I have to load a few rounds for a friend who has a 742 rem. 06'. All my rifles are bolt rifles, so how should I adjust the sizing die for his rifle's rounds? maybe a little deeper? thanks

I've been loading for semi-auto rifle for over 50 years now.
I always use a "Small Base" die. I have never had any chambering problems in any military or civi rifles.

Should be able to just full length resize. Adjust your shell die to just touch your shell holder and afterwards check the case length. Semi auto rifles can be finicky if the ammo isn't to factory spec sometimes.

this is why I don't load for a rifle I don't have in hand.

size a few like the die's directions advise and give them to him to try and chamber in his rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Rapidrob:
I've been loading for semi-auto rifle for over 50 years now.
I always use a "Small Base" die. I have never had any chambering problems in any military or civi rifles.

I too used a small base die when loading a lot of 308Win ammo for a friends Rem 742 and he never had any problems with chambering and extraction.

Never had to use any special methods to reload for semi autos.

Full length dies work just fine.

quote:

Originally posted by Lamar:
this is why I don't load for a rifle I don't have in hand.

size a few like the die's directions advise and give them to him to try and chamber in his rifle.

This ^^^^is so true! I find it impossible to reloade CORRECTLY without having the rifle in hand... at least the first time loading for it.

I've loaded for several 742"s in the past and just used my full length size die with no problems. I do prefer to have the rifle available to try the cases before loading very many rounds.

Rule #1. No reloads for friends.

The only way I would do this is to have the gun in hand and be able to test fire the reloads I would produce. You might run into a problem or you might not. You will not know until you try.

thanks guys

True; never reload for anyone else, and certainly not if you don't have the rifle.
As for small base dies, those were made just to sell more dies and I have never found them to be necessary or helpful. It is not the OD that is the problem; it is the base to shoulder length; sometimes. So make the shell holder cam hard against the die; and hope for the best. Semi auto chambers are not smaller; just no camming help so the cases have to be sloppy. Sort of.

I reload for a few autos including a 750 35 Whelen. No reason to use anything but standard dies, which will resize brass to factory specs. If those don't work in your 742 then you have other issues.

Set up your dies as recommended by the manufacturer.

Resize some brass, manually feed into your 742 and see if the bolt closes. If it does you are OK.

If not then see if your gun will chamber factory cartridges. If not then you have a rifle problem, if so then it's a reloading issue.

A couple comments. I believe FL size dies size cases to Sammi specs. SB dies resize to factory dimensions. I have been loading for over 55 years. and have loaded for Rem,Browning and Win auto loaders. I have found the Brownings have tighter chambers and need a SB size die for reliable functioning. I have seen Rem autoloaders tear the extractor right through the rim on cases sized with a FL die. If I was hunting with an Autoloader the cases would be sized with a SB die.

Full length resize is the answer, simple and it works unless your gun has been tinkered with. No reason to make a mountain out of a mo-hill

Use SB dies only if needed, cast your chamber, not many are that snug and std dies work..

All .308 RCBS dies are small base..

I use once fired range picks up and brass fired in friends rifles. I was also fortunate enough to acquire several hundred LC brass fired in a belt fed. For the first sizing I will use an SB die.

Sized and loaded thousands of 7.62 military brass for autos; NEVER owned a small base die. Come over and I'll show you. Why does everyone think auto chambers are cut smaller than bolt actions? They aren't.

quote:

Originally posted by snowman:
A couple comments. I believe FL size dies size cases to Sammi specs. SB dies resize to factory dimensions. I have been loading for over 55 years. and have loaded for Rem,Browning and Win auto loaders. I have found the Brownings have tighter chambers and need a SB size die for reliable functioning. I have seen Rem autoloaders tear the extractor right through the rim on cases sized with a FL die. If I was hunting with an Autoloader the cases would be sized with a SB die.

Totally agree. The Rem 742 is a pig of an action once it gets worn and you want everything in your favour to ensure it functions properly. Working a semi auto action by hand to see if everything feeds and closes is not the same as the violent action when firing the thing especially if there some wear involved.
Too late when out in the field and getting a no feed, then thinking damn should have used a SB resizing die!!!!

The SB die does no harm and is a little insurance when using semi-autos.
I have also loaded for Rems, Brownings, Wins, even H&K's with a few pumps thrown in the mix too.

Use the SB die if you must, it will work all the time but can be tough on brass if you hhave a std chamber cut..so you have a double edged sword..I always use a std die as I have many, and they have always worked for me, if not I would just buy a SB sizing die..308 and 30-06 may all be SB, I know the 308 dies are all SB from RCBS, they told me so! Im thinking maybe all military calibers are SB, but wouldn't swear to that.

I have one more comment about auto loading rifles. I have never seen anyone who hunted with an autoloader be worried about SB dies being hard on brass. In hunting situations very few empty cases are recovered. The owner of the autoloader wants that ammo to function reliably.........once

If you need an AUTOLOADER to hunt with----you need some shooting lessons!

Hip

Hip
Maybe some of those guys who shoot auto loaders are left handed or have other reasons for using them??
I wonder what the reasoning was behind Remington developing their model 8s...

well, I used a regular FL die: my friend shot about a dozen rounds: feeding and firing were fine. Accuracy leaves lots to be desired. I urged him to chamber each round before he left, which he did. He's off on his hunt now. Have tried to talk him in to a good bolt rifle in the past, but he's too tight, but glad to help a good friend. thanks to all.