Advice for a new press

[Dwubyd]

If the piston is not chaotically aligned with the die it deforms the case, don't you think?

...

Lapua 6,5x47 cases headspace are 1.455" measured with Hornady gauge and Mitutoyo.
Fired cases on my rifle chamber are 1.471".
If I make a ligth touch with shell holder and die can't resize the case for fall down the bolt without any pression.
Again the caliber standard are CIP and not SAAMI.

Thanks

Hi Bora, I think you meant to say "correctly" rather than "chaotically". They are kind of opposites. An example of a funny mistranslation. BTW (By the way) your english is MUCH better than my Italian. Mais je parle un petit peau de Francais.

You give the measurement for a new Lapua case and a fired case. What is the measurement for a sized case, after you run it through your die?

I have a 223AI with a custom barrel. It also has a short chamber. I have to screw the die into the press such that when I work the lever, I get a solid contact when it cams over at the top of the throw. That is with NO case in the shell holder. When I measure the headspace after sizing it is exactly the same as before sizing (ie zero shoulder bump). If I only partly resize the case by not pushing the lever all the way, the headspace is longer than the fired case (and the fully resized case) by a few thousandths. Perhaps I should also take a 5-10 thou of the top of my shell holder so I can control how much shoulder bump I am getting. Alternatively I could take the rifle to my gunsmith and ask him to ream 5 thou deeper.

Just in case anyone has a thought that my gunsmith should have done a better job, he actually did a perfect job. I supplied a case from my old barrel and he duplicated the headspace exactly. Also, it shoots superbly. Best group is 0.15" for 5 shots at 100m in ideal conditions in a PRS rifle of a bipod and bag with a Gen2 Razor (27x). At that level of accuracy a significant portion of the error is shooting technique. The scope magnification is also becoming an issue when going for those sized groups. That accuracy is not a fluke either. I just have not had the conditions with low mirage and wind to do it again.

 

[SSL]

I really think the advice you have been given to start with shaving a little off of the top of the shell holder is excellent. In my own experience, I have a .243 that has a really tight chamber. Full length sizing with a Hornady sizing die leaves the case a very tight fit in the chamber...actually quite hard to close the bolt on a finished round. I had originally solved that problem by using a Redding body die and Lee collet die to size the necks. Of course length needs to be watched closely, but it worked.
I finally decided to give up on neck-sizing only for my various rifle rounds and, since the Redding body die worked, I bought a Redding full length sizing die. No such luck. It left me with the same issue the Hornady had given me - difficulty in chambering. I finally realized that really only left one common issue and shaved a couple thousandths of an inch off a shell holder, screwed the die down to just touch the holder and voila - problem solved. Cases entered the chamber easily and with minimal effort with both the Hornady and the Redding dies.

 

[BP1]

I’ve had the co ax and got rid of it and got the BB2 like it and just received a Frankford arsenal turret press I’m really liking.

 

[ELR LVR]

I might try sanding the top of the shell holder to try to reduce the gap between the case head and the die.
I'd like some ideas on how to hold the shell holder in the milling vice without it slipping off or getting damaged.
Yes, the chamber is short, but we can also measure the other parts of the case that are resized and could hinder insertion into the chamber.
Unfortunately, I don't have any fired cases.


I don't think it's narrow, I misspoke, it's short on headspace.

I trim the bottom of my sizing die
easiest method
I dont like having different shellholders and getting them mixed up
this way I can always adjust for needed headspace with that particular sizing die
with ANY shellholder