relaoding 22-250 - bullet seating problem - help
- Thread starter explorin2
- Start date
decapping pin was removed. RCBS press and RCBS FL resizing die. Shell holder is Lee, for they were out of RCBS (read you should keep die and holder same make .. but anyway)
THANK YOU VERDANA ... good eyes, and others who tried to tell me this.
I misunderstood/misread the instructions for the dies, I was putting in a shell case and then setting resizing die. Just did a re read, and it is the "case holder" and not shell. I can't believed I screwed that up.
Thanks ... I had a
moment ... wasnt setting die to holder ... was setting die to shell .... opps ... the RCBS video even showed this 
I think you are right ... will keep you posted on how it goes ..
the light came on ... was setting up die wrong
using once fired hornaby and federal
like they are telling you resize more of the neck- best is to get a neck sizing die- also always trim first then resize- don't seat the bullets so deep just my 2 1/2 cents worth
I think I may have the problem figured out .. finally. Most literature I read recommends full lenght, but I has there are neck sizing dies as well. When would one specifically use a neck sizing die.
My only question now is should the bottom of a FL resizing die touch the top of the shell holder when resizing a shell? At present they will only come within an 1/8" of each other ... maybe need to apply more pressure when doing it?
Usually they should touch. Raise the ram all the way up with no case in the shell holder. Lower your die until it touches the shell holder, then give it a bit more to allow for flex in your press. Make sure your case is well lubed and your decapping rod is not turned down too much and hitting the bottom of the case before the case is completely in the die. Insert case into die and raise the ram. Once you think it is completely up look and see if your shell holder is touching the die, if not lower the ram and turn down the die some more because your press is flexing.
Now you're on the right track. Your sizing die is always set without a case in the shell holder. You likely don't have the sizing die turned down deep enough if you have if you have a 1/8 gap. Push the press handle all the way down then screw the die down until it touches the shell holder. Then put a case in it and resize it. Take that resized brass and put it in your rifle and see if the bolt will close (assuming it's a bolt) without having to force it. It will likely not fit but don't worry about that. Now go back to the press with the same piece of brass turn the die down 1/8 of a turn and size that case. You're now going to find that it's going to take some push at the bottom to finish the stroke. This is because you're starting to move the shoulder of the case back. Now try that case in the gun again and you should be able to close the bolt on it with less effort. If you feel it's too tight to chamber then you go back to the press and turn the die down another 1/8 of a turn and go thru the process again. Eventually it will feel right and you will have the sizing die set where you like it. This is what the guys have been meaning by saying you have to turn the die down 1/8 or a 1/4 turn. Now is when you measure the case length and see if you have to trim the case. It makes no sense to trim beforehand when you are full length resizing because you are changing the full length measurement when you run it thru the die. Now we'll assume you've properly sized the case neck so you shouldn't have a problem with the neck not having enough grip on the bullet. The bullet should go in firm but not firm enough to peel brass off the side of the bullet. To set the seating die again push the handle all the way down and screw the die in to where it's close to the shell holder but not touching. Back the seating stem well out and then you can start on the seating process. Take that case you've been using and without a primer or powder in it blacken a bullet with a marker pen and start the bullet in the case either by hand or use the press if you have too but make sure it's "too" long. Then put this in your gun and close the bolt on it. When you pull it back out you should see some brass marks thru the black because the bullet is to far into the lands but now you know where to start your seating depth. Now put that case back in the press, push the handle all the way down and screw the seating stem down until you feel it touching the bullet. The bullet is likely 25 thou or so too long so just keep blackening the bullet and push it down until the gold marks don't show anymore. This should give you a safe bullet to start shooting with. Any problems let us know. One more thing. You asked about partial neck sizing which is fine but you will still need the dies you have now because eventually you will need the dies to push the shoulder back because the case will "grow".
(read you should keep die and holder same make .. but anyway)
Not at all, mix & match as you choose, the rest of us do
I'd recommend you leave the neck size die alone till you've lots of experience.
You can neck size your brass with a standard FL Die set. The further you raise the FL die above the shell holder the less of the case your sizeing.
You can take a fired round & by raising the die partially FL size it, then lower the die a bit more each time till the bolt of your gun closes on the case.
Now you have super custom ammo!
Now after saying all that, I'd recommend sizeing all the way down for most hunting rifle applications. It's not like that last 1/16" accuracy is gonna make any diff in mst applications.
Not at all, mix & match as you choose, the rest of us do
I'd recommend you leave the neck size die alone till you've lots of experience.
You can neck size your brass with a standard FL Die set. The further you raise the FL die above the shell holder the less of the case your sizeing.
You can take a fired round & by raising the die partially FL size it, then lower the die a bit more each time till the bolt of your gun closes on the case.
Now you have super custom ammo!
Now after saying all that, I'd recommend sizeing all the way down for most hunting rifle applications. It's not like that last 1/16" accuracy is gonna make any diff in mst applications.
OK .. thanks all.
Cleaned everything, reorganized, and started a new batch ... and scrapped the old. Also picked up a lube pad/neck brush/and case lube (for was just using the spray stuff before).
All seems good now, or working how it should be anyway. I can now get the resizing die to touch the shell holder with an fired shell in it ... without excessive force. I then set a bullet, and it went in smooth and then tried pushing the bullet into case, by holding the shell and pushing the bullet against the table ... and it didnt budge.
Just fine tuning time .. THANKS EVERYONE !! GREATLY APPRECIATED. I think I had a few problems ... not setting the die right and not using enough lube (or lubing the shell and inside of the neck properly). And appreciate the tip on custom fitting the shell (or elimating head space .. correct??)
And will leave the neck sizing die alone for a bit. I was reading in Nosler 6th edition that this particular caliber (22-250) is best left neck sized only, and greatly increase the number of times a shell be re-used. They state FL sizing expands/thins the shell. Not gready at this point in time ... happy if I can get 1 or 2 reuses at this point in time.
Till next issue ")
Cleaned everything, reorganized, and started a new batch ... and scrapped the old. Also picked up a lube pad/neck brush/and case lube (for was just using the spray stuff before).
All seems good now, or working how it should be anyway. I can now get the resizing die to touch the shell holder with an fired shell in it ... without excessive force. I then set a bullet, and it went in smooth and then tried pushing the bullet into case, by holding the shell and pushing the bullet against the table ... and it didnt budge.
Just fine tuning time .. THANKS EVERYONE !! GREATLY APPRECIATED. I think I had a few problems ... not setting the die right and not using enough lube (or lubing the shell and inside of the neck properly). And appreciate the tip on custom fitting the shell (or elimating head space .. correct??)
And will leave the neck sizing die alone for a bit. I was reading in Nosler 6th edition that this particular caliber (22-250) is best left neck sized only, and greatly increase the number of times a shell be re-used. They state FL sizing expands/thins the shell. Not gready at this point in time ... happy if I can get 1 or 2 reuses at this point in time.
Till next issue ")
10-4 .. thanks ...
