What "RING DIE" for Reducing Base for .308

[AlNyhus]

I've got a couple of modified BR Body Dies that touch up the bottoms. The one on the left is a standard BR Body die that has the upper portion bored out down to .375 from the bottom of the die. The right sided one got the bottom shortened .045 then the upper bored down to .375 above the new bottom. You can see the difference in the factory chamfer and the new small chamfer on the shortened die.

Between these two and my 'go to' carbide 45ACP die, they work for everything in the 308W case family.

 

[Recko555]

Just ran into this myself. I just bought RCBS 308 small base FL die. Yes it push the shoulder back a bit more than I would want (.002" more) but I am guessing I only need to do this once.

 

[D-4297]

Just ran into this myself. I just bought RCBS 308 small base FL die. Yes it push the shoulder back a bit more than I would want (.002" more) but I am guessing I only need to do this once.

Not hardly . As you get rounds on your barrel , the Base area of the barrel will expand , allowing the cases to expand also . So it's kind of a good idea to check those cases periodically for expansion . And when you change to a new barrel , it's almost guaranteed you'll get to run them thru the SB Die again .

 

[Murray Brook]

Would cutting the die just short of the shoulder rather than bored out work also.

 

[Mike Samer]

Lee bulge buster and 45ACP carbide die will size the entire base down without touching the shoulder. Helps to tighten the pockets somewhat too.

I second the suggestion for the Lee Carbide Sizer. They even make an undersized version. For $20 I was able to salvage my Lapua brass that was giving me clickers when I re barreled my Palma rifle.

 

[jackieschmidt]

Not hardly . As you get rounds on your barrel , the Base area of the barrel will expand , allowing the cases to expand also .

??
I have re read this statement several times, attempting to see if I am missing something.
Perhaps you would like to reword that.

 

[Murray Brook]

@Monte F
Are we talking about the Lee factory crimp carbide die.

 

[Monte F]

@Monte F
Are we talking about the Lee factory crimp carbide die.

I am using the Lee factory crimp die with the seater removed from the top. 308 win cases will push right through sizing the entire base back down using the bulge buster kit. I do not use the plastic catcher on top of the die, just grab the case as it comes through the die.

 

[D-4297]

??
I have re read this statement several times, attempting to see if I am missing something.
Perhaps you would like to reword that.

@Recko555 asked if he would have to do this to his cases more than once .

My response was that He would have to do it periodically as the barrel wore from rounds fired , and the Case area expanded in the barrel . Maybe I didn't make it clear enough . May experience has been that this occurs beginning around 2,000 rounds , and get gradually worse from that point on . But ; we all know that every barrel will wear differently . Is that a better explanation ?

 

[jackieschmidt]

I can honestly say I have never detected chamber wear in any barrel I have ever had.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I can honestly say I have never detected chamber wear in any barrel I have ever had.

Not even in an AK with steel cased ammo for me.

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

Yea, the back end of the chamber is surrounded by the action, take a lot of pressure to expand that area.

Frank

 

[Dgd6mm]

As you get rounds on your barrel , the Base area of the barrel will expand , allowing the cases to expand also .

I've never ever heard or experienced such a thing, and I know why, it doesn't happen.
I have a 45 acp carbide die that Gmac opened the top up that works well for the base of my cartridges.
However I like that ring die and should purchase one for my 6br.

 

[memilanuk]

And here I was just thinking "after 25-30 reloads, go buy some new brass!"

 

[AlNyhus]

As you get rounds on your barrel , the Base area of the barrel will expand , allowing the cases to expand also .

Nobody's seen it all, that's for sure. But that's something I've never encountered.

 

[D-4297]

Then maybe you guys can explain to me how I ended up with brass that is .475 - .4755 diameter at the .200 line , since it never happens ? Enlighten me .

And please don't tell me my Mics need to be checked . They were just certified by the inspection Dept. at a DoD aircraft plant two weeks ago .

 

[D-4297]

And here I was just thinking "after 25-30 reloads, go buy some new brass!"

And you can tell me where to get this "NEW" Brass ?......Waiting ...... Listening .

 

[butchlambert]

Back on the subject. Charles Huckaba told me to cut about .200" off the bottom of your sizing die and drill the shoulder out with a drill that is plus .020" or so. Now you have an adjustable small base die.

 

[memilanuk]

How many rounds on the barrel? WTF else are you doing to that chamber? Cleaning it with a steel chamber brush on a drill motor?

Because I, like a lot of folks, have worn out my fair share of competition barrels and never had the case head exceed 0.470-0.471". Ever. How you're getting to 0.475+ by just chambering and firing rounds defies all logic.

Honestly, I don't think a ring die is going to help with whatever it is you're doing to that poor gun. They're meant to take a case that is a *little* bit big - maybe 0.471" - back down to 0.4685-0.4690", so that your good, proven brass will chamber in a new barrel that might have a slightly tighter chamber. Coming down from 0.475+ is likely to be asking too much.

 

[D-4297]

How many rounds on the barrel? WTF else are you doing to that chamber? Cleaning it with a steel chamber brush on a drill motor?

Because I, like a lot of folks, have worn out my fair share of competition barrels and never had the case head exceed 0.470-0.471". Ever. How you're getting to 0.475+ by just chambering and firing rounds defies all logic.

Honestly, I don't think a ring die is going to help with whatever it is you're doing to that poor gun. They're meant to take a case that is a *little* bit big - maybe 0.471" - back down to 0.4685-0.4690", so that your good, proven brass will chamber in a new barrel that might have a slightly tighter chamber. Coming down from 0.475+ is likely to be asking too much.

The last two barrels taken off was a Brux with 4,500 rounds . Mostly shot 200 Hybrids or 200.20x Bergers with H-4895 at 2650 - 2660 range , and a Kreiger with 3,755 rounds of 185 Jugg Targets at around the same velocity range , using H-4895 & IMR 4064 . These Barrels were checked with Ball Guage and Mitutoyo digital Mics , and best I could ascertain was .4715 - .4720 at the "break-point of the edge of the Barrel . Why some of the Brass is expanding that far , I have no idea , except it is reaching that point of total use . I anneal after every firing , and very seldom have to trim anything . Maybe four or five cases out of a lot of 100 . Case length is normally 2.010" and I get more "Growth" in resizing than firing . Cases get trimmed when they reach 2.015" , or close . I have checked cases for potential separation using the bent paper clip method , and found none , so far .

Always felt that since I wasn't "pushing" the load hard , there was no reason to scrap useable brass till something went wrong with it . I've never had a case separation , and of course having said that , it will probably happen now . Have 600 Lapua SRP Cases that have been rotated through the last five years as "Practice Cases" , only . Just purchased four Hundred new Lapua SRP for Match Only , last year , and they have three reloads on them as a group . Just surprised to get any negative comments about outstanding Brass life on here . Just maybe ; I've found out what the useful life of Lapua SRP is by doing this . And FWIW ? It is purely motivated by being retired , and not having excessive income to spend on cases that were working just fine . Call me CHEAP ! I don't care .