elChupacabra!
member
- Joined
- May 29, 2008
- Messages
- 562
Hey guys, I've done a couple searches but I haven't been able to find the answers to a couple of questions I have regarding .223 resizing, so I was hoping yall could help me out.
I've just begun reloading (like within the last 3 days), although I've been reading up, collecting components, tools and the like since Christmas (just moved into a new place with enough space to put up a bench). Although I will eventually reload .45ACP, 9mm, 40S&W and 7.62x39mm, I'm starting off with .223 Rem. I'm getting used to the various steps in the process and seeing how they actually feel and work as opposed to what I've just read about them, and while alot of it is much easier than I had anticipated, there are a couple of new questions I have.
A while back I got a Hornady Lock n Load Comparator set and digital calipers and figured I would determine the headspace length for my rifle (custom AR with a DPMS match stainless heavy 20" barrel). I took around 20 pieces of brass that I knew had last been shot from my gun and measured them all and settled on 1.458" average headspace length. Based on what I read, I figured I needed to set my RCBS FL resizing die to bump the shoulder back to 1.456" to give me that .002" FL resize, enough to function but not so much as to overwork the brass.
So on Saturday I deprimed 20 cases, checked them in the calipers again (regularly checking to make sure the calipers are still properly zeroed) and confirmed that my brass still measured 1.458" (give or take maybe .0005" - .001" for some cases). I sprayed all the brass in the loading block with Hornady One Shot case lube, giving a quick spray across all cases at the 45 degree angle they recommend, turning the block, doing again, etc. until all sides had a light coat of lube. I let it sit for a minute, resized my first case in the die adjusted per the instructions in the RCBS die box, pulled it out and took a reading. For the first piece, it now read 1.461" - .003" LONGER than before I resized it! I repeated this with another case and found the same thing. I then measured some cases that had been lubed but not resized and found them to all measure about 1.461," so I concluded that the lube had apparrently added .003" to the headspace length of the cases but I hadn't actually done anything in the die. I proceeded to dial down my FL die until I could get a reading of 1.456" after resizing. Here are my questions:
1) Is 0.003" reasonable for the length added by the lube? Is that too much lube? I don't think I'm getting oil dents but it's hard to tell...
2) When I resize, should I try to get my brass' headspace length to 1.459" to take into account the lube on there, or should I still go for 1.456"?
3) How much variation in headspace length is acceptable? Some of my brass comes out at 1.455"-1.457" - is this safe / normal?
4) Will I see accuracy suffer if the resizing is too much / with too much variation?
I know this is a long question but I really appreciate yalls help.
Note: I'm reloading on a Lee Challenger Breech-Lock press with the removable bushings for the dies, for what it's worth.
I've just begun reloading (like within the last 3 days), although I've been reading up, collecting components, tools and the like since Christmas (just moved into a new place with enough space to put up a bench). Although I will eventually reload .45ACP, 9mm, 40S&W and 7.62x39mm, I'm starting off with .223 Rem. I'm getting used to the various steps in the process and seeing how they actually feel and work as opposed to what I've just read about them, and while alot of it is much easier than I had anticipated, there are a couple of new questions I have.
A while back I got a Hornady Lock n Load Comparator set and digital calipers and figured I would determine the headspace length for my rifle (custom AR with a DPMS match stainless heavy 20" barrel). I took around 20 pieces of brass that I knew had last been shot from my gun and measured them all and settled on 1.458" average headspace length. Based on what I read, I figured I needed to set my RCBS FL resizing die to bump the shoulder back to 1.456" to give me that .002" FL resize, enough to function but not so much as to overwork the brass.
So on Saturday I deprimed 20 cases, checked them in the calipers again (regularly checking to make sure the calipers are still properly zeroed) and confirmed that my brass still measured 1.458" (give or take maybe .0005" - .001" for some cases). I sprayed all the brass in the loading block with Hornady One Shot case lube, giving a quick spray across all cases at the 45 degree angle they recommend, turning the block, doing again, etc. until all sides had a light coat of lube. I let it sit for a minute, resized my first case in the die adjusted per the instructions in the RCBS die box, pulled it out and took a reading. For the first piece, it now read 1.461" - .003" LONGER than before I resized it! I repeated this with another case and found the same thing. I then measured some cases that had been lubed but not resized and found them to all measure about 1.461," so I concluded that the lube had apparrently added .003" to the headspace length of the cases but I hadn't actually done anything in the die. I proceeded to dial down my FL die until I could get a reading of 1.456" after resizing. Here are my questions:
1) Is 0.003" reasonable for the length added by the lube? Is that too much lube? I don't think I'm getting oil dents but it's hard to tell...
2) When I resize, should I try to get my brass' headspace length to 1.459" to take into account the lube on there, or should I still go for 1.456"?
3) How much variation in headspace length is acceptable? Some of my brass comes out at 1.455"-1.457" - is this safe / normal?
4) Will I see accuracy suffer if the resizing is too much / with too much variation?
I know this is a long question but I really appreciate yalls help.
Note: I'm reloading on a Lee Challenger Breech-Lock press with the removable bushings for the dies, for what it's worth.
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