Not to sold on Small base reloading dies.

[HUTCH 7.62]

Bought a RCBS small base reloading die to reload 308 for a M1A. Noticed all the shells chamber a little tight at the head of the case. Should I have just gotten a Full length die?

[baih777]

I use both.
Once fired brass that I buy. I use the small base die the first time.
Then use FL from then on.

[HUTCH 7.62]

I use both.
Once fired brass that I buy. I use the small base die the first time.
Then use FL from then on.

Good to know

[highpower790]

Maybe the die needs to be turned down more, or the chamber is tighter than the die.

[Divernhunter]

If they are tight with a SB die then they will be even tighter with a regular FL die.
Are you adjusting the die correctly by running the ram all the way up. Then run the die down until it touches. Then raise the handle and adjust the die 1/2 turn more down. The work the handle all the way down. You should feel the handle bump over cam. Then hold the die and lock ring so it does not move and back it out some to lock the ring. Run the die back down and test to be sure that handle bumps over cam(center).
I use both SB and FL dies but for my semi-auto or pump rifles I use the SB dies. I even shoot ammo loaded with SB dies in my bolt action rifles. Not going to hurt anything.

[bsumoba]

I didn't know they sold base only sizing dies. I have a RCBS small base sizing die and it sizes the whole case and sizes the base down for my 308 AR to reliably feed.

You probably didn't screw the base down enough?

[Divernhunter]

That is what I was talking about. Never heard of a die for just the base.
SB dies size the whole case and just a bit more than the FL dies do

[HUTCH 7.62]

If they are tight with a SB die then they will be even tighter with a regular FL die.
Are you adjusting the die correctly by running the ram all the way up. Then run the die down until it touches. Then raise the handle and adjust the die 1/2 turn more down. The work the handle all the way down. You should feel the handle bump over cam. Then hold the die and lock ring so it does not move and back it out some to lock the ring. Run the die back down and test to be sure that handle bumps over cam(center).
I use both SB and FL dies but for my semi-auto or pump rifles I use the SB dies. I even shoot ammo loaded with SB dies in my bolt action rifles. Not going to hurt anything.

[ar15barrels]

Bought a RCBS small base reloading die to reload 308 for a M1A. Noticed all the shells chamber a little tight at the head of the case. Should I have just gotten a Full length die?

Full length dies produced by most manufacturers since the 1990's or so have all have small base dimensions.
The only reason they sell small base sizing dies is for people that have large base die sets from the 80's and earlier can buy a tighter sizing die.

[bsumoba]

Full length dies produced by most manufacturers since the 1990's or so have all have small base dimensions.
The only reason they sell small base sizing dies is for people that have large base die sets from the 80's and earlier can buy a tighter sizing die.

I remember Lee dies would not size military brass. \

Whidden dies are all "small base"

[Switchbarrel]

I didn't know they sold base only sizing dies.

Paul Becignuel (sp?) on AccurateShooter sells a “ring die” for various calibers that does just that....sizes the the bottom 1/3-1/2 of the case. Meant to be used when your brass starts clicking when opening your bolt. I have one for my Dasher.

I also have his action wrench & barrel vice. Really nice stuff. There was another member there helping him with sales, these items are apparently a side business for him.

http://forum.accurateshooter.com/threads/pbike257-action-wrenches-barrel-vises-dies-etc-for-sale.3923651/

-Rick

[SMarquez]

What kind of brass are you resizing? I have heard MG brass is supposedly tougher to resize since MG chambers are a tad larger at the base to ensure proper ejection.

[Divernhunter]

yes full-auto fired brass is harder to size and some cannot be sized. I have done a lot of 5.56 and a fair amount of 50bmg. I did get some 308win(7.62X51) and some 30-06 that was fired full-auto but that was many years ago

[fguffey]

I didn't know they sold base only sizing dies. I have a RCBS small base sizing die and it sizes the whole case and sizes the base down for my 308 AR to reliably feed.

You probably didn't screw the base down enough?

It is not possible to size the full case and then there is that thing with "sizes the base down for my 308 AR to reliably feed".

The deck height of the shell holder is .125" meaning nothing gets sized below .125" + the radius of the die, after that it gets real complicated with case head protrusion and unsupported case head.

And then there is that part about grinding the base of the die Back before the Internet it was possible to answer all of the questions with a feeler gage emnaing anything gained by grinding the base of the die or top of the shell holder coukld be accomplished by a reloader with a good understanding of the feeler gage and threads on the die and press; today? They just want to argue.

F. Guffey

[fguffey]

Who measures before and again after? Reloaders spend too much time trying to convince each other the case has 'head space'. After the argument they still have a problem verifying the length of the case from the shoulder to the case head and then there is that problem measuring the diameter of the case. And then it lock them up when I want to know where they are measuring and How?

F. Guffey