I am stumped and need help
- Thread starter taxman
- Start date
BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
Taxman,
The second item on the page,with the body
https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=5a1db63c0aca21a3db1195b82f097663&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=4ffc0a8772783e83440ac87ed0c3ee5b
It is a good idea to fire a case several times, neck sized only,moderately stiff load, till the "headspace" of the case reaches its largest value, and use that case as a reference for bump. You should also have some way to knock out the primer before measuring, because it may not be flush,with a moderate load) or have a crater that would throw your measurement off. I never re-zero my calipers with attachments in place, since the measurements are only compared, not used for actual datum line to head measurement. I only zero the bare caliper. When you get set up, let me know how much you were bumping. Better yet, reset you die 3-4 times by feel,,after each setup move the die out of adjustment) and then measure the bump for each of the cases. Have fun, and keep us posted on your progress.
The second item on the page,with the body
https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=5a1db63c0aca21a3db1195b82f097663&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=4ffc0a8772783e83440ac87ed0c3ee5b
It is a good idea to fire a case several times, neck sized only,moderately stiff load, till the "headspace" of the case reaches its largest value, and use that case as a reference for bump. You should also have some way to knock out the primer before measuring, because it may not be flush,with a moderate load) or have a crater that would throw your measurement off. I never re-zero my calipers with attachments in place, since the measurements are only compared, not used for actual datum line to head measurement. I only zero the bare caliper. When you get set up, let me know how much you were bumping. Better yet, reset you die 3-4 times by feel,,after each setup move the die out of adjustment) and then measure the bump for each of the cases. Have fun, and keep us posted on your progress.
Lynn & Boyd,
Thank you for taking the time to do this work.
Do I have to custom order a Small base die for the 243 AI? I do not see one listed in Sinclair's cat.
Is there a link that I can use to look at the JLC full length die?
Lynn, the work you did systematically at the range, I haphazardly worked through in my reloading room with a bunch of already fired case and I came to the same conclusion; My bump die and FL die are too large a diameter to correctly size my cases.
Again, thank you very much for your work and explanation. I hope other newbies can learn from my mistakes and your knowledge!!!!!
Have a great day, I am off to Rochester, NY to take my Dad to the Doc.,Cancer re-occurrence?)
Thank you for taking the time to do this work.
Do I have to custom order a Small base die for the 243 AI? I do not see one listed in Sinclair's cat.
Is there a link that I can use to look at the JLC full length die?
Lynn, the work you did systematically at the range, I haphazardly worked through in my reloading room with a bunch of already fired case and I came to the same conclusion; My bump die and FL die are too large a diameter to correctly size my cases.
Again, thank you very much for your work and explanation. I hope other newbies can learn from my mistakes and your knowledge!!!!!
Have a great day, I am off to Rochester, NY to take my Dad to the Doc.,Cancer re-occurrence?)
lynn, step right over to the bench grinder and grind the top of the shell holder down a bit. You will be able to bump the shoulder back then.
I recently bought a 223AI bbl and when I screwed it on my rec and checked the fit with a sized case I discovered that I needed to be able to run the case farther up the die. After a bit of work with the grinder I was in business. I had already made a measuring bushing for the AI case.
The cases were tight at .016, slightly snug at .014 and fit freely at .013. I fired about 50 of these cases last week. They come out of the gun at .012.Hmmm, I was expecting .014. So much for 'feel'. I now bump them back to .010/.011.
If I keep this set up I think I will send the Redding FL die off to Jim Carstensen and have him convert it to a bushing die.
I recently bought a 223AI bbl and when I screwed it on my rec and checked the fit with a sized case I discovered that I needed to be able to run the case farther up the die. After a bit of work with the grinder I was in business. I had already made a measuring bushing for the AI case.
The cases were tight at .016, slightly snug at .014 and fit freely at .013. I fired about 50 of these cases last week. They come out of the gun at .012.Hmmm, I was expecting .014. So much for 'feel'. I now bump them back to .010/.011.
If I keep this set up I think I will send the Redding FL die off to Jim Carstensen and have him convert it to a bushing die.
NorCalMikie
Gold $$ Contributor
Guys: I took one of my RCBS shell holders, chucked up side down in a drill press, ran it down on a well oiled stone and ended up taking about .006 off of it in real short order. Do 2 or 3 and you'll end up with a set in the steps you need. You can't tell them from the factory finish unless you measure them. 
Good call, I edited my post to reflect what I actually did to my shell holder. I just measured it and I shortened it by about .020.
I don't see the point in having a graduated set of shell holders. If you have a way of measuring the bump that is how you should be adjusting the sizing die. I use die shims to make it easier to get the last thou or two instead of tweaking the die lock ring back and forth.
If you don't have a way of measuring the bump then you are fooling yourself.
Speaking of lock rings, here is my latest milling machine project:
I don't see the point in having a graduated set of shell holders. If you have a way of measuring the bump that is how you should be adjusting the sizing die. I use die shims to make it easier to get the last thou or two instead of tweaking the die lock ring back and forth.
If you don't have a way of measuring the bump then you are fooling yourself.
Speaking of lock rings, here is my latest milling machine project:
BoydAllen
Gold $$ Contributor
Speaking of lock rings, I have switched to Lee. That way I don't have to jerk around with locking and unlocking, and the slight amount of float that the O ring allows,if you don't tighten it down till it is metal to metal with the top of the press) for better alignment.
When shooting a small batch of brass over and over the die setting must be checked and changed to maintain the desired amount of bump as the brass work hardens. With the Lee lock ring, all I have to do is twist the die a small amount, without touching the lock ring, once it has been properly tightened by hand. As long as the die will hold its setting, it is tight enough. I have a dedicated Harrell turret press for my 6PPC, so I don't have to worry about holding settings when dies are removed. If I want to use a different caliber, I just change turrets.
When shooting a small batch of brass over and over the die setting must be checked and changed to maintain the desired amount of bump as the brass work hardens. With the Lee lock ring, all I have to do is twist the die a small amount, without touching the lock ring, once it has been properly tightened by hand. As long as the die will hold its setting, it is tight enough. I have a dedicated Harrell turret press for my 6PPC, so I don't have to worry about holding settings when dies are removed. If I want to use a different caliber, I just change turrets.
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