full length size die 6ppc?? how do you know??

[skeetlee]

Fellas i am very new to the 6ppc. I bought a used hall action 6ppc a few weeks ago and i just now got my Harrells fls die. I bought the die second hand. My question is how do i know if this die is sizing my brass to much? I am measuring everything the best i can with the tools i have, and all looks good. I pulled the firing pin on the bolt and put the bolt back into the rifle with a fls case in the chamber. the bolt closes very easily. It almost feels to easy, but i really dont know. I know i may have to send some fired cases into harrells and have one made but i was hoping this used die that i bought will work. Is there anything i can do at home to measure the shoulders? I have a set of Hornady head space gauges but i just dont think they work very well, or if i am even using the right head on the calipers. My measurements just dont make any since when i use this tool. when i measure a fired case the reading on the calipers is the same as the measurement after fl sizing, but the bolt closes freely when i put the fls case into the chamber and close the bolt. I havent gotten a chance to shoot this rifle much yet so i guess the real test will be the groups on the paper. I am just a little worried it is sizing a bit to much. Maybe i am wrong but i always though that you wanted to have just the slightest bit of resistance when closing the bolt on a fls case? My bolt falls closed. anything i can try? I hope this makes since fellas, i am not the best at typing and explaining myself. Thanks Lee

 

[BoydAllen]

Lee,
First of all, has the fired case that you are making your comparison with one that has been fired several times with neck sizing only, so that it at its maximum shoulder to head dimension? If it is not, you should set about making such a case. It usually takes a minimum of three firings with a stout load to make sure that the case is as long as it is going to get, from shoulder to head. Another thing that you need to do is to deprime before you measure the fired case. If you have even a very slight crater, it will throw your measurement off. When you arrive at a tight case that has been deprimed, then you can set about determining if your die setting is really bumping the shoulder or not. Just remember to set your tight case aside to be used as a reference. Some times we have to face off the top of a shell holder a few thousandths to be able to bump cases from a barrrel that has been set up with very close headspace.

 

[tenring]

It sounds as tho the Harrells die is bumping the shoulder too much, creating excessive headspace. You can try turning the die backward slightly, until case chambers with some pressure. I check shoulder bump with a Redding Instant Indicator. You really need to send two fired cases from your rifle to Harrels and get the correct die. I have several of their dies, and they are great.

 

[NVTHG]

When you bought the used Harrel die you should have gotten a small brass thingy that you can use to measure the amount the neck was pushed back. you do not want more than about 1 to 1 1/2 thou.

 

[gpoldblue]

skeetlee...Sinclair has a shoulder bump gage insert tool specifically for PPC cartridges--Part no.#09-10300,page 37 of their 25th Anniversary catalog. I think this would help you. I use a similar homemade tool along w/ a Redding 6PPC Body Die---Part no.#75319,page 40. Keep sizing to a minimum---excessive sizing will kill your brass. Good luck...good shooting...gpoldblue

 

[skeetlee]

I just went out to the edge of town and fired 3 stout loads in the ppc. The measurement i am getting with my calipers and the hornady head space gauge the way i have them set up is 1.163 for all three cases. My fl size numbers are 1.1615. I think i can get my die set up for a tad bit less. hopefully 1.162. would that be ok? I also have a redding .010 shell holder in the press to get these numbers. With the standard shell holder i was bumping my shoulders back 10thou. Ouch!! I really dont know what to think, as i just dont have enough experience. I would have to think the proper die would bump the shoulders back 1 thou with standard shell holder?? Here is my delima with buying a custom die. this barrel is used with around 500 rounds fired. I dont know how its going to shoot. I didnt have this barrel chambered so i have to think my next new barrel for this rifle is going to be different in the chamber. When i buy a new barrel, I will of course have a die made. If this barrel looks like it is really going to shoot i will have a die made, if that makes since to spend 150 bucks for a die for a half used barrel? I just dont know?? I will read and try to educate myself some more on this so, i dont have to bug you good people. I will get to shoot the rifle this weekend with a little luck!! I will try to get my die down to 1 thou bump and load up some rounds for the weekend. I just hope by adjusting the die up- i am not giving up on another area of the case that is also important. Lots to learn with this case, but i am up to it!! Thanks fellas i really appreciate it!!! Lee

 

[NVTHG]

I think you can leave the die alone. 1 1/2 thou is o.k. The other half is not going to do anything for you. If you getting these numbers I would not buy a another die for that barrel.

 

[skeetlee]

cool! I will see how it does this weekend! Thanks Lee