Help reloading/resizing 416 Barrett

[Chopper]

I have a Lee Classic Cast and Lee 416 Barrett dies. I don't have any problems
getting the die all the way down the case...but I can't seem to come up with
a size that will chamber easily. Stock ammo chambers fine...but sizing is a huge
problem I have not been able to solve. I can the the bolt to slide all the way forward...but closing it is near impossible.

I'm loading for a Tactilite Super Match in .416 Barrett. As I said, factory rounds and new brass chamber fine. If I take an empty case that I can chamber...and try to full size it...it won't fit no matter what I try.

I tried setting the die flush to the shell holder and back out 1/2 1/4 and even 1 whole turn. I've tried tightening it down. Do any of you Calgunners with more experience have any advice?

Thanks for any and all advice.

[yakmon]

this isnt .416 specific, but you should try to set the die up like this, move the shell plate all they way up, turn the die till it touches, then give it another half turn down. give that a shot and then try and chamber one.

[Chopper]

Thanks for that but result is the same

[yakmon]

take some measurements and compare them to a drawing? try another half turn and put some a** behind the lever.

[Munk]

I tried setting the die flush to the shell holder and back out 1/2 1/4 and even 1 whole turn. I've tried tightening it down. Do any of you Calgunners with more experience have any advice?

Thanks for any and all advice.

this isnt .416 specific, but you should try to set the die up like this, move the shell plate all they way up, turn the die till it touches, then give it another half turn down. give that a shot and then try and chamber one.

Like yakmon says. Don't back the die off, you're supposed to set it deeper so that the cam-over is what presses the shell fully into it.

By backing out the 1/2 to 1 whole turn you're NOT full length sizing. The *** of your cases is unsized.

[J-cat]

Take the expanede ball assembly out. Size a case. Try to chamber it. If it chambers, then the expander ball is pulling the shoulder forward, causing your problem.

[CSACANNONEER]

You might need to shave a few thousandths off the base of your sizing die. But, before you do, you might want to come up with a good way to measure the legnth from your shoulder to your case head. Then, check a few factory cases against a few that you've resized.

It could just be that your die is out of spec. and allowing the brass to bulge at the base? It's really hard to know what's wrong until you are able to figure out exactly where the brass is coming into contact with your chamber first. You might want to clean your chamber really well, take a piece of sized brass and a sharpie and completely color the brass black or red. Then, try to chamber it. After that, take it out and see where it's scratched from contact.

The last thing I can think of is that you are expanding your neck too wide to fit the chamber????

If the problem ends up being your expander ball pulling your neck forward, I have a solution but, it will involve more work. You can decap with a hammer and punch, FL size without an expander ball and then get an expander iron from K&M. I have a way to adapt a Lee 50BMG bullet seater to use an expander iron for less than $2. I bet it would work on a .416 die too. I started doing this with my 50s a couple years ago and I'll never go back! I did get a custom made primer punch made for my Hornady FL sizer so that I don't have to use a punch and hammer.

[Chopper]

JCat and Cannoneer are both right, of course. As a matter of fact, I've tried all those things....including tapping out the old primer and leaving out the expander. In response to Munk...I comprehend putting some *** behind it. I have tried cranking it down 1/2, 1, even 1 1/2 turns. The bottom of the die definitely touches the top of the shellholder.

The chamber on the Tactilite is custom machined to exact specs so it may be Cannoneer is right and my dies aren't the same exact spec. I just read on Sniper'sHide about a guy who had a similar problem. He sent a spent case and the die back to Lee and they matched them...ending the problem.

Thanks to you fellow Calgunners for all the help...but I think it's not an operator error this time.

To the Cannoneer...I'd love to hear more about your expander ball rig.

[G-forceJunkie]

Try a different shell holder? Some have thicker or thinner tops, if you can find one a few thou shorter it may be what you need.

[CSACANNONEER]

Try a different shell holder? Some have thicker or thinner tops, if you can find one a few thou shorter it may be what you need.

Good point. I should have remembered that several 50 shooters have had to do this before. Shell holders are definately cheaper than custom dies. Try shaving the shell holder down .001" or two at a time until you get the desired results.

My neck expander is not a "ball". It's a mandrel . It doesn't "work" the brass half as much as a normal ball type expander does. If you want to try mine, come on up and I'll allow you to process some once fired 50 brass for me.

[Chopper]

Firing up the grinder! Thanks, men. I'll report back. And thanks, Cannoneer, for the link to the mandrel. Your offer is most generous.

[J-cat]

I shaved the top of my 9mm shell holder by .025" to get the die to size the case all the way to the bottom. You might want to try the same, although just take .005" to start. I used a grinder to get through the hard steel (.003") and then the rest with a file.

[CSACANNONEER]

I shaved the top of my 9mm shell holder by .025" to get the die to size the case all the way to the bottom. You might want to try the same, although just take .005" to start. I used a grinder to get through the hard steel (.003") and then the rest with a file.

I'm going to have to try this with a .308 shell holder. I never thought of it until now but, I've FL sized about 1K of .308, using Dillion dies, and it still doesn't chamber in my 1919 barrels.

[Chopper]

I just spoke to Bill at Lee Precision's Tech desk. He said to send a fire formed case and
a sized case, along with the die to Lee. They'll adjust the headspace and then it should be all better. Meanwhile...I'm still going to grind.

[Chopper]

Well, I ground more than a few 1000's of an inch off the top of the shell holder.
Still no go. Hoping Lee can fix the dies. Must be head space?