SAAMI spec for chamber diameter at the pressure ring point (.200" forward from the bolt face) is .3765" +.002". So maximum is .3785".What I noticed was that after being resized in my RCBS dies, the diameter of the case near the web was 0.3733 to 0.3734 (SAAMI maximum is 0.376)
I had thought about using a small base die, but the manual that comes with the Axis specifically warns against it.
Just about all manufacturers have that in their manuals. The above quote is taken from this manual which covers Savage Centefire Rifles. While there is no specific reference to small base dies they hit reloads and handloads pretty clear. Again, I have seen this for just about all commercial manufacturers and it is nothing new.USE ONLY THE CORRECT AMMUNITION THAT IS STAMPED ON THE SIDE OF THE BARREL. THE USE OF RELOADS, HANDLOADS, MILITARY SURPLUS, OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL / NONCOMMERCIAL AMMUNITION NOT MANUFACTURED TO SAAMI (SPORTING ARMS AND AMMUNITION MANUFACTURERS’ INSTITUTE, INC.)/ ANSI (AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE) SPECIFICATIONS WILL VOID THE WARRANTY.
I had thought about using a small base die, but the manual that comes with the Axis specifically warns against it.
if im using LC 04-07-11 all from the same shipper would i be okay?Once I'm sure my dies are set correctly for the batch of brass I'm sizing, I go. Then spot check a few along the way. If your using mixed brass you will need to check them all, as some will be different. I anneal all my brass prior to sizing. This helps keep them all size the same, still separate by lots.
Check a number of cases until you are happy all are bumped enough and none are too much. There will be usually be a .001 to .002 variance. With mixed brass it can be worse. A dead soft annealed case shoulder will size/move easier and not spring back as much, vs a work hardened case that resists sizing and springs back a lot.
would you suggest getting into annealing? right now they are about 2 times fired.
do you guys measure every case or just check and see if the shoulder on 1-2 is back 1thousanth and then run with it?
I forgot to add that I'm pretty sure this brass was sized when I would adjust the die little by little to fit the heavy barrel as I grabbed from a case that's already primed and sized so I'm guessing this was a lot from when the die was setup correctly but what would be the odds of the sized being the same as fire formed? I guess run a piece of 2 of brass through the die to see if it moves?From those reading you have not moved it back any. Go a little more till you see a change of 0.001"-0.002" for a bolt gun. 0.002"-0.003" for a simi-auto.
LC brass will normally give you 2-3 sizing before they start splitting. Just depends on how long you want the brass to last. Annealing every cycle is about getting the same neck tension every time. Added brass life is just a bonus of doing it.
Also I put a once fired from the heavy barrel into the comparator and once fired from the sloppy rifle into the comparator and both measured the same (1.458). how is this possible for 2 different rifles to measure the same?
I don't think annealing is all it's heated up to be.