Dedicated shell holders??

[NorCalMikie]

Anybody make the shell holders so you can push the brass farther up into the die? "Dedicated shell holder"!,more shoulder bump)
Rather than doing the work on the shell holders, I would like to get some "ready made".
Redding makes a Compitition set but they look to be taller. I need/want a "shorter" shell holder! Any ideas?

 

[Forum Boss]

Mike--

I talked to Redding and Lee about making shorter,than normal) shell holders, and they both said they'd probably never do it because of liability reasons for cartridges with too short headspace.

You can file off the bottom of the die or...

If you switch to a press with less flex/slop you may find you get plenty of shoulder bump. I was using my 6BR FL die on an RCBS Turret, and I had to put a LOT of cam-over to get any bump. I then switched it into an older RockChucker that has very little thread slop. Now I get .002" shoulder bump with no cam-over and the die isn't even touching the shellholder.,Before I set it to touch PLUS 1/2 a turn.)

 

[acloco]

Interesting. I have a Lyman turret press set up for my small caliber stuff - 17 Rem, 204 Ruger, & 223. The 17 and 223 neck dies work perfect. The 204 dies, need just a touch more, but, none left. :,

 

[Forum Boss]

Interesting. I have a Lyman turret press set up for my small caliber stuff - 17 Rem, 204 Ruger, & 223. The 17 and 223 neck dies work perfect. The 204 dies, need just a touch more, but, none left. :,

Acloco,

With your turret press, run the ram all the way up, then set your .204 FL sizing die to touch. Then lower the ram and try screwing the die down further in 1/8th turn increments. This will take out some of the slop and induce cam-over which may be enough to get the shoulder bump you need.

 

[acloco]

Mod,
Already in process. You are spot on, 1/8th turn was the ticket on the Lyman TMag.

The 17 & 204 dies are Redding neck dies. 223 is a RCBS brand.

 

[Mikem]

Mike and I have been discussing this for a few day, after I mentioned that I needed my Forster 6BR neck die to bump my brass back about .0015, so I took a Redding shell holder, and a flat diamond sharpening stone, and honed down the top surface .002.
Im using a Forster coax press, and modifying the shell holder seamed a better choice than the bottom rim of the die, plus its much softer steel than the die. So far it has worked to a tee, Ive only reloaded the same Lapua brass twice, and only about 20 rounds, but I dont have much if any brass growth, the bolt feels right when closing, and I haven't had to use a full length sizing die on any of it. I'm hoping to extend the brass life, and keep the loaded round snug in the Pac-Nor chamber.

I also have a Lyman turret press, and it had so much slop in it I was concerned about neck and case runout, so I made a post to mount in front, pinned on the priming arm lug at the bottom and setting snug under the front edge of the turret, then removing any slop be adjusting the factory "slop stop" up in back.
I was getting .008" of turret movement, and this dropped it to zero. But I still prefer the Forster coax press for my 6BR stuff.
Mike M.

 

[NorCalMikie]

I have two rifles that I'am working with. Both Savages and both 6BR. One with a Pac Nor barrel that I can put a slight bump on the brass and the bolt closes with "very little" resistance.
The other is a Shilen that if you divide the bolt throw into thirds, the last 1/3 of bolt closing is snug. Not bad but just a "little bit" tighter than I would like.
The fired brass from either can't be switched from one to the other so I'am looking for a way to resize to get less resistance on the bolt.
I can always reset the head space and start over on my brass but a shorter shell holder would make a big difference.
I'am working on one shell holder with the "diamond hone" thing and it's getting close but "ready made" shell holders just a "little bit shorter" sure would be nice.
Thanks folks for your input. Mike.

 

[NorCalMikie]

You want a "shorter shell holder"? Couldn't believe it was so easy and fast. Took at least 5 minutes, measuring and clean up included.
Took a standard RCBS shell holder, chucked it upside down in a drill press, bumped it 4 or 5 times on a well oiled sharpening stone and it went from .244 to .236 in about 15 seconds. 2 or 3 bumps would get you less and 6 or 8 might get you more.
Got 3 more new ones on the way so I'll have more to play with.
I had already worked on it for about 15 minutes with a diamond knife shaprening gizzmo and thought "there has to be a easier and faster way".

 

[NorCalMikie]

I tried the "modified" shell holder. :thumb:
I had some brass from my Pac Nor barrel that was full length resized and was still just a little tight on bolt closing.
I set the full length sizer die to just touch the modified shell holder with a little cam over. The bolt closes on the brass as smooth as silk!
Now after the brass is re fire formed I can neck size and see how
they fit.
I won't need to reset the head space on my Pac Nor barrel.

 

[chino1969]

I've had the problem of not being able to fully size a case for a min. spec. chamber; even with the die screwed all the way down with tight cam over with the shellholder. My solution has been to take a skim cut from the bottom of the die,.005) in the lathe. This enables the case bottom to be squeezed just a hair and I can re-size and shoulder bump perfectly. You generally won't have this problem with factory chambers but min. spec. custom chambers are a different matter. We're only talking about a couple of thousandths, but enough to make a difference.
Chino69

 

[NorCalMikie]

chino: It is a hell of a lot easier to buff a little off the shell holder than trying to do the same on a die.
I've got a few extra shell holders and am going to cut one with about .002 off and see what I come up with. The next fireform will tell me where to go next.
The bolt closes easy so I'll be starting all over again with my brass. May not need to bump again for a while but with the "modified" shell holder, it's ready to go when needed.

 

[chino1969]

chino: It is a hell of a lot easier to buff a little off the shell holder than trying to do the same on a die.
I've got a few extra shell holders and am going to cut one with about .002 off and see what I come up with. The next fireform will tell me where to go next.
The bolt closes easy so I'll be starting all over again with my brass. May not need to bump again for a while but with the "modified" shell holder, it's ready to go when needed.

Yeah, but I have access to lathes at work and it's done in a minute or two and is square across the base of the die. There are guys who have surface ground a couple of thousandths from the shellholder and the end result was the same. Whatever works for you is the way to go.
Chino69