FL Die and shoulder measuring

[JLS]

I do the same process that @JLS wrote, with the exception of I run everything through a decapping die, then tumble, then I size (because I hate running dirty brass through my sizing die.)

I just tumble mine twice.

 

[mtmuley]

See post #2. mtmuley

 

[markwilks]

If you are .002-.003” shorter than a fired case you are fine.

I’m not shorter. I’m longer I think. I’m 2.08 and the factory brass is 2.05. Is that short or long?

 

[JLS]

I’m not shorter. I’m longer I think. I’m 2.08 and the factory brass is 2.05. Is that short or long?

Factory brass measurement don’t matter. What matters is the difference between one of your fired cases and one of your freshly sized cases.

 

[ImBillT]

Thank you. So if my Nosler case is 2.05 and my shoulder is at 2.07 or 2.08 am I good as long as it falls into the Lyman headspace gauge? I’ll be shooting all these and will use your process next time.

.01 is 1 hundredth. .001 is 1 thousandth. Make sure you have that right. .010” is excessive headspace and potentially dangerous.

 

[ImBillT]

I’m not shorter. I’m longer I think. I’m 2.08 and the factory brass is 2.05. Is that short or long?

I think you’re off a decimal place.

 

[SWNMELK]

Really doesn't matter what the Nosler case is/was. Just bump the shoulder back .002 -.003 after firing in your rifle. And make sure the bolt closes fairly easy, do not force it.

 

[markwilks]

I think you’re off a decimal place.

I am. Sorry

 

[SWNMELK]

.01 is 1 hundredth. .001 is 1 thousandth. Make sure you have that right. .010” is excessive headspace and potentially dangerous.

.100 is one hundred thousandths .010 is ten thousandths. and .001 is one thousandth.

 

[markwilks]

Really doesn't matter what the Nosler case is/was. Just bump the shoulder back .002 -.003 after firing in your rifle. And make sure the bolt closes fairly easy, do not force it.

Like I said. It’s too late for that. I’ve resized all my fired brass. I just need to get the shoulder to a measurement that is safe. I’m starting to feel like I need to just buy new brass because I don’t know if what I have sized is ok. You all are saying to size off fired brass. I don’t have any. All I have is factory ammo to go off of.

 

[SanJuanDon]

 

[SWNMELK]

Buy a box of factory ammo and go shoot them. Come home and take apart some of your reloads and compare measurements.

 

[Carl]

Like I said. It’s too late for that. I’ve resized all my fired brass. I just need to get the shoulder to a measurement that is safe. I’m starting to feel like I need to just buy new brass because I don’t know if what I have sized is ok. You all are saying to size off fired brass. I don’t have any. All I have is factory ammo to go off of.

If you're brass has a shoulder that measures longer than the factory loads did, you should be far from the danger zone even if it isn't perfection. I'd personally use it without concern, measure the fired brass, and go from there.

 

[SanJuanDon]

I posted Erik's vid for informational purposes for folks that want to shoulder bump accurately. SAFE, no such thing really if you think about it. I have for years and thousands of rounds only neck sized, no FL at all. Never had a problem cycling a single round in 300WSM, 270WSM, .03-60, and .243. De-prime, wet tumble, one-shot, neck size, prep, reload.

 

[BackofBeyond]

I just tumble mine twice.

Really, so do I, but it’s corn cobb media on the second go round just to get the lube off.

Sometimes the OCD wins, especially when reloading.

 

[SWNMELK]

I posted Erik's vid for informational purposes for folks that want to shoulder bump accurately. SAFE, no such thing really if you think about it. I have for years and thousands of rounds only neck sized, no FL at all. Never had a problem cycling a single round in 300WSM, 270WSM, .03-60, and .243. De-prime, wet tumble, one-shot, neck size, prep, reload.

What is a 03-60 ??

 

[SanJuanDon]

What is a 03-60 ??

Ha, the one person on the forum that has never mis-typed anything but feels the need to point it out to feel special. Give us all a break and chill.

 

[SWNMELK]

was joking.. don't get your panties in a ruffle!

 

[ImBillT]

.100 is one hundred thousandths .010 is ten thousandths. and .001 is one thousandth.

We said the same thing in different ways. .01 is both one hundredth and a ten thousandths.

 

[ImBillT]

I posted Erik's vid for informational purposes for folks that want to shoulder bump accurately. SAFE, no such thing really if you think about it. I have for years and thousands of rounds only neck sized, no FL at all. Never had a problem cycling a single round in 300WSM, 270WSM, .03-60, and .243. De-prime, wet tumble, one-shot, neck size, prep, reload.

If you can reload over and over just by neck sizing and never have an issue closing your bolt then you’re doing something differently than I. With a 308Win, I can close the bolt with effort(I broke the handle off during a match once. Match over for me). With anything larger than a 308 Win it gets to the point that I can’t even do it.

That’s not to say that you aren’t telling the truth, but you either A) aren’t loading very hot, or B) aren’t doing it in a Remington 700(the only thing I’ve ever tried only neck sizing with). It’s entirely possible that your experience is different from mine, but it’s also an undeniable fact that my experience is applicable to a lot of shooters who reload.

I have cases with over 30 reloads on them. I did have to run them through a body die a couple times though.