Does the SB die re size the head on the brass? I have been reloading for my Tikka T3 Varmint in .223 in some once fired brass I picked up and I'm only able to close the bolt on about 70% of the cartridges I load! After carefully checking them all and finding all measurements to be perfect I noticed the heads have nicks and marks... even warpage on a few and when I gently file them I was able to close the bolt on a few more, but not many. I was using full length pacesetter, Lee dies and figured I'd have no trouble, but now I'm looking at throwing away a bunch of brass that I don't want to.
Click to expand...

If you have your FL die set so it bumbs the shellholder with a case inserted & it's still not going into the chamber....you need a set of SB dies.
 
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