Non-Consistant Brass Sizing

[Talon1959]

Savage action/McGowen barrel 6BR Norma

I am still having issues with loaded ammo either chambering smooth and easy or hard as hell to close the bolt. I am FL sizing and use a neck bushing die. The POI is different between the two as well. The barrel is a .271 neck and loaded ammo mic's at .268-.269.

The body/bump die has helped someaht but not like I thought it would. I can screw the body die all the down as far as it will go or screw it down to the shell holder like the instructions say and get the same inconsistant results. The box that the die came in says 6BR Rem.

I have loaded the same 60 pieces of Lapua brass about 4 times and the last two times FL sized them with a Redding body die. I bought 20 pieces of Norma 6BR brass hoping it would be more consistant. Same deal.

It doesn't matter what bullet I use be it 107gr SMK, 105 gr Bergers or A-max's I get the same thing. Some cartridges will be easy to load and then there are about 3 out of every 8 that measure identical to the easy ones but just won't chamber easily. This is getting to be a real PITA.

When I sort out 5 bullets that chamber the same, the rifle will shoot .477 at 100 yards using 27.5 gr of H4895, 105 A-max's, and a Fed 205M primer. The groups all string vertical if that makes any difference.

I'm sure the problem is in my loading technique or lack of knowledge with this caliber. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Talon1959]

I just spoke with Redding and they were very helpful. It sems my Lee C press with no cam over is not bumping the shoulders back at all.

It looks as though a new press is in order.

 

[CatShooter]

I just spoke with Redding and they were very helpful. It sems my Lee C press with no cam over is not bumping the shoulders back at all.

It looks as though a new press is in order.

A Lee "C" press?

A LEE "C" PRESS???

Badd puppy!!! Very BADD Puppy!!!

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[Talon1959]

I know... I know. I'm using $50 dies on a $20 press. It's hell actually being the subject of my my sig line sometimes. LOL!

I have a Lee Challenger press that got me into this addiction, but I don't think it cams over either, so it appears that a Rock Chucker will follow me home today. I'm still figuring out what to say to the Chief Financial Officer at home. :wave:

 

[284driver]

CFO's don't need to know everything! :nono:

 

[CatShooter]

CFO's don't need to know everything! :nono:

That's right - tell the CFO that you got tired of the red color and painted it green!!


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[spclark]

Just don't make the mistake of buying your "CFO" a new vacuum cleaner,microwave, mixmaster, etc.) to offset your new RC press....

 

[Talon1959]

Catshooter, that is a brilliant idea.

 

[jthyttin]

I have a Lee Challenger press that got me into this addiction, but I don't think it cams over either, so it appears that a Rock Chucker will follow me home today.

I can find some reasons to upgrade your press, but I can't really find why you'd need cam over. Just adjust the die further down.

I've been very satisfied with Lee Classic Cast. The ones I use and have tried, are every bit as straight and solid as e.g. Rock Chucker. In addition, Lee has some nice features and is less expensive.

 

[CatShooter]

I have a Lee Challenger press that got me into this addiction, but I don't think it cams over either, so it appears that a Rock Chucker will follow me home today.

"... but I can't really find why you'd need cam over. Just adjust the die further down."

You can't... because the "C" press just keeps on springing. the more you screw down the dies, the more the press springs.

Back in the "old days" C presses came with a linkage to hold them together for heavy duty work - the Lee just doesn't have what it takes.

He needs more press.


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[Talon1959]

I thought that too, but I have adjusted the die all the way down until threads were coming out of the bottom and you could not screw the die down any more to no avail.

The guy at Redding quoted what Catshooter said almost word for word.

I have two Lee loaders. I have the Challenger press and like it a lot. I load all of my .308 ammo on it using their collet dies and a Forster Comp BR seater. I came across the C press when I bought the manual as a combo for under $30.

 

[jthyttin]

Challenger is "O" press, not "C" press as the one Talon1959 was speaking about at first. And please don't twist my words, I didn't say Lee is enough press, I said that it's not "cam over" what he needs.

I don't have a Rock Chucker handy, and don't remember if it cams over,from pictures it seems it has mechanical stop but I don't know if it engages before "cam over"). Lee Classic Cast definitely doesn't cam over, and has all the horsepower you'd ever need,short of Corbin).

Just to make sure, I understand "cam over" so that press' ram will reach it's top-most position before handle is fully pressed down and ram actually retracts a tiny bit when handle is fully down.

 

[Talon1959]

When I was shopping for a press, there was a lot of talk about the Lee Collet dies and RC's that would cam over and FUBAR the die. I wanted to use the collet die because I had a ton of .308 Rem brass that was once fired in my XR. The Challenger works like a dream for this application.

The Redding guy said that either their Big Boss press or the RC would size the case and bump the shoulders and the Lees would not.

I was reading about the Redding BB and the RC's on other boards and the FL sizing/bumping issue was discussed at length. All I can say is if this won't fix it, then........

All good

 

[number40Fan]

The "C" press is good for seating bullets, and that is about it. The "O" press is good for FL sizing for smaller cases, even though I have used my for 7mm Mag without any problems.

If in fact you do have the "O" press, try your dies in it.

 

[Talon1959]

SUCCESS!!!!

I set up the new Rock Chucker with the Redding body die and now ALL my cases fit the chamber perfectly. Man, what a learning curve this has been.

I have a new 8-32X scope and some Berger 108's coming this week so I can start all over again with seating depth, powder, etc. now that the comedy of errors is over with. Whew!

 

[CatShooter]

SUCCESS!!!!

I set up the new Rock Chucker with the Redding body die and now ALL my cases fit the chamber perfectly. Man, what a learning curve this has been.

Kewl!!

I have found that sometimes the learning curve is soooo steep that it looks like a brick wall.


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