Sorry, this was a typo. <I took a handful of cases which were 1.760" > It should have been 1.460". Using the Hornady adapter for my calipers, that is the measurement from the base to the datum line (0.330"). I wanted to make sure they were longer than my target value for adjusting the die.
I can indeed screw the die down further to see what happens but any adjustments I've made downward seems to just bump the shoulders back further. It's bumping them back 0.002" to 0.15" already.
How I originally set the die, was to let the press slightly cam over then slowly back the die out a little each time to reduce the bump back to where I wanted it then locked it down.
Richard
Something you may want to keep in mind is while
The Hornady Lock-N-Load Headspace Gage 5 Bushing Set with Comparator can be a useful tool it can also be prone to some error. Using the gauge to measure a case is like using any other similar gauge, a matter of feel. To illustrate what I am getting at take a look at the below image:
Pictured above is The Hornady Lock-N-Load Headspace Gage 5 Bushing Set with Comparator, a
RCBS Precision Mic 223 Remington, and a set of three 223 Remington chamber headspace gauges. The headspace gauges are dimensioned as follows:
Go = 1.464"
No Go = 1.467"
Field = 1.470"
How do I know the accuracy of the headspace gauges? Prior to my recent retirement from my job I dragged much of my gauging into work and had the guys in the CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine) areas check my gauging. When a few million dollar Zeiss CMM says my $25 gauges are accurate I accept it as gospel.
Running the 1.464" Go gauge in the Hornady gauging I get 1.459" and that number repeats. Take the gauge down, reassemble and set up again, same number. Over and over again the same 1.459". So it repeats but is off by -.005" of error. Just the nature of the beast with this type gauging. The upside is with a price tag of under $40 you can measure a mountain of calibers.
Pictured on the bottom of the image (left) is a RCBS Precision Mic Gauge. While the RCBS kits are much more expensive I really like them and prefer using them. When I measure the same Go gauge I get 1.464" every time, exactly as I should. It repeats and is accurate. Well within .001" which exceeds anything I'll ever need.
Just a matter of how OCD we want to get over the numbers but in my opinion and just my opinion I would not place too much weight in the numbers you get from the Hornady gauge.
Moving along here is another image:
A few weeks ago I fired these rounds from one of my AR rifles at the range. Federal American Eagle run of the mill 223 ammunition. The spent brass on the right was resized (full length) with measurements taken before and after.
Unfired dimensions:
New Case Length = 1.740" as measured using vernier caliper.
Case Headspace = 1.464" as measured using the RCBS gauge.
Case Headspace = 1.459" as measured using Hornady gauge.
Once fired:
Case Length = 1.745" as measured using vernier caliper.
Case Headspace = 1.469" as measured using RCBS gauge.
Case Headspace = 1.464" as measured using Hornady gauge.
Note: The change was identical (.005") on both gauges. So while the Hornady gauge gave what I believe an inaccurate start the delta is right on the money.
The once fired numbers are an average of the 5 cases pictured but overall the deviations were only about .001". Not bad at all.
I resized the brass using RCBS aerosol case lube including a swab in the necks. Using a Rock Chucker and RCBS 223 full length dies I raised the ram and screwed the die down till it bottomed out then added 1/8 turn and locked the die. That got me right back to where I started at 1.464".
I also use and like the Wilson gauges for a quick check of my cases, a nice simple Go or No Go. I have just learned from experience and some comparisons not to place too much stock in the Hornady numbers. Hell when I do 308 Winchester my 1.630" precision Go gauge reads 1.623" (-.007") using the Hornady gauge while my RCBS 308 gauge reads 1.630".
The bottom line here is you need to know the numbers you get from your gauging are good numbers. I distrust the accuracy (not the repeatability) of the Hornady gauges for the reasons I mentioned. How much does it all matter? Really depends on how OCD you want to get with measuring cases. When I load 223 for match grade ammunition using Lapau brass and hand weighing each charge I can get pretty OCD about things.
Just My Take
Ron