smoking cases to set resize die.

[Farlsincharge]

I am trying to set my die to match a once fired case for my .243. I have smoked the shoulder and am trying to find where the die contacts the shoulder. I have found that the die touches the outside of the shoulder before the inside (by the neck). Is this what I want. I had figured it would touch by the neck first and I could adjust until it touched further down the shoulder. Could anyone post a pic of what a smoked case would look like when properly set up. either that or some more advice would be helpful.


Thanks guys

 

[H4831]

Your smoke method is just a guide. When you think it is about right, see if the empty will chamber OK. You should feel just a touch on the bolt when you close the bolt.
The first time fired empty should go back in the chamber it was fired in. You want the die set just enough to keep the empty from growing, when it is repeatedly fired, which it will do, if not rezied a bit.

 

[Farlsincharge]

That is exactly the mentality I went in with. The problem is I only have once fired brass from this gun so I don't have anything I can resize until it fits, they all fit perfectly. I want to know how much of the shoulder the die should touch, do I want it to fully contact it?

 

[denydart]

Try removing the decapping rod so the case neck doesn't get expanded on the downstroke. You should be able to see the sized portion of the neck when you take the case back out. This should let you mark the progress of the sizing operation as you adjust the die farther down into the press and stop when the shoulder kisses the die.