M14's and small base dies?
- Thread starter spraiski
- Start date
If the small base die is not needed, the brass is being sized then expanded more than necessary, every firing cycle.
You are aware that it is very important that cartridges must chamber freely in rifles like the 305, M-1, etc.
I have never found a SB die to be needed when loading for M-14, M305 or M-1 rifles, but make sure that one isn't necessary when ammunition is loaded for your rifle.
You are aware that it is very important that cartridges must chamber freely in rifles like the 305, M-1, etc.
I have never found a SB die to be needed when loading for M-14, M305 or M-1 rifles, but make sure that one isn't necessary when ammunition is loaded for your rifle.
On any rifle a failure of action to go into full battery could mean your cases need more sizing...sometimes there is a quick fix..and it's free......usually there is some slop allowing leeway with the shellholder and the bottom of the case....if so and your having problems with getting that last little bit into the chamber.....make a small washer out of thin shimm stock....and put it between the case head and the shell holder...you may have to try diff. thicknesses....at the very least it will tell you what the prob. is!!
SB dies size the base, just foreward of the extractor groove, to a smaller than standard diameter. The balance of the case receives a conventional fl sizing.
Most 305s have rather generous headspace. Excessive fl sizing, forcing the case into the die farther than necessary, is going to contribute to early case separations. You do not want to set the shoulder back any more than necessary. Your sized cartridge cases must chamber freely; this is important for safety reasons. I have never needed to use SB dies. Do you have .308 dies now? You might want to experiment a bit to determine how much sizing is necessary with your rifle.
Most 305s have rather generous headspace. Excessive fl sizing, forcing the case into the die farther than necessary, is going to contribute to early case separations. You do not want to set the shoulder back any more than necessary. Your sized cartridge cases must chamber freely; this is important for safety reasons. I have never needed to use SB dies. Do you have .308 dies now? You might want to experiment a bit to determine how much sizing is necessary with your rifle.
I don't currently have any .308 dies, otherwise I would probably trying a bit more and asking a bit less 
So far the rifle doesn't seem to have a problem going into full battery with Norinco ammo (and any unfired commercial round should be the same size as a case that has been full length sized with a standard .308 die - did I get this part correct?).
Spraiski
So far the rifle doesn't seem to have a problem going into full battery with Norinco ammo (and any unfired commercial round should be the same size as a case that has been full length sized with a standard .308 die - did I get this part correct?).
Spraiski
actually, the commercial 308 is just a tad shorter than 7.62- very much a tad- considering the m14 series closes the bolt with the freocity of a freight train at top speed,as long as you feed directly from the mag, all commercial rounds should be fine- just for god sakes, don't chamber a round directly- always feed from the mag
I bought the SB dies, because most people I asked said so....
What is one to do, in order to avoid the extra resizing? assuming that the round would chamber safely?
I thought about buying a competition set from RCBS, but it runs for over 80 US.
Any thoughts?
What is one to do, in order to avoid the extra resizing? assuming that the round would chamber safely?
I thought about buying a competition set from RCBS, but it runs for over 80 US.
Any thoughts?
i think you're worrying for nothing- i've got 4 m14 -not one of them needs anything but standard reloading practises and dies- 1 h&r, 1 springfield, trw, and a rinco- i use standard remmy of winny 308 brass and never had a problem-748 powder, mag primer, 165 grain slug
You are all correct finding out that small base dies are not needed for the Chinese M14's that have such large read - battle chambers.
Remember that when you full length re-size your M14 brass, you are stretching the heck out of it over and over again since the brass expands (stretches) to the size of the chamber which is likely around 10 thousandths of an inch above the 1.630" SAAMI spec. Then when you FL re-size it (shell holder kisses the bottom of the sizing die), you are returning that brass case BACK down to 1.630". This excessive stretching is quite needless and will overwork your brass , thus reducing case life.... Been there, done that.
Cheers,
Barney
Remember that when you full length re-size your M14 brass, you are stretching the heck out of it over and over again since the brass expands (stretches) to the size of the chamber which is likely around 10 thousandths of an inch above the 1.630" SAAMI spec. Then when you FL re-size it (shell holder kisses the bottom of the sizing die), you are returning that brass case BACK down to 1.630". This excessive stretching is quite needless and will overwork your brass , thus reducing case life.... Been there, done that.
Cheers,
Barney
- Location
- Downtown Vancouver, BC
What exactly IS a die? I've looked it up in several places and didn't get a definition.
- basically, it's a resizing chamber - when the cartridge fires, the expanding gasses drive the bullet down the barrel as well as swell the brass casing slightly- if you try to reseat a bullet in the casing at this time it won't hold- and possibly the casing won't chamber , all because of the swelling- forcing that casing into a resizing die pushes the brass back to the original dimensions, allowing it to grip the bullet firmly once more as well as chamber in your rifle properly- if you necksize only, all you're doing is renewing the neck's grip on the bullet, but sometimes resizing the full case is not necessaryilovepotatos said:What exactly IS a die? I've looked it up in several places and didn't get a definition.
t-star said:
True, but that is not the single 308 in my cabinet.
I have another and plan on getting some more ...
I'll stick to the samll base for the M14, but I'd like to know if it is imperative to get a regular or neck sizing die for the bolt actions...
Would the trick with backing off the die work?
you'd best segregate your ammo for the 14 anyway, for safety's sake- loads worked up in one rifle may be dangerous in another- i have 6 308s and each one of them has a different pressure curve- if you stick to bolts, the trick of backing off the sizing die DOES work, it's just that the semi, levers and pumps don't have the camming action the bolt does
