Redding body die 300wm issue

[IshootDimes]

Can the redding body die hit the belt?

I'm having an issue where I take fired brass from my rifle that measures 2.272 and other once fired brass that is longer and trying to take the shoulder back to 2.270. The die adjustment is very predictable in tiny increments until I hit 2.271. At that point the die was just skimming the shell holder but turning the die down until firm contact with the shell holder made no difference in measurement. I figured the die was just too long so I took 0.001off the bottom figuring that would bring my shoulders to about 2.270 if I hit the shell holder.

Problem is it didn't and there is an unpredictable dead spot now where for a 1/4 turn of the die its like playing the slot machine. With each pull of the handle no matter the die setting you get a random prize of either 2.271 or 2.2685 . No matter where you set the dye you cannot adjust it to get a measurement between those two it is one or the other.

Looking into the die I can see a ring and I am curious if maybe the belt is hitting that ring and some are stopping there (2.271) while others are springing past (2.2685)

I didn't think to use a marker on the Belt until I was already done and at this point I'm cautious of bumping anymore back that far.

 

[gman47564]

Yes .. the ring inside the base of the die is for the belt.. did you try to chamber the ones that measured 2.271? If not you may have been good to go and didnt realize it..

 

[IshootDimes]

I'm almost embarrassed to admit I didn't even consider it. I had tunnel vision and saw bumping 0.002 as the only option.

Even if it will chamber I still can't for the life of me figure out why they would design the die that way when 90% of the people buying it are doing so specifically to bump that shoulder exactly where they want it. I'll look into whether or not they will still chamber which I would imagine they would since I can definitely feel some sizing happening on my once fired. Since I am me and can't let things go I will probably also look into seeing if Redding will modify one for me and get my go and no-go gauges out and consider the option of adjusting my headspace at the rifle because it wouldn't take much togo that route.

I probably should have just left well enough alone because I was lucky enough that with the die touching the shell holder it was giving me 0.001 bump and sizing right up to the belt which sounds pretty much optimal looking back without the tunnel vision. ( edit probably exactly why they designed it that way LOL)

 

[gman47564]

On setting up the 300 win mag it headspaces off the belt initially.. then after you fire the case you can bump the shoulder as needed.. may take a couple firings to get the shoulder blowed out all the way.. so i dont worry about moving the shoulder much on the first firing as long as they chamber ok..

 

[jepp2]

I had tunnel vision and saw bumping 0.002 as the only option.

Just for reference, I always use the 0.002" bump to be from the length where you can feel the bolt close on the brass. So I try to record 3 measurements for each rifle I load for:
A. Case head to datum after firing
B. Case head to datum where you can feel bolt contact (stripped bolt)
C. Case head to datum I want to size to (should be B - 0.002")

After I fire brass a couple of times, I set the die high and it will cause the case head to datum lengthen when you size the case. Adjust from there. On once fired brass that extracts normally, I don't try to bump the shoulder at all when sizing.

 

[Zero333]

How many firings on this brass ?? If it's only been fired once, then it probably didn't push the shoulders all the way forward in the chamber and needs another firing before the shoulders fireform to the chamber.

 

[IshootDimes]

I'm a little baffled as to where to go from here. I went and neck sized and fired two more times for a total of three times fired and the measurement stays the same 2.272 bass to datum using the Hornady comparator set

Federal FC military brass went directly to that measurement from the first firing and stayed there through the third firing. ABM brass was all over the place from starting at 2.268 up to 2.272 after first firing.

That said now I'm baffled as to where to go from here for consistency. I went as far as buying another Redding body die hoping maybe it would be caught a little different and would give me the extra couple of thousands I need but it does the same exact thing as the first one and jumps from 2.272 directly to 2.268.

If This Were any of my other rifles I would just get the go and no-go gauges out and give the barrel a little bit of a twist but with this being a belted case and the belt hitting the body die that wouldn't do anything to help in this situation

I feel like I have to be missing something. At this point it seems like my only option is hoping that using the body die will size the sides of the case enough to keep it chambering smoothly even if I can't bump the shoulder back. If that works it seems like it could be a good thing because it would probably prolong brass life but it still drives me insane. I don't like having the option. If it weren't for the fact that me and my cousin both bought the same exact model rifle at the same time and his does the exact same thing I would think it is a barrel issue but since they are both like that I'm guessing Savage wanted them to measure exactly the way they do.

At this point I should probably just shoot this Barrel out and worry about it on the next Barrel because after all the experimenting and load development I've already got about 500 rounds through this one