6br dies harrels and Redding

[Dolomite]

If anyone wanted to know the sizing of the base between a Redding type s and a Harrels die this is how much the base gets sized.

Redding on the left and harrels on the right.

 

[Richard Jones]

If anyone wanted to know the sizing of the base between a Redding type s and a Harrels die this is how much the base gets sized.

Redding on the left and harrels on the right.

Do you have before and after measurements to share? Are you saying the Redding sizes more? Less? Farther towards the base?
Just guessing, it looks like the Harrells sizes more towards the base, or, the Redding is just not machined as well. And, I'm assuming that both dies are adjusted tight onto the shellholder. Does one die size more at the .200 line than the other? The marks on the case could be misleading. Just trying to understand here....

Thanks.

 

[CJ6]

I can't speak to Harrels dies, but the JLC dies I have do not have nearly the amount of radius/taper on the die base that Redding/RCBS dies do. The JLC dies size to the cases base minus the shell holder thickness.

 

[Dolomite]

Do you have before and after measurements to share? Are you saying the Redding sizes more? Less? Farther towards the base?
Just guessing, it looks like the Harrells sizes more towards the base, or, the Redding is just not machined as well. And, I'm assuming that both dies are adjusted tight onto the shellholder. Does one die size more at the .200 line than the other? The marks on the case could be misleading. Just trying to understand here....

Thanks.

let me run more tests. The Peterson brass 2x fired sized with the Redding left and the Lapua case 4x sized by a harrels die. 200 line Peterson before .469 after .4685, Lapua before .470 after .4695.

Might not be a fair test since the Peterson was only fixed 2x at a lower charge.

Next outing I'll size one 2 cases each, one with Redding and the other with Harrels for each brand of brass.

It seems as though the Harrels die does a better job at sizing the base all the way down where as the Redding die just stops at the 200 line. Using a forster co-ax so no shell holder or cam over used.

 

[Dolomite]

Learned something new, sized the Peterson and Lapua brass with the harrels die BUT the Peterson shoulder got pushed back .002 more than the Lapua brass.

Would anyone know what causes that difference? I thought it would be the same amount of shoulder bump. Both measure same fired headspace.

 

[Bill Norris]

Learned something new, sized the Peterson and Lapua brass with the harrels die BUT the Peterson shoulder got pushed back .002 more than the Lapua brass.

Would anyone know what causes that difference? I thought it would be the same amount of shoulder bump. Both measure same fired headspace.

I too have Lapua and Peterson brass for my 6BRX and noticed the Peterson will get pushed back further than Lapua at the same die setting when re-sizing. I think it is the difference in the brass make-up and/or amounts of the components used in the manufacturing process.

 

[Dolomite]

I too have Lapua and Peterson brass for my 6BRX and noticed the Peterson will get pushed back further than Lapua at the same die setting when re-sizing. I think it is the difference in the brass make-up and/or amounts of the components used in the manufacturing process.

I thought I was going crazy for a moment. Glad this doesn’t only happen to me….

 

[ricco1949]

The annealed state of the brass may differ...the Peterson brass being softer, hence less spring back.

 

[Dolomite]

Int

The annealed state of the brass may differ...the Peterson brass being softer, hence less spring back.

Interesting, didn't know that. What if I don't anneal will that increase the spring back?

Will the Peterson hold up for many firings if I don't anneal? Basically a loaded round is .267, chamber is .272 and I size the neck down to .264.

 

[JFrank]

A lot of reloaders are not interested in these details but they are important to me.
A Harrell’s number 3 will size more than a 2 or 2.5
Wilson is close to a Harrel’s number 3, I’m not familiar with the Redding although i doubt any brand can size below the .125 datum.
Take radial measurements at the case shoulder junction and the .200 line before and after firing.
I like to draw the case out to maintain clairity.

 

[ricco1949]

Int

Interesting, didn't know that. What if I don't anneal will that increase the spring back?

Will the Peterson hold up for many firings if I don't anneal? Basically a loaded round is .267, chamber is .272 and I size the neck down to .264.

Yes eventually and yes for several...but I don't know why you would want to increase shoulder spring back.

 

[Dolomite]

Yes eventually and yes for several...but I don't know why you would want to increase shoulder spring back.

Just lazy and wanted to use 1 die for both mfg's brass .

 

[Dolomite]

A lot of reloaders are not interested in these details but they are important to me as well.
A Harrell’s number 3 will size more than a 2 or 2.5
Wilson is close to a Harrel’s number 3, I’m not familiar with the Redding although i doubt any brand can size below the .125 datum.
Take radial measurements at the case shoulder junction and the .200 line before and after firing.
I like to draw the case out to maintain clairity.

That is good information, thanks for sharing.

I do have all those measurements as well. Both cases annealed.

Peterson 3x fired: Redding Die
SBJ .461 fired .4605 sized
Base: .4695 fired .4695 sized at 200 line and above the extractor groove. It won't size the base any further down unless I start bumping the should back further.

Lapua 5x fired: Harrels Die
SBJ .461 fired .460 sized
Base: .470 fired .4695 sized at the .200 line and above the extractor groove.

Both cases chamber and extract fine. Waiting to see what happens to the Peterson brass after 5x firing.

I'm guessing Peterson has a thicker case head and might hold that .4695 size after multiple firings, but that is just a guess.

I'm just being lazy and wanted to use 1 die for both mfg's of brass.

 

[AlNyhus]

A lot of reloaders are not interested in these details but they are important to me as well.
A Harrell’s number 3 will size more than a 2 or 2.5
Wilson is close to a Harrel’s number 3, I’m not familiar with the Redding although i doubt any brand can size below the .125 datum.

That's what I've observed, too. I have several Redding f.l. BR dies and they size like a Harrel's #2.5.
To touch up cases right ahead of the extractor groove, a carbide 45ACP die works well.
For what it's worth. -Al

 

[Dolomite]

Fired with a full load Peterson 3x fired on the left using a Redding die. It barely reaches the 200 line. BUT the Peterson brass base hasn’t grown past .4695 that is a plus.

 

[hoz53]

That's what I've observed, too. I have several Redding f.l. BR dies and they size like a Harrel's #2.5.
To touch up cases right ahead of the extractor groove, a carbide 45ACP die works well.
For what it's worth. -Al

thats some good info Al. thanks— i have an RCBS .243 sizing die with almost no radius at the entrance that ive used for that. ill look at a 45acp die like you say.

 

[hoz53]

Just lazy and wanted to use 1 die for both mfg's brass .

i keep 2 redding FL -S dies set up for just this reason. i think the brass is enough different and sizes enough different to warrant this.

 

[highdrum]

A lot of reloaders are not interested in these details but they are important to me.
A Harrell’s number 3 will size more than a 2 or 2.5
Wilson is close to a Harrel’s number 3, I’m not familiar with the Redding although i doubt any brand can size below the .125 datum.
Take radial measurements at the case shoulder junction and the .200 line before and after firing.
I like to draw the case out to maintain clairity.

The Wilson die you're referring that's near the Harrels 3, is the the 6mm br Norma die, or the 6mm br "match"? I know the match is advertised as smaller base.

I have a Wilson 22br die that's only sizing the base of lapua to 0.2702. I ran them into my Wilson 6BRA die, and it sized the base down to 0.2690. I have been using my 22br die to size 6br as the neck bore is big enough to not size smaller than my 266 bushing. I prob just need to get a 6br die, and am wondering if the Wilson is the one I'm after.

 

[JFrank]

The Wilson die you're referring that's near the Harrels 3, is the the 6mm br Norma die, or the 6mm br "match"? I know the match is advertised as smaller base.

I have a Wilson 22br die that's only sizing the base of lapua to 0.2702. I ran them into my Wilson 6BRA die, and it sized the base down to 0.2690. I have been using my 22br die to size 6br as the neck bore is big enough to not size smaller than my 266 bushing. I prob just need to get a 6br die, and am wondering if the Wilson is the one I'm after.

The die I’m referring to is a BR-A. Wilson doesn’t offer it in a “match” die.

 

[SKWERLZ]

That is good information, thanks for sharing.

I do have all those measurements as well. Both cases annealed.

Peterson 3x fired: Redding Die
SBJ .461 fired .4605 sized
Base: .4695 fired .4695 sized at 200 line and above the extractor groove. It won't size the base any further down unless I start bumping the should back further.

Lapua 5x fired: Harrels Die
SBJ .461 fired .460 sized
Base: .470 fired .4695 sized at the .200 line and above the extractor groove.

Both cases chamber and extract fine. Waiting to see what happens to the Peterson brass after 5x firing.

I'm guessing Peterson has a thicker case head and might hold that .4695 size after multiple firings, but that is just a guess.

I'm just being lazy and wanted to use 1 die for both mfg's of brass.

My Peterson 6BR brass is on its 8th firing and going well
Finally had it out yesterday for some pew pew time.
I use a Wilson die(6BRA) and a cortina mandrel holder that also sizes the base.