Newbie Redding Bushing dies - update with another question.

warrenb

warrenb

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I just received my "complete set" #78594. Should I have received a shell holder with these?

I would appreciate tips on setting up the body die and neck bushing die. Instructions are instructions but I know from experience that experience counts.

I am sizing once fired 338 LM. The cost is making me extra careful. :eek:


Thanks guys.
 
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Thank you for that. I knew about the bushing and ordered the shell holder to match my hornady trimmer, other equip shell holders are not compatible with Hornady equip unless you drill them out.

Any special tips on how to set these babies up?

Its the bushing die that I'm wondering about, basically setting the depth and what works for you guys.
 
Its the bushing die that I'm wondering about, basically setting the depth and what works for you guys.
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I can screw the neck bushing die down until it bottoms on the shellholder, and it won't touch the shoulder on my cases,so that is where my die is set.
 
If the once fired cases will chamber in your rifle, don't use the body die at all, at least not initially.

If and or evenually when they won't chamber without what you consider excessive effort, screw it in at bit at a time until they will chamber with a tiny bit of resistance when lowering the bolt handle. Set the lock ring and forget it.
 
Set it.........and forget it(everyone together now)..
Shell holders don't come with most die sets because alot of presses don't use shellholders.
 
Dogleg I need to use the body die as they won't chamber but am proceding as you described.

I know I am asking basic questions but just like to proceed correctly as every once in a while I do bollox things up. :D

Thanks for the responses guys.

QUOTE=ben hunchak;6564170]Set it.........and forget it(everyone together now)..
Shell holders don't come with most die sets because alot of presses don't use shellholders.[/QUOTE]


Ben, I guess Lee have spoilt me. lol. My only other Redding set was bought used and it came with the shell holder. So I have always assumed that Redding did that. Now I know.
 
Well I guess its not my lucky day. I put a few cases through the body die and fully sized the necks in the neck die. I worked down slowly with the body die until I hit the shell holder. I still cannot get the bolt to close fully.

I have checked all case dimensions as best I can with a vernier and the cases are within spec.

I'm wondering if I should take a few thousands off the shell holder or if I should order a go gauge first and check chamber dimensions?

Your suggestions are much appreciated.
 
Were these shells fired in your rifle? If not hten a full length resize is called for. Once fired in your rifle neck sizing should be good.
 
No they are 338LM purchased once fired. I am using a Redding body die plus a neck die. My guess is that the rifle they were fired in has a bigger head space than my savage (I'm stating the obvious :D) and the Redding body die is hitting the shell holder before bumping the shoulder back enough.

The body die is however contacting the shoulder but its hard to measure how much with vernier calipers. I can see contact but can't measure it accurately.

This stuff makes reloading fun. :)
 
So I finally have the bolt closing but I have taken over 30 thou off my Hornady shell holder.

The bolt is closing under more resistance than I would like. I'l think a while and likely take another 10 thou off the shell holder.
 
So I finally have the bolt closing but I have taken over 30 thou off my Hornady shell holder.
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What type of press are you using? .030" is a huge amount, and I am wondering if your press is not flexing and failing to bottom the die firmly against the shell holder with a case in place. I have seen this happen with a cheap LEE press.

This type of situation is one reason why I never purchase previously fired brass.
 
Its a Lee (not the heavy duty classic cast). It is bottoming out. 30 thou is a helluva lot. I knew that. I have now ripped the rim out of my Hornady shell holder which to be honest I was expecting.

Luckily I managed to remove the stuck case fairly easily.

I'm not really much further forward in figuring out what the problem is, dies, shell holder, brass, chamber. I don't think chamber.

It looks like the body die is only just bumping the bottom of the shoulder not the full face if that makes any sense.
 
Its a Lee (not the heavy duty classic cast). It is bottoming out.
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In the instance that I speak of, the die was bottoming out without a case, but a thin feeler gauge would fit between with a case in place. It looked to be bottoming out, but it really wasn't. What are you using for a lube?

It sounds like the brass was fired in a very oversize chamber, and just won't push back far enough. I have seen similar situations with previously fired brass, so I avoid it, even though it is usually priced much lower.Still .030" is extreme, so there may be another factor at play. Have you tried new brass or loads in your rifle?
 
I may have to go buy some lapua ammo to try. Oh dear.

I'm not sure why I would not be able to get fired brass to push back with a die. Its just case forming after all. I did not try a feeler guage but could not see day light when it bottomed and I looked.

I guess I have to go get another shell holder before continuing or buy ammo.

Thanks for taking the time to help.
 
Just a thought, could your depriming pin be protruding too much and hitting the bottom of the case? This would stop you from fully entering the die. Take a light and look into your case and see if it i shiny around the flash hole. Just an idea.
 
Just a thought, could your depriming pin be protruding too much and hitting the bottom of the case? This would stop you from fully entering the die. Take a light and look into your case and see if it i shiny around the flash hole.
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It's not a bad idea, but if that was the case, grinding down the shell holder should not have made any difference. Apparently it did make a difference.
 
I do not have a decapping pin in the body die.
I think I will order a go guage and fully expect that to chamber fine.

After taking ten thou off the shell holder it crossed my mind to start removing metal from the base of the die. But the shell holder is cheap to replace and without a go guage to confirm the chamber I guess I am working blind.
 
It may not be the length to shoulder that is stopping the case from chambering. The expanded diameter of the case can stop it just as easily. If that is the situation, then shortening the die or planeing the shell-holder is going to create excess head-space before allowing easy chambering. With a .30 thousandths cut I would say you're already there.That sort of thing happens a lot with salvaged cases fired in sloppy chambers, and there is a certain amount of spring-back after sizeing. A small base die can cure a swollen case problem, but whether such an animal exists for the lop-wah I don't know.



A quick and dirty method of checking the case diameter is to colour the case with a sharpy and trying to chamber it. The marker will be rubbed off at the point of contact.
 
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