Resizing Die Question

slimjim · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

chambered221 wrote:

Are you using a Hornady case holder?

chambered, I hadn't considered that, but yes, I have the Hornady Case Holder because they were out of RCBS case holders.

PaulS · Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 8:54 pm Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

Since the die is butting against the ram already, you might try backing it out 1/4 turn at a time with other fired brass and see if the problem disappears......
Also check the length you may have cases that are a few thousanths too long.
If you are not lubing the inside of the necks the sizer plug may pull the case forward from the shoulder area.

just a few things to try.......

Paul

Elvis · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:34 am Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

I partial lenght resize as per the nosler manuals instructions( set up as per full lenght but then adjust to leave a 1/16"gap between die and shell holder) as I find this works best in MY .270.
If I remember rightly if you set the die up with a nice fitting case in place to "feel" where to get/set it it will get rid of your issues.
I did the works on about 200 mt cases 12 years ago and have only just used them all up. I got the dies where I wanted them (easy to chamber) and just kept going till I ran out of brass.

slimjim · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:19 am Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

PaulS wrote:

Also check the length you may have cases that are a few thousanths too long.

PaulS, the cases grew as much as 0.010" during the resizing. I trimmed them all back to 0.007 below max case length, 2.533".

chambered221 · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

Slim...... what press are you using ???

slimjim · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:23 pm Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

Brand new Rock Crusher from RCBS. I'm going to borrow Redding Dies from a shooting buddy and do some comparisons this weekend.

Dawgdad · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:38 pm Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

Do you have access to a Hornady headspace gauge? You will be able to tell if you need to get thinner shell holder if you cannot get the shoulder set back .002-.003" with the dies as they are

Ominivision1 · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 1:31 am Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

Another thing you can do is shave off .001 at a time at the top of the shell holder and try resizing, I have a standard set of shell holders plus the ones I modified to get the shell to chamber correctly.

Elvis · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:50 am Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

ok I went back and reread the whole thread again to make sure I got the gist of the problem.
? what does a fired non resized case feel like??
you say a new case feels like its not there.
if I have the idea right now partial lenght resize should make it worse?not better?

slimjim · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:55 am Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

Ominivision1 wrote:

Another thing you can do is shave off .001 at a time at the top of the shell holder ...

Seems to me, a die should work without having to be modified. The resized case looks like the shoulder is too steep.

slimjim · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 6:00 am Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

Elvis wrote:

what does a fired non resized case feel like?

a fired case that has not been resized feel likes is not there. Its not uncommon that I have to open the bolt to make sure a round chambered. I'm sensitive to pressure having to be applied to the bolt handle because, up until now, that was an indication that my case length was too long. It typically takes 10 to 20 firings/reloads before that happens when I neck-size only. This was my criteria for its time to throw the case away.

chambered221 · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:03 pm Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

chambered221 wrote:

if you got access to another case holder try a different one.
I've ran into holders that have different heights.

Just got done doing some measuring on the case holders I have !!!

The 1 Hornady holder I have sets the case about .010 higher than the RCBS holders I have.

This could explain why you ran out of adjustment !!!

Dawgdad · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

slimjim wrote:

Ominivision1 wrote:

Another thing you can do is shave off .001 at a time at the top of the shell holder ...

Seems to me, a die should work without having to be modified. The resized case looks like the shoulder is too steep.

woulda coulda shoulda

Angle on shoulder says that the die has not been run down far enough to re set to spec after it was forced up by squeezing the lower part of the case.

slimjim · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

Dawgdad wrote:

Angle on shoulder says that the die has not been run down far enough to re set to spec after it was forced up by squeezing the lower part of the case.

I see a return and credit in my future.

MacD · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:48 am Post subject: Re: Resizing Die Question

The critical internal length dimension of the die is from its base to the datum of the shoulder. If the die touches the shell holder when the case is being sized one would assume that all of this dimension has been used. Slim has indicated this is the case (no pun intended). If we assume that the length dimension is correct then what would account for the elongation of the shell and increase in neck angle. I suspect the die is bored undersized near its head or perhaps lower in the bore. The sized case sticks in the die. This would draw the casing up as it is being withdrawn leading to the phenomena Slim is reporting. The shiny rim at the beginning of the shoulder on the case may be an indication of this problem. Now all this is just musing on my part. Slim's solution is the only sensible one. Get a new die. I would also let Hornady know. They may want to check the die themselves. My experience with them and other quality domestic manufacturers is they want to maintain their quality hence reputation as that is their niche in the marketplace. Helping them is this respect, in the long run, means we will have continuing access to quality reloading equipment in the future.