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Body die not sizing close to base, please suggest

calgarycanada

I have been using Redding body die with Lee collet neck die for last couple of years without any issues.

I got a new barrel, my gunsmith chambered it with a different reamer this time(Bisely).

Now my once fired (in old chamber)lapua brass doesn't wanna go in or come out smoothly even when shoulder bumped 3 thou. It's the bottom of the case body that is not being touched by Redding body die. I have used a Lee full length sizing die but it only works when adjusted all the way down which bumps the shoulder 9+ thou and I don't like that.

I don't want to(unless I have to) change chamber dimensions. Couple of options I'm thinking about are, I get a small base die but I'm concerned it will over size rest of the case too much and significantly reduce life of the brass or I use something like a ring die or 45 acp die to size the base of the case body?

What has worked for you expert in such situation?
Or should I get chamber opened up a thou or two?
Thanks in advance
Av
 
Last edited:
calgarycanada said:
I have been using Redding body die with Lee collet neck die for last couple of years without any issues.

I got a new barrel, my gunsmith chambered it with a different reamer this time(Bisely).

Now my once fired lapua brass doesn't wanna go in or come out smoothly even when shoulder bumped 3 thou. It's the bottom of the case body that is not being touched by Redding body die. I have used a Lee full length sizing die but it only works when adjusted all the way down which bumps the shoulder 9+ thou and I don't like that.

I don't want to(unless I have to) change chamber dimensions. Couple of options I'm thinking about are, I get a small base die but I'm concerned it will over size rest of the case too much and significantly reduce life of the brass or I use something like a ring die or 45 acp die to size the base of the case body?

What has worked for you expert in such situation?
Or should I get chamber opened up a thou or two?
Thanks in advance
Av
Click to expand...
Two options, Buy a Harrels or get a custom for your chamber made.
 
Don't open the chamber until you check with Sinclair or Redding. I believe body dies come both standard & small based. Redding may be able to ream a body die for you if your cartridge is non-standard. If you furnish a twice fired case they should be able to produce a body die that works brass minimally. Good luck!
 
A SB die may work but you may be throwing good money away. Just go buy some new brass and be done with it. It's formed to your old chamber and no matter how small you size it, it's going to go back to "memory" and catch at the extraction cam. Don't fight it, buy new brass.
 
RCBS dies are often smaller than redding, sometimes by a couple thousands at the web. You can try one of those to see if it sizes enough for you new chamber.
 
Sinclair has shell holders with varing thickness tops. Usually in kits with each being 0.005 thinner.
OR grind the top down on the shell holder you are using.
Warning Will Robinson if you stick the case the top of the shell holder will flake off under pressure removing the case.
Go a little at he time rotating the case with each stroke.
If the head of the old brass mikes more than 0.0015 over your new chamber ge new brass.
 
DOGCAPPER said:
Sinclair has shell holders with varing thickness tops. Usually in kits with each being 0.005 thinner.
OR grind the top down on the shell holder you are using.
Warning Will Robinson if you stick the case the top of the shell holder will flake off under pressure removing the case.
Go a little at he time rotating the case with each stroke.
If the head of the old brass mikes more than 0.0015 over your new chamber ge new brass.
Click to expand...

He said he's already bumped his shoulder .003", what you're saying will have the shoulders bumped into the dark ages.
 
22BRGUY said:
Sounds like you may need a small base die
Click to expand...

Guys, his problems isn't at the shoulders..its at the base of the casings.

I went through the same thing when I had my .308BR rechambered. Tried the Redding Body die and No GO because the Bisley Reamer created a tight chamber. Bought a Small Base Die and it cured the problem. PM me if you are experiencing this with a .308.

Alex
 
I sent you a pm regarding the carbide ring die . Let me know if have any questions , it works on all similar base cases , 6 br , 243 , 308 , 30-06 etc .
The die is about $20
Gary
 
Fire a couple rounds with new brass . Now try and size to fit the chamber it was fired in.

Tring to size brass fired in a different chamber is a shot in the dark.

I use a SB RCBS die with a floater ball on all my Palma loads .002 bump for 20 + years.
Best of Luck
 
I had trouble fitting older brass into new chambers on three rifle using Rcbs and Redding dies....ordered whidden dies and was pretty easily able to get them to fit the new chamber.

Better fit to match chambers maybe?
 
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