reloading dies setup help

[hardlyworking]

New to me cartridge 65 creedmoor
I've got Lee Ultimate dies to set up but Lee directions specify to ensure the shel holder makes contact with the die + some turn (1/4 to 1 and 3/4 depending).

This is counter to other advice I've heard to never run your ram up into the die.

Follow directions or do you all have other specific advice?

[jimmykan]

Following the Lee instructions would size the brass to the shortest headspace possible from that die and shell holder.

You only need to resize the brass enough so that it chambers easily again.

Keep sizing down the case in 1/8 turn increments, until it chambers easily in the rifle that you are reloading for.

[hardhead]

Follow the instructions. Or start at the shell plate, resize and see if you need to turn it down another 1/8 or 1/4 turn.

I have a set of Redding Bushing dies and I had to turn the die down 1/2 turn after touching the shell plate to get the full length sized properly.

[pdq_wizzard]

the only dies I have seen that say not to turn down after contact are carbide pistol dies. (carbide is very hard and over camming can crack them)

if you don't size them all the way you will run into this.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1323213

[pacrat]

New to me cartridge 65 creedmoor
I've got Lee Ultimate dies to set up but Lee directions specify to ensure the shel holder makes contact with the die + some turn (1/4 to 1 and 3/4 depending).

This is counter to other advice I've heard to never run your ram up into the die.

Follow directions or do you all have other specific advice?

Die set up varies by type of weapon, and owners expectations for ammo.

[Hinnerk]

Die set up varies by type of weapon, and owners expectations for ammo.

Exactly!

[hardlyworking]

Well my expectations are modest.

I bought high end cases, and low end dies planning to upgrade in the future but shoot today.

I'm loading new 6.5 Lapua brass for a rem 700 bolt gun. The plan was to:

Lube, full length size, clean, tumble
Measure, trim if any are too long
Address the necks
Prime, load, seat and shoot!

On subsequent loadings, neck size only, measure and trim if required

I do not need 0.1 MOA, but under 1 would be great!

[jimmykan]

I'm loading new 6.5 Lapua brass for a rem 700 bolt gun. The plan was to:

Lube, full length size, clean, tumble
Measure, trim if any are too long
Address the necks
Prime, load, seat and shoot!

On subsequent loadings, neck size only, measure and trim if required.

Lapua is top quality brass, probably the most uniform and consistent out-of-the-box with no sorting or prepping necessary. You will probably find that the cases are already sized to within cartridge specifications (you should run every case through anyway just to be safe), and none of the cases will need trimming.

The necks are annealed and should give consistent neck tension for at least 3 firings (maybe more if you don't work the necks too much) before they could use re-annealing.

The primer pockets will be tight, and they will be for small rifle primers. This is a good thing, you should get 10+ firings before the pockets become too loose to hold a primer.

BE ADVISED: If your brass is like my 6.5x47 Lapua brass, then the flash holes will also be smaller than that of standard 6.5 Creedmoor brass with large primer pockets, which have 0.080" flash holes. Lapua brass will have 0.062" flash holes, and if you run a standard decapping pin through there, you WILL deform the flash hole. Ask me how I know that.

[hardlyworking]

BE ADVISED: If your brass is like my 6.5x47 Lapua brass, then the flash holes will also be smaller than that of standard 6.5 Creedmoor brass with large primer pockets, which have 0.080" flash holes. Lapua brass will have 0.062" flash holes, and if you run a standard decapping pin through there, you WILL deform the flash hole. Ask me how I know that.

I was planning on using the Lee Universal Decapping die, right now I use it for Small primer .223 and 6.8SPC, would that mangle my flash holes?

[stilly]

New to me cartridge 65 creedmoor
I've got Lee Ultimate dies to set up but Lee directions specify to ensure the shel holder makes contact with the die + some turn (1/4 to 1 and 3/4 depending).

This is counter to other advice I've heard to never run your ram up into the die.

Follow directions or do you all have other specific advice?

On CARBIDE dies it should not really cam over like that, but on steel dies you go for the gold.

[pacrat]

First things first. This is MOPO and YMMV. On either new unfired, or used once fired cases. I run them through the rifles chamber. If they chamber without undue resistance. I DO NOT FL SIZE them before loading. I neck size them. Purpose of FL sizing is to assure they fit chamber. If they already fit chamber. FL sizing is redundant and only serves to shorten case life by (1) loading.

After you have loaded and fired your lot of cases. And they are then fireformed to fit your specific chamber. Then is the time to decide if you want to Neck Size, or Partial Neck Size, to keep shoulder bumping to a minimum. Or partial FL size to limit bumping of shoulder. All of which contribute to accuracy and extend case life.

[hardlyworking]

I was planning on using the Lee Universal Decapping die, right now I use it for Small primer .223 and 6.8SPC, would that mangle my flash holes?

Damn Jimmykan thank you for saying something! I just checked my Lee Universal Decapper pin and sure enough it does NOT FIT through the small flash hole Lapua brass. I would have mangled one for sure when I went to deprime these after first firing.

ETA:

Apparently other people with Lapua's small flash hole like 6mm PPC shooters and what not have experienced this for years. Seems the consensus "solution" without buying anything new is to chuck the decapping pin in a drill and polish it down till it fits, with high grit sandpaper or emory cloth.

[divingin]

Purpose of FL sizing is to assure they fit chamber. If they already fit chamber. FL sizing is redundant and only serves to shorten case life by (1) loading.

Probably not. You are going (in this instance) from something nearly sized to sized; not from fired to sized. You won't be working the brass as much as the latter instance.

But I do agree that if it fits and nothing needs straightening out (case mouths, etc), then sizing is not needed.