Make small base dies ??

[noload]

I have some fired 6br lapua brass that seems to stick a little when ejecting. I'm quite sure the bases are a little big. I was considering getting a used FL 308 family die and shorten it up to make small base die, I am not caring if the shoulder gets bumped, I just want the base may be .001" smaller, I'm thinking a 308 ,243,30-06 ebay die will do the trick. Thoughts?.....New small base dies at the cost $35.99 for 308, but jump to $44.99 6br...this P's me off.

 

[Ggmac]

Use a 45acp carbide die . Ivedone it for a few friends , works great . A lee will cost about $20 , most need to be drilled thru , some dont .
Use this before sizing ,as any reduction in the body will elongate the case .
Good luck , Gary

 

[noload]

Please explain how 45acp die will work, I'm not a pistol loader guy, so I don't know, like diameter, some drill thru, some not? Carbide is that what its made of ? how to drill if so. Im away from my shop up North, and on vaca in FL and I do not have a large assortment of tools to work with. I have a grinder and 3/8 hand drill available now. I do have a small base die up North at my house, but I want something here in FL also to add to my Florida reloading gear. Im thinking grinding some off a 308 die would be easiest.

 

[Ggmac]

I live in Florida . Call me before 8 pm .561-963-2848
Gary

 

[Ggmac]

Base size on 45acp is 467 avg . Carbide is a ring about the base so no lube is needed . Some brands ( Lee ) have small decapping assembly . Rcbs has large .
The Lee requires drilling out to allow the 6 , 6.5 , 308 whatever case to pass thru far enough to size the base .
Gary

 

[noload]

Thanks Gary, just what I needed to know.

Pat

 

[Mike Casselton]

Where in FL are you? I'm east of Tampa and may have just what you need

 

[fguffey]

I was considering getting a used FL 308 family die and shorten it up to make small base die, I am not caring if the shoulder gets bumped, I just want the base may be .001" smaller,

I form cases for short chambers, I do not grind shell holders and or dies. It is not necessary. I would suggest you get a #3 RCBS shell holder and use it with your 6BR die. I would suggest you purchases a feeler gage set. The Machinist set has more options.

Everything you would gain by grinding the base of the die can be accomplished by shimming the case off the shell holder. Place the shim between the deck of the shell holder and case head. A reloader can shorten the case length from the shoulder to the case head .012", again, I form cases for short chambers. Problem, finding chambers that are short, when I want one I have to cut it.

Remember, the deck height of the shell holder is .125", what that means there is no way to size the bottom of the case. raising the case off the shell holder also increases the presses' ability to size the case.

F. Guffey

 

[SG4247]

I was considering getting a used FL 308 family die and shorten it up to make small base die, I am not caring if the shoulder gets bumped, I just want the base may be .001" smaller,

I form cases for short chambers, I do not grind shell holders and or dies. It is not necessary. I would suggest you get a #3 RCBS shell holder and use it with your 6BR die. I would suggest you purchases a feeler gage set. The Machinist set has more options.

Everything you would gain by grinding the base of the die can be accomplished by shimming the case off the shell holder. Place the shim between the deck of the shell holder and case head. A reloader can shorten the case length from the shoulder to the case head .012", again, I form cases for short chambers. Problem, finding chambers that are short, when I want one I have to cut it.

Remember, the deck height of the shell holder is .125", what that means there is no way to size the bottom of the case. raising the case off the shell holder also increases the presses' ability to size the case.

F. Guffey

So I need the case body diameter and shoulder juction diameter to be .003" smaller to fit my tight chamber, and promote the bolt going into battery.

At this point I dont care about length.

What are my options ?

 

[fguffey]

So I need the case body diameter and shoulder juction diameter to be .003" smaller to fit my tight chamber,

I do not have a clue how the chamber got tight, I do not know how short and or tight the chamber is. I believe if you shorten the length of the case from the shoulder to the head of the case all the other 'perceived' problems will be solved. I suggest you raise the head of the case off the deck of the shell holder with a feeler gage. I would start with a feeler gage that was .005" thick, if all the problems go away reduce the thickness of the gage. You can use scissors to trim the metal leaf.

F. Guffey

 

[teele1]

I can attest to GGMAC's base die as I have one. I can size the base of my .308 family of cartridges when needed. Thanks again GARY for the die. Hey Gary how about a .357 carbide die for the .223???

jim

 

[noload]

Mike I'm in Naples

 

[noload]

F. Guffey, Thats a great idea, I will try that feeler gage thing tomorrow. I hope moving the case higher by .005 will give me about .0005" smaller dia at the base.

 

[fguffey]

noload, It is not a one for one meaning shortening the case length from the shoulder to the case head .005"does not reduce the diameter of the case above the extractor groove .005". To accomplish that the case would have to be very short.

http://www.ch4d.com/

I have read on the Internet reloaders have shortened cases from the shoulder to the head of the case with the firing pin, I have cases that have primers that have been struck 5 times in three different rifles with no evidence the case shortened. Then I took the failed to fire cases apart, examined them for a reason then reinstalled the primers and busted all 5 fail to fire primers while chambered in one of my rifles with a killer firing pin.

Killer firing pin: If a firing pin can size a case a case think what a drift would do. I have no problem measuring the length of a chamber, if a chamber was getting the best of me I would remove the bolt, attempt to chamber a round, and if the case would not chamber I would use a drift and hammer to seat the case, the case should be a mirror copy of the chamber. A push feed receiver extractor should jump the extractor groove. Do not expect the case to be that easy to remove if the case has been upset/sized.

CAUTION AND WARNING! The case can not have a primer or bullet, and do not forget to lube the case. Once the case is driven out measure the diameter of the case to determine the diameter of the case body in front of the extractor groove.

Basically when the case is raised off the deck of the shell holder the case the dies ability to reduce the length of the case from the shoulder to the head of the case has been increased. I have shell holders that will not allow for the feeler gage to be placed between the deck of the shell holder and case head.

F. Guffey