175 Gr sierra HPBT and varget

LS, my body dies will touch the top of the shoulder just below the neck and where the shoulder and neck meet.

Usually, there is little to no sizing at the base of the case.

Since using these dies, I have found that case growth goes forward and bumping the shoulder is usually all that is needed for easy chambering.

The web area tends not to expand much unless you have very high pressures or the lock up is spongy.

It will solve the problem of chambering you are facing.

Follow the steps in my article and keep an eye on runout. If the barrel is going to shoot, this method will find it.

If it still doesn't shoot, consider trying Bergers or Amax. Some barrels don't like certain bullets.
Jerry
 
Set the body die so the case is just sized enough or bumped so that chambering is easy.

Very simple once you have the die in use. By slowing lowering the die in the press, it will touch the case, then move the shoulder a thou or two. Chamber check this brass and keep lowering the die until the case chambers as desired.

Don't over do it or you will have head separation issues.

I set the die to just touch the shoulder and use it every firing. That way I know all the brass will chamber properly.

you can set it for zero headspace if desired.

Jerry
 
Not to be an ass but you are neck sizing brass that has been fired in the same rifle right?

You've double checked your trim length and the straitness of the case walls (ie, there is not slight deformation from incorrectly set dies etc...)?

Which brand of neck dies are you using?

Have you measured the case head expansion before and after firing? Sometimes it is the only obvious sign of over pressure.
 
I'm using once fired Norma that wasn't fired in my gun before.Trim length is well under what fits with a full length resized case so shouldn't be any issues there. My neck die is an RCBS.Not sure how I would check the case wall straightness?

Jerry can I do this with my FL resizing die with the decapper removed or do I need a body die?This sounds like a pretty good method.It also sounds like you suspect my shoulders are slightly out and thats whats causing the chambering issues?
 
I might have missed this step in the thread but are you full length sizing the brass then firing it then neck sizing it? Neck sizing is usually only done on brass that has been fired in the firearm that it will be going back into due to variations in chamber dimensions.
 
Longshot said:
Jerry can I do this with my FL resizing die with the decapper removed or do I need a body die?This sounds like a pretty good method.It also sounds like you suspect my shoulders are slightly out and thats whats causing the chambering issues?
Click to expand...

Norma brass is on the soft side so stretches more then say Win or Lapua. Not a big deal but it just means that a case needs to be bumped after every firing.

Remember that we are only talking 1 or 2 thou of sizing. Just enough so the brass chambers easily. It should feel like the die doesn't even touch the brass.

I do that with all my competition rds anyways to make sure I never have a problem with a 'jam' on the line.

If you have to really move the brass, have a good look at your bolt lugs as they may not be seating properly.

I avoid using FL dies because the neck area may oversize my brass which can lead to serious runout issues and/or the die will size the web area reduces the alignment fireformed brass gives me.

If you have a FL die that is a bit fat in the base vs your chamber, then just hog out the neck area so it cannot touch the case. Voila, body die. Yes, you will use this die without the expander rod/ball.

Jerry
 
Longshot said:
Which part exactly is known as the web?I was under the impression that was between the neck and the shoulder.
Click to expand...

Lower down. The part of the case that is solid, through which the primer flash hole passes, is called the web. So it's the entire back end of the case, carrying perhaps .1" forward of the extractor groove - section an old case and see.
 
Bit of a thread from the dead,but I think I may have figured out part of the problems.It seems that when my rifle's chamber was cut,either an old reamer or a reamer with an extremely long throat( or no throat) was used.I'd put in the Stoney Point OAL and when I took it out,to get the bullet to touch the lands,it was nearly falling out of the case.So it's had the chamber re cut with a new reamer.I took it out to the range a few days ago and banged some 175 GGM through it at 100 and it was much more impressive.One ragged hole kinda stuff.So now I figure I should go back and retest all my loads.I'm a little worried that the reason I wasn't showing any pressure signs even up around the 46 Gr of varget range was because the rifle had so much jump/freebore.
Any thoughts guys?
 
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