As real as it gets....

[243winxb]

FWIW...my fired brass measured 1.9545” case head to datum

Your measurement is not even close when compared to SAAMI chamber drawing. https://saami.org/technical-information/cartridge-chamber-drawings/

Comparators are to "compare" fired brass to sized brass only. Not used to check rifles headspace. So measurement may not be even close to SAAMI measurement.

 

[243winxb]

Loaded 270 Winchester cartridge. SAAMI.

 

[243winxb]

New Brass-
As it comes from the factory, may be loaded as is. But check to see if brass will chamber in your rifle first.

If brass chambers, prime , powder, seat a boatail bullet. If neck tension holds the bullet. Fire.

I do this with new Rem & Win brass in 243 win.

 

[270 ftw]

Out of the 7 I fired yesterday, 1 was .006” less the others were .003-.004 under

.006 is a bit but I dont think excessive. And I would think you would have necks split and loose primer pockets before the number of firings it would take for the case head to separate.

If the die is too short you can always unthread it to the point where you get a minimal bump on the shoulder, but.... if too much of the case is hanging out unsupported when that case is being compressed weird things are happening in the web area, bulging and whatnot. What are the chances we had the same failure with the same die? Maybe better then I think, but i doubt it. They make this kind of stuff in batches/lots and if one is wrong then they all can be wrong(maybe not). We both ordered a custom honed direct from them(mine was within the last 12 months, was yours?) And to give you an idea of how infrequently they do a run of 270 Winchester dies...its been about 4 months since they told me they would send me a new one. And i keep calling and they keep saying they havent started a new batch yet. 270 win not exactly a hot seller these days.

So thats what my money is on. I could be totally worng and im not an expert but im proficient. I have over 1700 rounds on that chamber, same load, and have not had a single problem since switching to a Redding body die and i size the necks separate with you guessed it a forster neck only die lol. I keep buying their stuff because of Scott and the good customer service.

On a side note if your barrel is 1 in 9 or faster check out the berger 170 eol's. They are breathing new life into the 270 win. You can easily push them to 2800 fps(with 26 inch barrel) and they kick ass!!!