The instructions for my dies state to adjust the sizing die up to a 1/4 turn past making contact with the shell plate for bottlenecked cases, but to just contact for all other cases. If you are reloading a bottlenecked & rimmed case, meaning a case that headspaced off the rim, do you need to size it like a bottlenecked case?
Question about rimmed bottlenecked cases
- Thread starter 41 Colt
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"...do you need to size it like a bottlenecked case?..." You mean a straight walled rimmed case like a .45-70? Still needs to be resized. So does a bottlenecked, rimmed, case like a .303 or .30-30.
I've always set up the dies to just kiss the shell holder with the ram all the way up. Mind you, I don't load rimmed rifle ammo.
I've always set up the dies to just kiss the shell holder with the ram all the way up. Mind you, I don't load rimmed rifle ammo.
No. This would over-work the brass.
best way to set the die is with brass shot in a different rifle. Find a case that won't chamber, and start sizing it in increments. First try should be with die sizing about 3/4 of the neck. That probabbly would not chamber. then adjust the die in 1/4 turn increments until case chambers. Then one more quarter turn for the "worst case" cases, and lock that setting.
If all you have is brass fireed in your rifle, then a setting that size 3/4 of the neck should be just fine. This is neck sizing, only. Every once in a awhile you will have to size it a bit more.
best way to set the die is with brass shot in a different rifle. Find a case that won't chamber, and start sizing it in increments. First try should be with die sizing about 3/4 of the neck. That probabbly would not chamber. then adjust the die in 1/4 turn increments until case chambers. Then one more quarter turn for the "worst case" cases, and lock that setting.
If all you have is brass fireed in your rifle, then a setting that size 3/4 of the neck should be just fine. This is neck sizing, only. Every once in a awhile you will have to size it a bit more.
Bottle neck cases that are rimmed, and head space on the rim, will still fail to go fully into the case, if the shoulder gets pushed out too far. In this case they are headspacing on the shoulder. This would be why those instructions were given with the dies.
The perfect way to set the sizing die is to fire, preferrably a new case, in your rifle. the shoulder will then be extended to the chamber shoulder. Now, if you neck size only, in a very few shots the shoulder will have expanded enough that you can't close the bolt.
Therefore, set the sizing die so it just kisses the shoulder of the case. That way it just keeps the shoulder from expanding further and will not shorten case life any more than just neck sizing.
The calibre where this is most important is the 303 British. The military didn't want anything, like mud, etc, to impede the 303 cartridge from going into the Lee Enfield. Therefore, they made the chambers nearly ¼ inch ahead of the shoulders on the shells. If the shoulders on these were pushed back with every reloading one would get mighty few reloadings from the cases.
The perfect way to set the sizing die is to fire, preferrably a new case, in your rifle. the shoulder will then be extended to the chamber shoulder. Now, if you neck size only, in a very few shots the shoulder will have expanded enough that you can't close the bolt.
Therefore, set the sizing die so it just kisses the shoulder of the case. That way it just keeps the shoulder from expanding further and will not shorten case life any more than just neck sizing.
The calibre where this is most important is the 303 British. The military didn't want anything, like mud, etc, to impede the 303 cartridge from going into the Lee Enfield. Therefore, they made the chambers nearly ¼ inch ahead of the shoulders on the shells. If the shoulders on these were pushed back with every reloading one would get mighty few reloadings from the cases.
