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Posted: 10/10/2008 1:58:07 PM EDT
| I took the leap and bought a Lee classic cast press, Hornady LNL conversion, and Lee dies. When setting up the sizing die, I have been using a Wilson case gage to check the headspace measure. I seem to get it set just perfect and then the next case I check is too high. I have been practicing with a variety of range pick up brass but will be using once fired LC brass when I go "live". The difference between the min and the max on the gage is only a few thousandths, so there is not a lot of play to work with. Is this just due to the variation in the different brands of brass or am I doing something wrong? Thanks, |
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Try lubing the inside of the case neck to prevent the expander ball from pulling the shoulder back out. Try this; take the cases you've already sized and run them through the die with the expander ball removed from the die. I bet the length will be dead on. Try to use uniform amounts of lube on each case. |
Follow the pointers that AreoE mentioned. ______________________________________________ With range brass........you never know, what you're gonna get. So, ASSUMING that all of the brass was long to begin with. When you run them through the re-sizer die, they should all end up, to a consistent size. But, WHAT IF: some of the cases were "smaller" and you ran them through........they could still be on the small side. Because, perhaps your setting is to the maximum end of the acceptable range and the smaller cases aren't actually being re-sized. Or, perhaps you aren't bringing the press handle down all the way. There once was a LEE hand press user who wasn't getting his "full" re-sizing done, as the press handles weren't actually touching together. Or, some have suggested, giving each case a 90 degree turn and running the case through again. A second time will feel a lot different vs. doing it only once. It seems to breed consistency for some. HTH. As always, YMWV. Aloha, Mark |
In addition to what AeroE has said try to make your stroke consistent. Be sure you bottomed out each time. Damn Mark you posted as I started to reply. |
| Thanks for the pointers. I have not been lubing the case mouths, that sounds like an easy thing to try first as well as being sure to pull the handle all the way. I am using Imperial sizing wax so I suppose I can put a bit on a q tip and swab the inside of the neck. I am using range pick up for testing purposes so I won't hesitate to just throw it away if it doesn't work properly. |
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Took another try at it this morning. I took some unsized cases and verified that they were out of spec (too long) and then ran them through the sizer. I sorted by brand of case and, sure enough, the sized LC cases were all in spec but some Winchester commercial cases were out of spec (too short). I also checked the once fired LC brass that I just received from brassman.com and noticed that even though it is supposed to be sized, it is not sized and is too long. Guess I will be resizing them before I load them. |
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RR once said........ "Trust but verify." Aloha, Mark PS.......just to double check, we are talking about the headstamp end, right. That side checks the headspace. Just place the re-sized case into the gauge. The head of the case should be AT or BETWEEN the hi and low cut on the gauge. While, the other end checks the trim length. Place the re-sized case into the gauge. Then place the gauge (headstamp end) on a flat table top so that the case and gauge is resting on the table top surface. The case neck should be AT or BETWEEN the hi and low cut of the gauge. Double check the case length with a caliper. Of course, IF your gauge came with different instructions.......follow the mfns instructions. A little more than half way down the page is a good photo of a case gauge in action. www.ar15.com/content/page.html?id=451 |
| Yes, I am talking about the headstamped end. There is such a small difference between too high and too low. I put the cartridge in and use a steel rule to verify that it is not too high on the high end and not too low on the low end. At this point, I am convinced that I am doing it right and it is due to the difference between casings. I will just resize and check 100% of the cases too ensure that I am within specs. |
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