Will a 260 body die Work ro resize a 243 cartridge

[ranger3]

I bought some used once fired 243 brass and looking to resize the body with a Redding bushing die because I have a Lee Colette die which I will use to do the neck sizing. Trying to keep my neck tension as light as possible.
I'm aware the length to the top of the shoulder or bottom of the neck is about .028 longer for the 243 but this should fire form for me okay don't you think?

 

[shoot4fun]

Not sure you can screw the 260 body die in deep enough to size the case head down as far as necessary. Also, what about the rest of the case body on the 243 brass. If it's once fired then the whole case has expanded.

 

[ireload2]

Try if if you already have the die or a 7-08 die.
Or try a RCBS file trim die in .243. The neck of RCBS file trim dies are .010 larger than the FL die neck so it should resize the case without touching the neck.
I can give you the exact dimensions of my trim die if you want to try that method.

 

[ranger3]

I see your point shoot4fun, But since the 260 case is shorter than the 243, I don't think that is a problem. The trim file idea intriques me. I may have to look at that. I will try a couple and see if they fit in my tight chamber rifle.

 

[ranger3]

I see your point shoot4fun, But since the 260 case is shorter than the 243, I don't think that is a problem. The trim file idea intriques me. I may have to look at that. I will try a couple and see if they fit in my tight chamber rifle.

Well I tried it with a 260 body die for body sizing only it did not work and doesn't get it quite small enough for loading my tight chamber 243 so I'm back to using The Regular die. THanks for all the comments.

 

[fguffey]

Well I tried it with a 260 body die for body sizing only it did not work and doesn't get it quite small enough for loading my tight chamber 243

Reloaders with tight chambers are on their own. The case body for the 260 is .003 longer than243W. Then there is the neck, the neck on the 260 is shorten than the neck on the 243 because of the difference in diameter between the bullets. Both shoulders have the same angle. And then there is said to be .002" difference in diameter at the shoulder/case body juncture.

Basically you are neck sizing the 260 down to 243; for me that is not a problem because I do use all of those shoulder bumping, body sizing dies with or with out bushings.

F. Guffey

 

[dmoran]

 

[DCRYDER]

Then there is the neck, the neck on the 260 is shorten than the neck on the 243 because of the difference in diameter between the bullets.
F. Guffey

You sure about that?

 

[ireload2]

Just rotate the case and resize it again allowing 3 to 5 seconds at the top of the stroke for the brass to creep.
Repeat the sizing and rotating 3 or 4 times with the dwell each time. You may find the brass eventually assumes the smaller size needed.

Well I tried it with a 260 body die for body sizing only it did not work and doesn't get it quite small enough for loading my tight chamber 243 so I'm back to using The Regular die. THanks for all the comments.

 

[fguffey]

You sure about that?

No, the neck is longer on the 260 than the neck on the 243 W. I use forming dies, my favorite forming dies are the short ones. Thanks for the catch.

F. Guffey

 

[Brians356]

The case body for the 260 is .003 longer than243W.

Au contraire. The bodies are exactly the same dimensions. Since the 243 neck is smaller diameter, the 243 shoulder/neck junction is slightly farther from the base (by 0.0288"). But at the shoulder datum, they are both exactly the same, so if a 260 Rem die won't set the shoulder back far enough, it's not the die's fault.

In a normal (not "tight") chamber, the 260 Rem body die would work just fine on a 243 Win case. Since the 260 body die's neck opening should be ~0.5mm larger, it could create a slight false shoulder of sorts, but I doubt it will cause an issue, might not even be noticeable.
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[ranger3]

Au contraire. The bodies are exactly the same dimensions. Since the 243 neck is smaller diameter, the 243 shoulder/neck junction is slightly farther from the base (by 0.0288"). But at the shoulder datum, they are both exactly the same, so if a 260 Rem die won't set the shoulder back far enough, it's not the die's fault.

In a normal (not "tight") chamber, the 260 Rem body die would work just fine on a 243 Win case. Since the 260 body die's neck opening should be ~0.5mm larger, it could create a slight false shoulder of sorts, but I doubt it will cause an issue, might not even be noticeable.
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Thanks for all the comments. I got it worked out. By slightly overcamming, I mean slightly. It seemed to make enough of a difference that the brass fit and the action closed easily. I cycled all 50, they measure perfectly, neck sized with lee collet die. So this saved me one firing to get to where I wanted to be with neck tension. I wish I would have thought of this on the first 100.

 

[Brians356]

I always over-cam, at least slightly, when body / shoulder sizing, as I feel it's more repeatable and the sizing more consistent.
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