Sizing Bottle Neck Rifle Cases

[K22]

All those who still neck size should read Erik Cortina's post in the Daily Bulletin. German Salazar had similar advice on his blog some years ago.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

 

[Puzzaz01]

^^^^ What Dusty said ^^^^^

Darrin

 

[uncle-buck]

OK, will try FL sizing every time and see how it goes.

Will use a Co-Ax press and Forster FL dies.

Can someone explain how the shoulder gets bumped .001" or .002" by screwing the die down a fraction of a turn when the die is already touching the shellholder at the end of the press stroke?

Thanks

 

[klamathsteel]

I full length resize every time with a Redding standard FL die with stem removed and die adjusted to get about .002 bump. Then size the neck with a Lee Collet Neck Die (20 bucks on Amazon). My neck tension is very consistent and my ES/SD has never been better. It's working well for me.

 

[chromatica]

OK, will try FL sizing every time and see how it goes.

Will use a Co-Ax press and Forster FL dies.

Can someone explain how the shoulder gets bumped .001" or .002" by screwing the die down a fraction of a turn when the die is already touching the shellholder at the end of the press stroke?

Thanks

You will want to remove some material from the top of the shellholder. I have used emery cloth on a flat surface to take off .001 at a time.

 

[Bc'z]

OK, will try FL sizing every time and see how it goes.

Will use a Co-Ax press and Forster FL dies.

Can someone explain how the shoulder gets bumped .001" or .002" by screwing the die down a fraction of a turn when the die is already touching the shellholder at the end of the press stroke?

Thanks

Redding shell holders I presume set of 5 each one has a lower deck height from what I've bee told.

still going against the grain.
Purty nice brass right there.

 

[Richard Coody]

OK, will try FL sizing every time and see how it goes.

Will use a Co-Ax press and Forster FL dies.

Can someone explain how the shoulder gets bumped .001" or .002" by screwing the die down a fraction of a turn when the die is already touching the shellholder at the end of the press stroke?

Thanks

first thing is you don't need to bump the shoulder until your brass is fully fireformed. if your fired brass chambers without resistance then it isn't fully fireformed.

 

[TrxR]

Can a fl bushing die be set to size the necks only for the first 2 or 3 firings so you can get a fully formed brass? Or are you just bumping the brass back every time even after just the first firing.

Thanks

 

[dcali]

Can a fl bushing die be set to size the necks only for the first 2 or 3 firings so you can get a fully formed brass? Or are you just bumping the brass back every time even after just the first firing.

Thanks

For the first couple firings, I measure a handful of cases and set the die to bump the longest one about .001”. After 2-3 firings they tend to even out more.

 

[boltfluter]

Can a fl bushing die be set to size the necks only for the first 2 or 3 firings so you can get a fully formed brass? Or are you just bumping the brass back every time even after just the first firing.

Thanks

TRxR,

If you set up your FL die to bump shoulders, and then use one of the Redding shell holders, from the 5 shell holder set, you can back off easily on .002 increments. This way you only have to set your die once. Works great for me.

Paul

 

[B23]

I agree with the method of, there is no need to bump the shoulder back, at all, until your brass has reached the, to long to chamber, stage.

To add, yet another, element to this whole debate of FL vs NS and I think this is more prevalent in factory chambered guns, but when you FL size brass that was shot from a gun that had a little bit of a fat chamber and you measure the shoulder, FL size, measure again, don't be surprised if that piece of brass comes out of the die and the shoulder length is LONGER. Then people really freak out, screw the die down so it pushes the shoulder back and now you have a piece of brass that is quite a bit under sized to your chamber.

Soooo, IMHO, the whole debate about FL VS NS, is better described as, one size doesn't fit all, and like most things, there are exceptions to every rule.

 

[jepp2]

and you measure the shoulder, FL size, measure again, don't be surprised if that piece of brass comes out of the die and the shoulder length is LONGER

They should expect it, unless they are setting the shoulder back (maybe excessively). Photo courtesy of Unclenick from TFL forum.

 

[Bill K]

My take is that he is mostly talking about shooters in competition and having loading issues while do so on the firing line. But I see his point to some degree. I neck size my rounds for each rifle I shot them in and use them in only that rifle. I do not bump back the shoulder unless a round seems to have grown and needs it, which is very rare actually.
Now if you are using those loads in a semi-auto or in other rifles of the chamber size, then FL and a slight should bump might be in order. Just me thought and the way I do mine.

 

[Bc'z]

Can a fl bushing die be set to size the necks only for the first 2 or 3 firings so you can get a fully formed brass? Or are you just bumping the brass back every time even after just the first firing.

Thanks

Yes sir it can. As can any FL die.
Screw die in to touch shell holder with ram in full up right position.
Now back you die out 1/2 to 1 full turn.
Set your lock ring.

 

[okie]

Redding shell holders I presume set of 5 each one has a lower deck height from what I've bee told.

View attachment 1085967 still going against the grain.
Purty nice brass right there.

A rebel!

 

[Bc'z]

A rebel!

Non conformist!

 

[Bc'z]

Brett Maverick

Now he had SWAGGER

 

[divingin]

Can someone explain how the shoulder gets bumped .001" or .002" by screwing the die down a fraction of a turn when the die is already touching the shellholder at the end of the press stroke?

If you set the die to touch the shellholder without a case, then size a case, the press will flex or stretch a slight amount due to the friction of driving the case into the die. The result of the stretch is that, when sizing, the die no longer touches the shellholder at full stroke. By setting the die lower, it overcomes the stretch of the press, allowing you to bump the shoulder back.

Lots of variables here - the amount of force needed to size your case is a big one, the rigidity of your press, etc.

Pretty easy to verify, though: Set up as above, then run a case in and either use a light to look for a gap between die and shellholder, or see if a feeler gauge now fits.

If you were talking about the die touching when sizing a case and still being able to increase the bump by screwing the die in further, then I don't know.

 

[Richard Coody]

Can a fl bushing die be set to size the necks only for the first 2 or 3 firings so you can get a fully formed brass? Or are you just bumping the brass back every time even after just the first firing.

Thanks

it is simple to size the neck without bumping the shoulder with any full length sizing die.

back the die off until when you cycle the ram it doesn't touch the neck at all. then screw the die in in small increments and cycle the ram. if you look at.the neck of the brass you will see the portion that has been sized. continue to make small adjustments, cycle the ram and watch the neck. when most.of.the neck is sized but before you get to the shoulder stop. lock your die and size the rest.of.your brass.

one caviate. cycle that first sized case in your rifle. sometimes sizing the case body can make the base to shoulder datum measurement longer. at that point it is time to set up the shoulder bump.