AR hd. spc. @ resize die

[Steve Ladino]

I was wondering what head space you guys get by with when full length resizing brass for your AR .223/5.56. I pretty much use about 0 for my bolt action rifle.

 

[Bart B.]

If you're referring to case dimension from head to shoulder, the traditional meaning of case headspace, it won't be zero. Around 1.46x" or so.

If there's zero space from case head or shoulder to chamber, thats a clearance; case head clearance to the bolt face when fired is typical. Most prefer a thousandth or 2 so bolts go into battery the same for each shot wiithout binding.

Full length sizing fired cases to set their shoulder back 2 to 3 thousandths is typical for best accuracy, reliability and case life.

 

[fguffey]

I was wondering what head space you guys get by with when full length resizing brass for your AR .223/5.56. I pretty much use about 0 for my bolt action rifle.

I have said there is something about sizing cases reloaders do not understand; I can not find where SAAMI list head space on the case, their drawings of cases do not include head space symbols. So? My chambers have head space, I off set head space with the length of the case. Meaning I am left wit h clearance. no clearance or resistance to bolt closing.

Back to the part that reloaders do not understand; When the die is adjusted to the shell holder with the ram up (on a non cam over press) the case is sized to minimum length or full length sized. That makes no sense to a reloader, but if we are talking about a 30/06 the case will be sized to .005" shorter than a go-gage length chamber. Another problem, reloaders do not measure before and again after sizing and or firing.

The part that does not make sense is the part where you claim you sized to .000" head space? The case does not have head space and the die and shell holder is designed to size the case with clearance so if what you are saying is true your cases are being sized to go-gage length from the shoulder/datum to the case head.

All of my dies and presses have threads, threads make it possible to size the case length from the shoulder to the case head but when the die contacts the shell holder the distance from the deck of the shell holder to the shoulder of the die can not get closer. When the case has more resistance to sizing than my press can overcome the die will not make it to the shell holder. To increases the presses ability to overcome the cases ability to resist sizing I raise the case head up and off the deck of the shell holder with a feeler gage. And then there is reading the instructions; when the case wins lower the die, the instructions are rather unscientific. The instructions suggest lowering the die 1/4 turn or .017" etc.

F. Guffey

 

[Lone Hunter]

I was wondering what head space you guys get by with when full length resizing brass for your AR .223/5.56. I pretty much use about 0 for my bolt action rifle.

.001-.002 for bolt. For the AR .003-.005. I run .003 for headspace on the AR.

 

[retired]

try and see what works. in spite of claims that 3-5 is required, i have run as little as 1.
i think 2 is plenty in a quality gun with clean burning powder, 3 or more if your load is dirty and you shoot a lot,
and yes it is called "HEAD CLEARANCE" not headspace

 

[ridgeway]

I have said there is something about sizing cases reloaders do not understand; I can not find where SAAMI list head space on the case, their drawings of cases do not include head space symbols. So? My chambers have head space, I off set head space with the length of the case. Meaning I am left wit h clearance. no clearance or resistance to bolt closing.

Back to the part that reloaders do not understand; When the die is adjusted to the shell holder with the ram up (on a non cam over press) the case is sized to minimum length or full length sized. That makes no sense to a reloader, but if we are talking about a 30/06 the case will be sized to .005" shorter than a go-gage length chamber. Another problem, reloaders do not measure before and again after sizing and or firing.

The part that does not make sense is the part where you claim you sized to .000" head space? The case does not have head space and the die and shell holder is designed to size the case with clearance so if what you are saying is true your cases are being sized to go-gage length from the shoulder/datum to the case head.

All of my dies and presses have threads, threads make it possible to size the case length from the shoulder to the case head but when the die contacts the shell holder the distance from the deck of the shell holder to the shoulder of the die can not get closer. When the case has more resistance to sizing than my press can overcome the die will not make it to the shell holder. To increases the presses ability to overcome the cases ability to resist sizing I raise the case head up and off the deck of the shell holder with a feeler gage. And then there is reading the instructions; when the case wins lower the die, the instructions are rather unscientific. The instructions suggest lowering the die 1/4 turn or .017" etc.

F. Guffey

Please make a video and show us. We all want pics as well...

 

[bigstick6017555]

I have said there is something about sizing cases reloaders do not understand; I can not find where SAAMI list head space on the case, their drawings of cases do not include head space symbols. So? My chambers have head space, I off set head space with the length of the case. Meaning I am left wit h clearance. no clearance or resistance to bolt closing.

Back to the part that reloaders do not understand; When the die is adjusted to the shell holder with the ram up (on a non cam over press) the case is sized to minimum length or full length sized. That makes no sense to a reloader, but if we are talking about a 30/06 the case will be sized to .005" shorter than a go-gage length chamber. Another problem, reloaders do not measure before and again after sizing and or firing.

The part that does not make sense is the part where you claim you sized to .000" head space? The case does not have head space and the die and shell holder is designed to size the case with clearance so if what you are saying is true your cases are being sized to go-gage length from the shoulder/datum to the case head.

All of my dies and presses have threads, threads make it possible to size the case length from the shoulder to the case head but when the die contacts the shell holder the distance from the deck of the shell holder to the shoulder of the die can not get closer. When the case has more resistance to sizing than my press can overcome the die will not make it to the shell holder. To increases the presses ability to overcome the cases ability to resist sizing I raise the case head up and off the deck of the shell holder with a feeler gage. And then there is reading the instructions; when the case wins lower the die, the instructions are rather unscientific. The instructions suggest lowering the die 1/4 turn or .017" etc.

F. Guffey

Makes perfect sense to me, furthermore if you do not personally know the measurements of your chamber, have the proper tools to measure said specs, you should not be jamming brass into a die just hopeing for some kind of results

 

[Steve Ladino]

.001-.002 for bolt. For the AR .003-.005. I run .003 for headspace on the AR.

Thankyou for your simple answer, it is the exact answer to the question I asked !

 

[Steve Ladino]

I have said there is something about sizing cases reloaders do not understand; I can not find where SAAMI list head space on the case, their drawings of cases do not include head space symbols. So? My chambers have head space, I off set head space with the length of the case. Meaning I am left wit h clearance. no clearance or resistance to bolt closing.

Back to the part that reloaders do not understand; When the die is adjusted to the shell holder with the ram up (on a non cam over press) the case is sized to minimum length or full length sized. That makes no sense to a reloader, but if we are talking about a 30/06 the case will be sized to .005" shorter than a go-gage length chamber. Another problem, reloaders do not measure before and again after sizing and or firing.

The part that does not make sense is the part where you claim you sized to .000" head space? The case does not have head space and the die and shell holder is designed to size the case with clearance so if what you are saying is true your cases are being sized to go-gage length from the shoulder/datum to the case head.

All of my dies and presses have threads, threads make it possible to size the case length from the shoulder to the case head but when the die contacts the shell holder the distance from the deck of the shell holder to the shoulder of the die can not get closer. When the case has more resistance to sizing than my press can overcome the die will not make it to the shell holder. To increases the presses ability to overcome the cases ability to resist sizing I raise the case head up and off the deck of the shell holder with a feeler gage. And then there is reading the instructions; when the case wins lower the die, the instructions are rather unscientific. The instructions suggest lowering the die 1/4 turn or .017" etc.

F. Guffey[/QUOTE
Lowering the die works for me. Headspace questions and statements can be relative to what its implied to if you understand the fits.