Request of all you experienced belted case loaders

[markm87]

Setting up the sizing die for Belted is tricky because swelling in front of the belt can make it feel like you need to turn the sizing die down more. I try to run the Larry Willis first then dial the sizer down until a 5 piece test batch will let the bolt close without force.

 

[markm87]

If you have a factory chamber and store shelf dies, that brass is getting worked so hard with each firing and sizing, you pretty much have to anneal if you want to get any decent lifespan from your brass.

My thing was huge inconsistent neck tension when I didn't anneal my 308 brass. For whatever reason the necks seemed to work harden unevenly even though they were in the same box of ammo, fired the same amount of times.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

My thing was huge inconsistent neck tension when I didn't anneal my 308 brass. For whatever reason the necks seemed to work harden unevenly even though they were in the same box of ammo, fired the same amount of times.

Yeah brass will never work harden evenly. With factory chambers and no annealing, it can get to where there’s so much spring in the brass, it won’t size the neck. Can eventually get so loose, a sized case will barely hold a bullet. Easy to feel inconsistencies in neck tension if using expander balls during FL sizing.

 

[209jones]

Getting short CBTD new brass on magnum cases can certainly reduce the life of it, can make that first stretch a long one, some of the brass around these days is definitely questionable on that point. Peterson has been good brass for me, but, I treat belted or rimmed cases with a shoulder, the same as any beltless case, do my headspacing off the shoulder, can't complain abot the life of it, but, not hot rodding it either.

 

[markm87]

Yeah brass will never work harden evenly. With factory chambers and no annealing, it can get to where there’s so much spring in the brass, it won’t size the neck. Can eventually get so loose, a sized case will barely hold a bullet. Easy to feel inconsistencies in neck tension if using expander balls during FL sizing.

That's interesting. I've had the loose necks happen. I don't run an expander ball. I use a neck mandrel.

But double neck sizing with the collet die has helped remove the crazy loose necks a lot.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

That's interesting. I've had the loose necks happen. I don't run an expander ball. I use a neck mandrel.

But double neck sizing with the collet die has helped remove the crazy loose necks a lot.

Should feel the difference on a mandrel too.

Many years ago, a lot of us annealed one piece at a time in the dark with a heavy leather glove holding the brass in one hand and a torch in the other. It sucked. Took a long time and wasn’t very consistent. Now these various machines available today make it so easy to anneal. There’s no reason not to anneal if your brass needs it and you can acquire a machine to use.

 

[markm87]

I'm still cave man annealing. I just don't have room for another machine. My buddy has the amp thing, and would love for me to use it, but he's 45 minutes away.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I'm still cave man annealing. I just don't have room for another machine. My buddy has the amp thing, and would love for me to use it, but he's 45 minutes away.

Just take all your brass and make a trip. 45 minutes is a pretty short commute in Montana. Lol

 

[swd]

Boyd, I’m not set up for belted mag at the moment but somewhere down in my shop I have a drop in case gage I made to measure the front of the belt to the back of the case head dimension. We had been having problems bolt closing with different brands of ammo/brass with clients. And it was very surprising. I measured up to .014” headspace variance in different brands of ammo and new brass. Go to No on magnum gages is .003” if I recall correctly. Come backs suck when it’s not your fault. Customers always assume the brass is right.

The only way I ever recommend setting up any die, belted or not, ls actual shoulder set back measured by a shoulder gage made from the actual chamber reamer used or using a clean striped bolt in the gun with a dial indicator at the back of the bolt with clean lug recess.

Setting up dies with the classic old shell holder touching the shell plate in cam over plus a quarter turn is about as successful as buying a lottery ticket..