cooper Report post Posted August 11, 2008 I just got my 22-250 die set and reloaded on a friends press until I get my own. I lubed my brass but I could never get the shell holder to touch the die. It seemed it was always catching at the very base of the brass. I set my die by screwing it down until it touched the full extended shell holder, then backed off the shell holder and dropped the die by 1 quarter turn. My Federal brass wouldn't set as much as my Winchester brass so I threw the federal brass out. The Winchester brass I could just barely see daylight through the shell holder and die. Is there a break in for dies, or is it something else? I am using the RBS lube pad to lube the brass. I can't think of anything else. I backed off the rod that ejects the primer. Is it possible I did not back it off far enough? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted August 11, 2008 Thats how it is. On all of my brass, there is about 1/16" or so that isnt touched by the die. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
.270 Report post Posted August 11, 2008 i always screw the die down until it touches and leave i there. i've never heard of brass needing to be broke in. when you shoot it, it breaks it in in a hurry. just about all unbelted brass has a portion near the base that isn't touched in the die. Lark. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
catclaw Report post Posted August 12, 2008 I'm not sure what you are doing, but there is NO reason your die shouldn't contact the top of your shell holder. If it's not, screw the die in further. If you are screwing the die in far enough to touch without a case in the shell holder and then you can see day light when sizing a case, you have a junky press! It is deflecting too much. Is it an aluminum Lee? If you are bumping the shell holder and see that little band at the bottom that isn't sized, that's normal. Do the cases chamber easily after reszing? If so, you're good to go, if not, adjust the die until they do!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cooper Report post Posted August 13, 2008 I'm not sure what you are doing, but there is NO reason your die shouldn't contact the top of your shell holder. If it's not, screw the die in further. If you are screwing the die in far enough to touch without a case in the shell holder and then you can see day light when sizing a case, you have a junky press! It is deflecting too much. Is it an aluminum Lee? If you are bumping the shell holder and see that little band at the bottom that isn't sized, that's normal. Do the cases chamber easily after reszing? If so, you're good to go, if not, adjust the die until they do!!! Thanks, sometimes it seems the brass fits tight in the chamber. If I use the dial caliper and measure the bottom of the brass I am consistently close to 3/100 larger than factory loads. I will try again next time I reload but I think I am going to look into getting my own press. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hooked_on_Coues Report post Posted August 13, 2008 sounds like a chamber issue. What happens is you run it down over a peice of new brass? I have two rifles (same caliber) that I can not mix brass with. One will hang brass from the other after full length resizing. It should chamber fine in the rifle it ws fired in, even if you can't get it all the way down. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cooper Report post Posted August 13, 2008 sounds like a chamber issue. What happens is you run it down over a peice of new brass? I have two rifles (same caliber) that I can not mix brass with. One will hang brass from the other after full length resizing. It should chamber fine in the rifle it ws fired in, even if you can't get it all the way down. When I put in new brass it chambers fine. When I put in a reload it is hard to chamber. Do you think there could be an issue with the brass? Or do you think it is because I am not getting the best resizing in the press? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
