Question about a Redding Body Sizing die

08 March 2007, 21:54

Paul Brasky

According to Redding (via the Sinclair 2007-A catalog), the body sizing die full length resizes the case body and bumps the shoulder, but leaves case neck unsized. Except for the unsized neck, can I accomplish the same thing by removing the decapping stem & expander ball from a FL die and inserting it in my press until it makes firm contact with my shellholder? (I've done this before and expanded the neck with a Lyman M-die.) Thanks in advance for your help!

08 March 2007, 22:43

woods

quote:
Originally posted by Paul Brasky:
Except for the unsized neck,

Yes, you can resize the case body and push the shoulder back with a full length die. It will also size the case neck.

quote:
until it makes firm contact with my shellholder

That depends on your press and die and rifle chamber. It could contact the shoulder at that point. RCBS instructions say to adjust it 1/4 turn more.

I have found that most FL dies start to contact the shoulder about 1/8 turn more after contacting the shell holder. You can set it to do what you want if you have a Head & Shoulders Gauge or by chambering as you size and checking for a lessening of the crush fit.

The die adjustment will ultimately depend upon the chamber dimensions.

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09 March 2007, 01:13

kraky

YUP....you can do dat!

09 March 2007, 01:35

Reloader

The Body Die is a great die if you want to just bump the shoulder back on neck sized brass that's becoming too diffcult to chamber.

Like Woods said, with a FL die you will size the neck as well and it may be undersized if you remove the expander ball.

You could PFLR with your FL die and set it to just bump the shoulder as well and only size about 3/4+ of the neck. I usually screw the die in until it touches the shell holder then, back off a half turn. Size a case and see if it chambers. If it will not chamber I screw it in 1/8 a turn and try again. If it chambers to easy I back it out just a bit a try. Keep adjusting until you get a slight snug resistance when closing the bolt. Hotcore can probably explain it better than I.

PFLR works quite well.

I prefer the Redding body die followed by a Lee collet die. Produces quite concentric brass.

Good Luck

Reloader