“Lets say for example I choose to form 8X57 Mauser from .30-06 brass. At one time I acquired an Arisaka Type 99 with excessive headspace. I was instructed to thread my sizer die fully into the press then back the die off one full turn. I was then instructed to size/set my shoulders and attempt to chamber the brass, threading the sizer die into the press in increments until the brass(trimmed mind you) would chamber in the rifle with light pressure applied to the bolt. If I chamber a round with slight pressure then extract it, re-chambering it I notice zero resistance while turning the bolt into battery. I assume this would creates a tight headspace situation. Asides from a rifle that is properly cleaned and lugs lubed, could this practice lead to lug galling over time?”
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model 70, nuff said
The advise given to you by the “I was instructed” person was repeating everything he ever heard about forming cases, all of my dies and presses have threads, that makes them adjustable, just because the thread is 14 per inch does not mean adjustments can not be made in thousands, but in reloading life is made more simple when the instructions are wild guestimates or in 1/4 turns, 1/2 turns, 3/4 turns or turns in thirds and worst, turns in degrees.
The shoulder of the 30/06 is .121 ahead of the shoulder of the 8mm57, the 30/06 shoulder is .076 ahead of the 7.7mm58 Japanese, to form the 7.7mm58or the 8mm57 keep up with the shoulder/case body juncture.
I have forming dies, lots of forming dies, if I had one forming die it would be the 308 W trim/forming did, because??? it is short(er). The 308 case is shorter than the 30/06 from the head of the case to it’s shoulder .388, so when forming 8mm57 cases from 30/06 cases I adjust the gap between the bottom of the 308 forming die to the shell holder .377, a piece of bar stock that measures 3/8 (.375) is perfect when adding .002 thousands shims from a feeler gage. After forming the cases with the forming die, I then full length size the formed cases. BUT!! I never want to pass up an opportunity to form to fit my cases, so instead of mindlessly full length sizing my new3 formed cases to minimum/full length I will again use the feeler gage to adjust the die off the shell holder starting with an .008 thousands shim, after sizing with an .008 thousands gap I attempt chambering the new creation, if it chambers with no resistance the chamber has EXTRA head space, to determine ‘how much? I increase the gap with a thicker feeler gage. I have found 88 Commission rifles with .024 thousands EXTRA head space.
I have 8mm57 and 7mm57 forming dies, when forming 30/06 cases I adjust the forming die off the shell holder with a .010 thousands feeler gage, then size the 8mm57 cases with the same .010 gap, after sizing the cases with the addition length added between the shoulder and the head of the case I chamber the case with out powder/primer, if the case chambers with resistance, I reduce the gap with a thinner feeler gage, I continue this process until I am able to chamber the newly formed case. With a good press, die and shell holder and the companion tool to the press, the feeler gage. wild guesses are not necessary, adjustments in degrees is not necessary and fraction turns of the die is not necessary.
Then there are those giving advise that have never formed a cases, they never mention the crease in the shoulders, they do claim dents and folds pop out when fired and that does not always happen, also never mentioned is the case condition, back when, I acquired new unfired pulled down military cases for the purpose of forming, necking up, necking down etc., The advantage to the military case when forming the head of the case is not stamped 30/06, and there is unlimited combinations with manufactures and dates, pile the cases in the tumbler then sort by manufacturer and date.
I would suggest new/unfired cases when forming, I would suggest using a feeler gage when adjusting the die to the shell holder and fired cases are not a good choice unless using a forming die, the best investment in dies for forming is the 308 W forming die, if the big gap between the shell holder and bottom of the die makes you dizzy stick with the proper forming die.
F. Guffey