Die bottoming out

[Pigdog]

can someone please help me. I measured the headspace on 50 lapua cases for my 6.5x47l. I found out that cases measuring 1.414 won't chamber but cases measuring around 1.412 will. So with this established i go to my redding body die to bump the shoulder in my lee press that came with a challenger kit shell holder is redding number 1. I'm doing the trial and error thing screwing in the die slowly to make sure I don't over size. After about an hour of doing this I have reached the end of the thread the die cannot go any further and it is still not sizing???! I certainly don't want to buy a new press or redding Comp shell holder kit. Is there any way to fix this?? I was think if taking to the bottom of the die with a sander so that maybe the ram will then go further into the die would this work or will this have no effect since the die is already bottomed out??

Thanks

 

[LHSmith]

File a few thou off the top of the s/h. Redding Comp s/h's ADD height......they go the wrong way. Mark the s/h, so you remember it was modified in case you have other dies pre-adjusted to that s/h.

 

[Pigdog]

Ok so how do I know if that's gunna be enough I have no idea how much further it needs to go to actually size. If I sand the shell holder down first if that doesn't do it I should start sanding the die down too do you think??

 

[coford]

First find a "standard" shell holder and try it. If it still doesn't bump the shoulder back then sand. grind, or turn down the shell holder. Take off enough to make your die work correctly. You won't go too far because your die height is adjustable. I would only work on the die as a last resort. They are usually very hard and expensive. Shell holders are cheap and usually not tough to machine.

 

[jim_k]

Screw the die into the press another 1/8 turn, and try the sizing again.

 

[Phil]

First find a "standard" shell holder and try it. If it still doesn't bump the shoulder back then sand. grind, or turn down the shell holder. Take off enough to make your die work correctly. You won't go to far because your die height is adjustable. I would only work on the die as a last resort. They are usually very hard and expensive. Shell holders are cheap and usually not tough to machine.

THIS^^^^^^^^^

 

[hogpatrol]

Is this new brass or fired in another rifle? If it's new, I'd check the chamber with a headspace gauge before modifying anything. You may be getting in to an area where you will overwork the brass each sizing. If the headspace checks out ok, another way to address this issue is to try different manufacturers shellholders. They can vary by a couple thousandths. If you have another brand check it to see if the deck height is shorter and try it.

 

[savagedasher]

Back the primer and expande ball out .
Try with good lube and a hard cam over . Cut a can and make a shim between the case head and the top of the shell holder . The shim will fit between the case head and the shell holder .
1 remove the depriming and expander
2. Good lube
3. Hard cam over
4 Side off a aluminum can make good check shim cut to size .
If you get to no 4 You need help Larry

 

[RonS]

I use my neck sizing die to check the headspace for most of my cartridges in my bolt guns. What I did was use my go gauge to set up my neck sizing die, after removing the decapping rod, this way it is the same length as my chambers and the bolt closes smoothly.

I have the same Lee press and so far have not seen this issue. I use the Lee press for my 221FB, 222 Rem, 223 Rem and 6x45 with Redding and RCBS dies. I use a Rockchucker for all my other cartridges including the 6.5x47L [using Hornady bushing dies]. Good luck and I hope you find a solution...

"DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE A GO GAUGE IN YOUR FULL LENGTH SIZING DIE, IT WILL GET STUCK"

Ron

 

[M-61]

Screw the die into the press another 1/8 turn, and try the sizing again.

From OP...." ....I have reached the end of the thread the die cannot go any further....."

 

[Iowa Fox]

Redding shell holder, Redding body die, The easy way is always tuff enough give Redding a call before you do any sanding or grinding.

 

[Fotheringill]

Both Redding and RCBS both make extended shell holders that raise the top of the holder at least 1.5". That may very well be the answer to running out of thread.

 

[T-shooter]

can someone please help me. I measured the headspace on 50 lapua cases for my 6.5x47l. I found out that cases measuring 1.414 won't chamber but cases measuring around 1.412 will. So with this established i go to my redding body die to bump the shoulder in my lee press that came with a challenger kit shell holder is redding number 1. I'm doing the trial and error thing screwing in the die slowly to make sure I don't over size. After about an hour of doing this I have reached the end of the thread the die cannot go any further and it is still not sizing???! I certainly don't want to buy a new press or redding Comp shell holder kit. Is there any way to fix this?? I was think if taking to the bottom of the die with a sander so that maybe the ram will then go further into the die would this work or will this have no effect since the die is already bottomed out??

Thanks

Which LEE press are you using and does it have the quick change adapters? If you use the ones that are made with a set screw instead of using another nut on top, you may be able to get more travel. Also, if you need to take just a few thousandths off the top of the shell holder, use sandpaper on a piece of flat glass. You should be able to keep the cut even. It you only need .002", keep checking as you sand down the surface.

 

[savagedasher]

Sounds like the die is too long . You can put a shim under the case head . Or a feeler gauge and by trying different thickness you will not only find out but you will know how much change is needed . Larry

 

[Pigdog]

Thanks so much for all the help so
Many helpful people here. My press is the challenger breech lock press and it does have some sort of quick lock thingy that the die screws into. The cases have been fired around 4-5times only some won't chamber the ones that measure 1.413 and above so I know I need to bump to around 1.412 as these chamber fine. I think my chamber is smaller than others based on these measurements. I will get to work sanding the die tonight and report back in thanks

 

[T-shooter]

Thanks so much for all the help so
Many helpful people here. My press is the challenger breech lock press and it does have some sort of quick lock thingy that the die screws into. The cases have been fired around 4-5times only some won't chamber the ones that measure 1.413 and above so I know I need to bump to around 1.412 as these chamber fine. I think my chamber is smaller than others based on these measurements. I will get to work sanding the die tonight and report back in thanks

These are the quick change adapters with a die lock ring built in. (#90063). They should let you run the die a little deeper and still secure it. No lock nut on top needed.

 

[Shynloco]

Just a thought...would Competition Shell Holders help?????

Alex

 

[savagedasher]

These are the quick change adapters with a die lock ring built in. (#90063). They should let you run the die a little deeper and still secure it. No lock nut on top needed.

The stop is the shell holder and the dies hitting together . Larry

Just a thought...would Competition Shell Holders help?????

Alex

Sure but the cheapest is to find out how much the die is long and shorten it .
The easy way I can think of to find how much is needed is with a feeler gauge . Larry

 

[Pigdog]

hey guys I think sanding the shell holder will sort this prob out, the chamber is short and die to long so I need to close that gap, I will sand later and report in. One other thing that is bothering me and I need to ask is its a customer cut chamber on the chamber reamer drawing it shows a measurement from bolt face to should of 1.4025. My cases that wont chamber measure 1.414 and the ones that do chamber measure 1.412. So my cases that wont chamber are 9 thou shorter than the chamber drawing???

 

[TIMO]

Pigdog,
When I make the same type of adjustments in sizing, after each adjustment of the die, I use a different piece of brass. Once adjusted, I resize all the previous pieces of brass and re-check in the chamber. I also use a black sharpie (magic marker)(before lubing) to make a wide stripe the full length of the case to see where the die is making contact on the case after being sized. Might be worth a try.

Tim