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6/20/2009 4:09:08 PM EDT
I am setting up to neck size .223 LC brass for a bolt gun.  The brass fired in that rifle is pretty close to passing the case gauge already.  My Hornady headspace gauge shows the brass varies plus/minus two thousands.  I understand it is best to bump the sholder back .002.  I set the die to do that, but It seems to do that no matter what shoulder length is before resizing which is puzzling.  All pass the case gauge now.  Am I GTG?
6/20/2009 4:18:28 PM EDT
[#1]
You do not need to bump the shoulder at all if the brass was fied in the bolt gun to begin with.  Do you have a dedicated neck sizer?  You could neck size for about 4 firings, before you would need to bump the shoulder.
6/20/2009 5:18:02 PM EDT
[#2]
I do have a dedicated neck sizing die.  My understanding is you should bump the shoulder back .002 from the shape of the fired case to make sure the bolt will close easily.  If I don't need to do that, it becomes really simple.
6/20/2009 5:18:52 PM EDT
[#3]
Chamber a piece of brass, your chamber will tell all.
'Borg
6/20/2009 5:20:18 PM EDT
[#4]
Brass chambers, but with a little more resistance on closing the bolt than factory ammunition.
6/21/2009 10:19:13 AM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
Brass chambers, but with a little more resistance on closing the bolt than factory ammunition.



 A touch of resistance on bolt closing is common as the brass is fire formed to that rifles chamber now.
6/21/2009 10:28:52 AM EDT
[#6]
Just make sure you have some good grease on the lugs so you don't gall them.
'Borg
6/21/2009 11:59:41 AM EDT
[#7]
Sounds like I'm GTG.  Should I be setting the neck sizing die to bump the shoulder .002 each time or not?
6/21/2009 3:47:19 PM EDT
[#8]
It's up to you. I think you will have to bump the shoulder after the third firing. If you're fighting to close the bolt you know what needs to be done. Firing the same case through the same rifle makes the fit almost perfect, it's only when you have trouble closing the bolt will you have to do something about it. The first fireing will not require any set back if you don't want the bother, the second will be tighter still. You get the picture.
6/21/2009 3:52:51 PM EDT
[#9]
No.  You will only need to shoulder bump when it's quite difficult to close the bolt.  As was said above, good grease on the back of the lugs.  You'll get a few reloads (some only get a couple, some get many) before you bump.  It all depends on your preference on how hard you think is too hard for shutting the bolt.  Too much work on the brass shortens its life, but if you need to get the rounds cycled thru in an expedient manner, then bumping becomes more frequent (ie - competitions).  Most people who require the rifle for a tactical application are shooting factory loads.
6/21/2009 4:42:53 PM EDT
[#10]
Brass chambers just fine without bumping the shoulder.  I will neck size only for the first reload and see how it goes from there.  Thank you everyone for the help.
6/21/2009 7:10:05 PM EDT
[#11]
Quoted:
Sounds like I'm GTG.  Should I be setting the neck sizing die to bump the shoulder .002 each time or not?


The answer is no.

If you are neck sizing, then size the neck, and only the neck.

If you are sizing the neck and bumping the shoulder back then you are not neck sizing.  Depending upon the die, you are probably doing the equivalent of a full-length sizing.
6/21/2009 7:32:03 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Sounds like I'm GTG.  Should I be setting the neck sizing die to bump the shoulder .002 each time or not?


The answer is no.

If you are neck sizing, then size the neck, and only the neck.

If you are sizing the neck and bumping the shoulder back then you are not neck sizing.  Depending upon the die, you are probably doing the equivalent of a full-length sizing.


My neck only size dies will not bump my shoulder back...

Am I missing something?

6/22/2009 4:05:29 AM EDT
[#13]
Are you missing something?  No, but I'm missing a screw or two apparently.  I was trying to both neck size and bump the should back using the Hornady neck sizing die.  Seemed like a logical way to design the neck sizing die, but I think I have learned it isn't designed that way.
6/22/2009 8:43:12 AM EDT
[#14]
Typically, a neck sizing die does not size the body at all.  To that extent, italso does not fully support the body.  If you try to push back the shoulder of an unsupported case, you may find you distort the case.
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