Setting up press to load my first .308 Winchester and ran into an odd problem (for me anyway). Die instructions are to raise ram, screw in die until sleeve is compressed up into die and makes contact with shell holder. Then unscrew micrometer until 2 or 3 shows, with 3 being top of the range of the threads.
With it set accordingly, I put in the first cases, one new Winchester brass, one Lapua brass and the bullet, 168 grain Hornady A-MAX. With micrometer still at top of range, I mounted a bullet to make a couple of dummies until press ready to go live.
Most of the charts I have with either of these two brass and the A-MAX show OAL of between 2.80 and one as long as 2.9), but 2.820-2.870 being common.
First press was 2.77 with micrometer full up...any further loosening was totally loose. Hmmm. Three things occured to me. One, I'm stupid and totally overlooked something. Two, I'm just going to have to screw this die out further, contra Redding's instructions, or Three, I see they have a "VDL seating stem" for skinny VDL bullets, which I really didn't think the A-Max was.....
What is the solution? Inclined to rotate the die further out of the press until proper range occurs but don't know for sure.
Russellc,
With it set accordingly, I put in the first cases, one new Winchester brass, one Lapua brass and the bullet, 168 grain Hornady A-MAX. With micrometer still at top of range, I mounted a bullet to make a couple of dummies until press ready to go live.
Most of the charts I have with either of these two brass and the A-MAX show OAL of between 2.80 and one as long as 2.9), but 2.820-2.870 being common.
First press was 2.77 with micrometer full up...any further loosening was totally loose. Hmmm. Three things occured to me. One, I'm stupid and totally overlooked something. Two, I'm just going to have to screw this die out further, contra Redding's instructions, or Three, I see they have a "VDL seating stem" for skinny VDL bullets, which I really didn't think the A-Max was.....
What is the solution? Inclined to rotate the die further out of the press until proper range occurs but don't know for sure.
Russellc,