What's with Redding 260AI dies?

[Joe R]

Hi Guys,
I had bought two Redding dies for my new 260AI build. One a full length sizing die and one type S. When I started using them to resize my Palma brass neither one would push back the shoulder. They both bottomed out on my presses (Co-ax and Hornady progressive press) without touching the shoulder. I took both to my guy and he had to shave .040 off each one to make them usable. They bottomed out on his Rock Chucker also. I haven't had time to call Redding and give them a piece of my mind.

Has anyone been experiencing this problem with Redding dies? I have lots of their dies but never had this problem before.

Joe

 

[Terry Altom]

I just fireformed a few for mine. I'll try to check my Redding Type S die tomorrow and see how it does.

 

[Joe R]

Tom,
I have already fireformed about 150 cases in preparation for last Sundays match.

Now that's behind me, I've been loading with COW for the last two days. I'm planning on spending all day tomorrow cooking cereal at range tomorrow and maybe Saturday afternoon. Then I'm going to do some serious load work up and really find out where the high node for this rifle is.

 

[dennisinaz]

I use Forster dies and don't have any trouble with mine. Also the type of press you use is of no consequence. If the shell holder bottoms out with one press, it will with another. Sounds like the cut your chamber too deep in the die?

 

[cheek9075]

Myself and 2 other had the same issue. We had to cut the shell holder down to get shoulder bump. Don't know why.... after turning shell holder down no issues.

That's just my 2 cents.

 

[rardoin]

If your FF brass had not been expanded enough to fully conform to your chamber, you can have this issue. I don't worry about setting back the shoulder until the cases start to resist bolt closure. I reform Lapua .308 into 6.5 Creed brass and I don't have to push back the shoulder until after the second firing (I fire form with low node loads).

 

[22BRGUY]

Myself and 2 other had the same issue. We had to cut the shell holder down to get shoulder bump. Don't know why.... after turning shell holder down no issues.

That's just my 2 cents.

+1 WITH THIS IDEA. I had the same problem with a couple of other calibers also some years back. I would rather shave off a shell holder than a die for resale if ever wanted. I just took my shell holder out to the garage and used the bench grinder that took all of about 30 seconds and problem solved.

 

[Shaggy357]

How did the brass fit in your chamber? Did your bolt not close?

Steve

 

[dewey7271]

Then I'm going to do some serious load work up and really find out where the high node forthis rifle is.

My two are both 26" running H4831SC and 48.5 gr gives 2940 and excellent accuracy. YMMV.

 

[fguffey]

I had bought two Redding dies for my new 260AI build. One a full length sizing die and one type S. When I started using them to resize my Palma brass neither one would push back the shoulder.

I do not believe you are firing cases from your dies; cases are fired from the chamber. And then there is that part about the case, is the case new? Is the case fired? Was the case fired from your chamber. I would suggest your start by measuring the length of the chamber from the shoulder of the chamber to the bolt face.

There is no die made that can push the shoulder back; I am the only reloader that can push a shoulder back; problem, the only way I can push the shoulder back is to use a shoulder pusher with out case body support. If you ever run across a case that has the beginnings of bellows forming that make the case look like an accordion' I did it.

Reloaders assume they push the shoulder back.

F. Guffey

 

[shepherm]

Myself and 2 other had the same issue. We had to cut the shell holder down to get shoulder bump. Don't know why.... after turning shell holder down no issues.

That's just my 2 cents.

I had to do the same thing..

 

[fguffey]

Myself and 2 other had the same issue. We had to cut the shell holder down to get shoulder bump. Don't know why.... after turning shell holder down no issues.

That's just my 2 cents.

I am the fan of reloaders being familiar with there reloading equipment. I am not the fan of assumers; that would be reloaders that assume; assumers assume when the ram is raised the case is sized because they ran out of handle travel. When I size a case I understand there is a chance the case has more resistance to sizing than my press can overcome. It is not something I get into mortal combat with but when I have trouble reducing the length of the case from the shoulder of the case to the case head I check to see if the shell holder made4 it to the bottom of the die. If the shell holder does not make it to the bottom of the die when full length sizing "THE CASE WON' and the gap between the top of the shell holder and bottom of the die indicates the amount of the case that die not get stuffed into the die.

Rather than grab a grinder and go to work on the top of the shell holder and or bottom of the die I consider the case's ability to resist sizing; being hard headed is one thing and not knowing is another. And then there is case lube; for tuff jobs I use a no-name lube, for everything else any old lubell do.

And then there is checking the die's ability to return the case to minimum length/full length size. That comes under the heading of verifying. I can not imagine a crowd of reloaders having trouble sizing a case and then all of them reach for the grinder. I have an inline, angle/butt grinder. If it was necessary to customize shell holders or dies it is the perfect tool. I do not use it for grinding shell holders and or dies but I have it 'JIC'; that would be just in case.

F. Guffey

 

[fguffey]

I get into mortal combat with but when I have trouble reducing the length of the case from the shoulder of the case

I know; that is confusing, I find it impossible to bump the shoulder back. reloaders assume the shoulder is bumped back. I reduce the length of the case from the shoulder to the case head; when I do that the shoulder does not move meaning there is nothing about sizing a case that involves something moving back.

F. Guffey

 

[savagedasher]

About 8 years ago I sent a die reamer to Forster to make me my dies . I told them I was ok with using it to make others. Last year I orders another the said it would be the same as the first . That was their standard die in 260 Ai . When I chamber I use one piece of blue painter tape on the go gauge . The bolt closes firm . With two it won't close.
If head space is set wit one piece of tape . The die will bump perfect in my press .
Personally I don't like tight head space setting . Larry

 

[chino1969]

Hi Guys,
I had bought two Redding dies for my new 260AI build. One a full length sizing die and one type S. When I started using them to resize my Palma brass neither one would push back the shoulder. They both bottomed out on my presses (Co-ax and Hornady progressive press) without touching the shoulder. I took both to my guy and he had to shave .040 off each one to make them usable. They bottomed out on his Rock Chucker also. I haven't had time to call Redding and give them a piece of my mind.

Has anyone been experiencing this problem with Redding dies? I have lots of their dies but never had this problem before.

Joe

Joe, I've had the same problem. What I have done is to take .010 off the bottom of the die with a carbide bit in a lathe.

 

[germanlongbow]

I use almost all Redding dies. Even shoot the 260 AI. No issues. Not to say it can't happen. I'm sure Redding would like to here about it.

 

[shepherm]

I am the fan of reloaders being familiar with there reloading equipment. I am not the fan of assumers; that would be reloaders that assume; assumers assume when the ram is raised the case is sized because they ran out of handle travel. When I size a case I understand there is a chance the case has more resistance to sizing than my press can overcome. It is not something I get into mortal combat with but when I have trouble reducing the length of the case from the shoulder of the case to the case head I check to see if the shell holder made4 it to the bottom of the die. If the shell holder does not make it to the bottom of the die when full length sizing "THE CASE WON' and the gap between the top of the shell holder and bottom of the die indicates the amount of the case that die not get stuffed into the die.

Rather than grab a grinder and go to work on the top of the shell holder and or bottom of the die I consider the case's ability to resist sizing; being hard headed is one thing and not knowing is another. And then there is case lube; for tuff jobs I use a no-name lube, for everything else any old lubell do.

And then there is checking the die's ability to return the case to minimum length/full length size. That comes under the heading of verifying. I can not imagine a crowd of reloaders having trouble sizing a case and then all of them reach for the grinder. I have an inline, angle/butt grinder. If it was necessary to customize shell holders or dies it is the perfect tool. I do not use it for grinding shell holders and or dies but I have it 'JIC'; that would be just in case.

F. Guffey

When we adjust the dies, it bottoms out against the shell holder prior to sizing the case down enough (there is no gap). Are you saying you can not remove a small amount off the top on the shellholder to allow the ram to travel up more? If not, how would you fix the problem?

 

[chino1969]

I use almost all Redding dies. Even shoot the 260 AI. No issues. Not to say it can't happen. I'm sure Redding would like to here about it.

It depends if you have a tight or min. spec. chamber. Redding dies are machined to fit a majority of chambers in a particular caliber.

 

[BillPa]

Hi Guys,
I had bought two Redding dies for my new 260AI build. One a full length sizing die and one type S. When I started using them to resize my Palma brass neither one would push back the shoulder. They both bottomed out on my presses (Co-ax and Hornady progressive press) without touching the shoulder. I took both to my guy and he had to shave .040 off each one to make them usable.

Joe

Hi Guys,
I had bought two Redding dies for my new 260AI build. One a full length sizing die and one type S. When I started using them to resize my Palma brass neither one would push back the shoulder. They both bottomed out on my presses (Co-ax and Hornady progressive press) without touching the shoulder.
Joe

Are you using 260 Rem brass to be formed into 260Imp?
Bill

 

[fguffey]

When we adjust the dies, it bottoms out against the shell holder prior to sizing the case down enough (there is no gap). Are you saying you can not remove a small amount off the top on the shellholder to allow the ram to travel up more? If not, how would you fix the problem?

Shepherm, No, I can remove metal from the top of the shell holder when lowering the deck height of the shell holder. I can remove metal from the bottom of the die to increases the die's ability to reduce the distance from the base of the die to the shoulder of the die. I can shorten the shell holders deck highs with shims from a feeler gage.

If I was going to grind the top of the shell holder or bottom of the die I would first determine how much grinding was necessary. Again, I have a grinder that grinds angles, it grinds in-line (handy when making pilots) and it will grind a shaft to length. I have never found it necessary to grind a die and or a shell holder but if I did I have the tool..

Then there is that other part that is not well understood about adjusting sizing dies; adjusting the die to the shell holder plus the preverbal 1/4 additional turn after contacts does not guarantee the case will be sized when the ram is raised. When I want to know if the case was sized and returned to minimum length I check the gap between the bottom of the die and top of the shell holder. If the shell holder does not make it to the bottom of the die when the ram is raised the case did not get sized. Anything that holds the shell holder off of the die (meaning the case) did not get sized.

And then there is verifying, I measure the distance from the deck of the shell holder to the shoulder of the die, reloaders can not do that because they have variations, difference if specifications and tolerance after that they add the manufacturer and difference between manufacturers and most some of then have die makers that do their thinking for them.

F. Guffey