[sid]

i have a 22-250 with excessive headspace.whats the best way to load my cases to fit the chamber without using full loads?can i use full lenght dies to just neck size these cases after reforming them?thanks

[rcmodel]

Yes.

Back the sizing die off so you aren't pushing the shoulder back to factory spec.

You would in effect be fire forming your cases to your chamber the first firing, and then leaving them that way.

rc

[NeuseRvrRat]

like RC said, fireform and neck size. that's what i do. i have to bump the shoulders back 2-3 thousandths every few firings.

[Walkalong]

Get some way to measure where the shoulder is (http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=6270171&postcount=1) at after a couple of full load firings, and then adjust the sizer to just move the shoulder back .000 to .003.

This can be a cheap tool, or a nice cool looking expensive one.

[sid]

that answers one question,now another one.this might be a one time thing so im kinda partial to the cheep way of checking when my die starts to set back the shoulder.what can i make to check this?thanks

[rcmodel]

Without knowing what kind of rifle You have??

Take the striker out of the bolt.
Smoke a case shoulder with a candle.
Carefully close the bolt on it feeling for slight resistance.

When you take the case back out, you should see a shiny clean ring in the soot where the case shoulder just contacted the chamber shoulder.

If you can feel it and see it, it don't get any better then that.

But while we are on the subject.
How did your .22-250 get all this excess headspace?
Unless you suffered locking lug set-back in the receiver, or a cracked bolt lug?

Might be worth having a gunsmith figure out what is going on there before you shoot your eye out.

rc

[NeuseRvrRat]

you could buy a tool like this:

http://www.shootingtimes.com/files/2010/09/sthornady_092407a.jpg

but you could just make a basic one by boring a .350" hole in pretty much anything that's square on both sides.

don't worry, guffey will be here soon to ramble on about datums and feeler gauges and confuse the snot out of you.

[Walkalong]

It can be as simple as this hex nut (http://www.sinclairintl.com/reloading-equipment/measuring-tools/bullet-comparators/sinclair-hex-style-bullet-comparators-prod34262.aspx) from Sinclair. It is a comparator for bullets, but can work for shoulders as well.

[sid]

rcmodel,sent pm