Reloading Newbie

[Warrior27]

I just started reloading and have a few questions on sizing brass. I’ll try and not ramble too much but give as much information as possible. I’m using once fired 6.5 Creed Peterson brass (from my chamber) and getting variances of up to 4 thou while sizing. I’m actually not trying to bump the shoulders just resize but some brass it does bump 1-2 thou. Any words of wisdom on sizing? I am not annealing as of yet. List of components used below, thanks in advance.

Coax press, Forester FL Benchrest die, Hornady Oneshot lube, dial caliper and Hornady case gage for measurements.

 

[mfllood3800]

Not all 1x fired brass will form fit to your chamber perfectly with the first firing. Harder brass often requires more than one firing. I don't use Peterson so not sure on them. I am assuming you are wanting to neck size only and wanting to use one more firing to fully fire form cases to your chamber? I personally FL size and bump shoulders .002 on competition and hunting rifles and anneal every time just to introduce the most consistent process possible. Take 5 or so of your 1x fire formed brass and measure them with your chamber gauge from your smith or comparator and caliber insert from your reloading store source. Your fired cases won't all be the same measurement, giving you a varied reading after sizing, providing you are bumping enough to get a reading. I take the case that needs the most sizing as my starting point ensuring it will chamber back into my chamber once reloading process is complete. Some measured variances of your "bumping" will likely not be as critical as other steps in the reloading and/or shooting process. Having excessive shoulder bump can be problematic for correct head space and consistent pressures- and not having enough bump, as stated, can be an issue trying to chamber a tight case into your chamber. Welcome to hand loading.

 

[mfllood3800]

Reply#2
Trying to avoid long replies. Using spray lube or any lubricant inconsistently can present a problem with shoulder bumping. More lube means more space is taken up by lube, forcing more sizing between case and die wall. Also, the speed and force of you pulling the lever on your Co-Ax can alter the sizing done. Try to spray consistent amount of lube on cases and pull the lever on press as same as possible for every case. Some brass (especially w/o annealing) may be harder in places than others, even in same lots, so your brass spring back may be at play here as well.

 

[Warrior27]

Not all 1x fired brass will form fit to your chamber perfectly with the first firing. Harder brass often requires more than one firing. I don't use Peterson so not sure on them. I am assuming you are wanting to neck size only and wanting to use one more firing to fully fire form cases to your chamber? I personally FL size and bump shoulders .002 on competition and hunting rifles and anneal every time just to introduce the most consistent process possible. Take 5 or so of your 1x fire formed brass and measure them with your chamber gauge from your smith or comparator and caliber insert from your reloading store source. Your fired cases won't all be the same measurement, giving you a varied reading after sizing, providing you are bumping enough to get a reading. I take the case that needs the most sizing as my starting point ensuring it will chamber back into my chamber once reloading process is complete. Some measured variances of your "bumping" will likely not be as critical as other steps in the reloading and/or shooting process. Having excessive shoulder bump can be problematic for correct head space and consistent pressures- and not having enough bump, as stated, can be an issue trying to chamber a tight case into your chamber. Welcome to hand loading.

You are correct, I’m just trying to neck size and not bump the shoulders. I can still chamber the fired brass easily. I agree, I don’t think I’m forming the brass fully after one firing. I appreciate your response!!

 

[270-300]

If the same lot of the same headstamp brass is inconsistent to where neck and shoulder move to:

You either need to anneal the brass more, as it is inconsistent from piece to piece in how much of the spring back it does,

Or some contaminants are in your die.

Be careful neck sizing non annealed brass that is stiff. I did this a few loadings in a row with 300 win mag brass one time. Then the bolt was hard to close. Then i full length sized it to alleviate it being tight in the chamber, and the slight bulge the brass body had caught in the die and it damaged every piece of that brass. I gave up on neck sizing after that. I find the case neck splits long before i have the body thin enough for case head separation.

 

[Warrior27]

If the same lot of the same headstamp brass is inconsistent to where neck and shoulder move to:

You either need to anneal the brass more, as it is inconsistent from piece to piece in how much of the spring back it does,

Or some contaminants are in your die.

Be careful neck sizing non annealed brass that is stiff. I did this a few loadings in a row with 300 win mag brass one time. Then the bolt was hard to close. Then i full length sized it to alleviate it being tight in the chamber, and the slight bulge the brass body had caught in the die and it damaged every piece of that brass. I gave up on neck sizing after that. I find the case neck splits long before i have the body thin enough for case head separation.

Thanks for the tips. I don’t have an annealer yet, but plan to get one.