Frustrating day processing brass...

[jetman624]

In this case swaging was to remove the crimp from the LC military brass.

[jetman624]

by the way OP, if your rifle's chamber is loose, or even WELL within spec but at the large side of tolerance, those cases that fit the gage by a human hair (over), they may have chambered just fine.

Next time, doublecheck your case gage by chambering a case.

Even more telling will be fired cases, neck size, trim to length if needed, and check that gage. You might be surprised just how much shoulder movement there is and how it all still fits your gun.

Good info-- thanks for the tip.

[swopjan]

Sizing means you are reducing the diameter. Swaging means you are increasing the diameter. Usually in reference to changing the bullet diameter as needed to fit a gun.

In this case swaging was to remove the crimp from the LC military brass.

Thanks, I googled it yesterday but didn't find anything that explained it regarding brass. Everybody but me just knew I guess So... swaging brass is enlarging the primer pocket/crimp to fit a primer. And cutting the crimp out instead of swaging it is reaming. Did I get it?

Sorry to get off topic.

[FLIGHT762]

[J-cat]

First of all, there is a body die. You set it just like a FL die. Keep screwing it in incrementally until you get the bolt to close easily. My AR likes Redding's +.006" competition shell holder.

Second, the neck die is supposed to feel like it is pressing the neck against the decapping rod assembly. It can't be explained. It's done by feel. I'd have to show you.

Last, the case tension provided by the collet neck die is insufficient for semi-auto applications. You'll get bullet setback when feeding into the chamber.

[gunboat]

germz --
Please explain to me how a die that is TAPERED can size a case body when it is backed off a turn --

I had not heard of a "body" die - always larn'n

[jetman624]

First of all, there is a body die. You set it just like a FL die. Keep screwing it in incrementally until you get the bolt to close easily. My AR likes Redding's +.006" competition shell holder.

Second, the neck die is supposed to feel like it is pressing the neck against the decapping rod assembly. It can't be explained. It's done by feel. I'd have to show you.

Last, the case tension provided by the collet neck die is insufficient for semi-auto applications. You'll get bullet setback when feeding into the chamber.

Should I crimp the rounds that I plan to run in my AR?

If so, who makes the die that is least intrusive on accuracy?

[jetman624]

Thanks for the tips-- and you think the neck tension with the Lee collet die is sufficient for auto-loaders?

[FLIGHT762]

Thanks for the tips-- and you think the neck tension with the Lee collet die is sufficient for auto-loaders?

It may or may not work. You will have to check it and see if you can get enough neck tension. There's no question it works in bolt guns.

I polished my lee Collet die mandrel down another -.001" (Lee recommends going no more than that). This squeezes the neck down a little bit more. I've had good luck with that in my 308 SR-25.

Lee does have collet die mandrels turned down an extra .001" available. They are $5.00 ea. You have to call customer service and order them. you can have a standard mandrel and a polished one and switch them out when needed.

I went the route of buying the Redding S bushing dies in 308 Win. and I have 5 TiN bushings to be able to use nearly any brand of brass out there. The cost gets a little high. I can adjust neck tension easy by going to a smaller bushing.

The body die and collet die route make great ammo without breaking the bank.

The body die can also be used for repairing shoulder bumping "mistakes". I've repaired loaded ammo that hadn't got the shoulders bumped enough and wouldn't chamber. A quick pass in the body bumped the shoulders back and would allow the ammo to be used.

A few months ago, I found some 223 ammo I loaded up 25 years ago before I used case gauges. The ammo hadn't been resized/ shoulder bumped properly and wouldn't chamber in an AR-15. I ran the ammo through the body die, bumping the shoulders properly and the ammo was able to be shot up. I didn't need to use case lube when doing it. It all chambered perfectly.

[J-cat]

Should I crimp the rounds that I plan to run in my AR?

If so, who makes the die that is least intrusive on accuracy?

With your current setup, yes... into the cannelure.

Your current setup is least intrusive on accuracy. But you need more neck tension. I'd go with a Redding competition neck die and a .246" bushing.

[LynnJr]

Jetman624
You re getting some good advice and some bad advice here.I use a body die on my 6 Dasher cases every loading and the accuracy is outstanding.

The Lee collet die only sizes at the very top of the stroke and requires some patience to get the right tension but it is a good die.
The Redding and Wilson type bushing dies are very popular with accuracy minded shooters because the bushings are numbered ad no adjustment is necessary.These shooter tend to turn the necks on there brass for uniformity and can easily swap a bushing for each nice size or brand of brass being used.

Read the Lee instruction sheet and set the die carefully and you will get great results.Small increments at the very end will produce big changes.

Tell us about your other reloading processes and we can dial you right in.