How do you set up for bumping shoulders of your cases

[Britz]

I posted this in LRH forum as well, but I wanted the experiences of the Nosler forum too.

IJust started loading for a 300wsm and had good luck using 180 Accubonds (.75" @ 200). I did my final sight in for the Early deer hunt and had major problems with chambering because some of my Brass was fired 4 times and was getting a little too long I have always gotten away with neck sizing my 30-06 for 7 + firings without chambering problems.

I FL sized my brass but the groups suffered for it. (1.75" @200). This is definatley good enough for 300-400 yards but it isn't cutting the mustard for anything beyond that IMO. So I am looking to possibly bump the shoulders on each loading so my cosistancy is good for each loading, rather than fl sizing every 3rd time and changing the POI for that batch.

I have read many of you Bump the necks using a FL die and I was wondering if you use a bushing to make the same stop. I still use an old Lee Chanlenger press that is a little wobled out and I couldnt' get it to consistantly bump shoulders because there was too much play and give in the press. If you do use a press and just rely on the stroke to set the bump, what press are you using?

Thanks for any advice, Mark B.

 

[old #7]

I use an RCBS rc press.
I run the ram up to the top of the stroke. Insert the sizing die until it touches the shell holder. Back the die off about 1 full turn. Lube a case and run it into the die. Clean the lube off the case and try chambering it in your rifle. Turn the die into the press until you have "bumped" the shoulder back enough to allow for a "chrush" fit or until your bolt closes easily.

 

[Britz]

Thank you very much Ol' #7, THe only relpy I got back from an experienced loader. I even went to Scheels and bought a RCBS RC IV press! Excited to try out this new (to me) method.
Later, Mark

 

[Guest]

I use an RCBS Reloader Special-5, but any good press will do the trick, as long as it is strong enough not to flex. If I were buying a new press right now, I'd go for the Redding Big Boss, as it is pretty stout, has the angled setup I like, and boasts the largest opening of all presses "in it's class." (Now, what's in it's class is open to Redding's discretion, I'm sure, but at least the opening is something like 3 5/8 or something.)

I don't spend a lot of time "bumping" shoulders. Perhaps I should try it out for some of my hunting guns. I don't have trouble with handloads chambering (yet) but I am only three or four loads into all of my brass except for a 30-30, which I guess maybe I "bump" because I don't size all the way down the case, just enough to get them to chamber reliably. I have some brass sized with a Lee Collet Die that I cannot seem to get to misfeed in an 8x57 Remington Classic, but it's only on load number 2 or 3 depending on which piece of brass we're talking about. I'll probably take a look at bumping if/when I run into problems with my bolt guns.

 

[JD338]

I use an RCBS rc press.
I run the ram up to the top of the stroke. Insert the sizing die until it touches the shell holder. Back the die off about 1 full turn. Lube a case and run it into the die. Clean the lube off the case and try chambering it in your rifle. Turn the die into the press until you have "bumped" the shoulder back enough to allow for a "chrush" fit or until your bolt closes easily.

+1

I have bumped shoulders the same way. My press is a RCBS Jr. from 1974, bought it new when I was 15.

JD338

 

[Britz]

Thanks again for the advice guys. I was looking really hard at the Redding Big boss too. However, I decided on the RCBS because it seemed that the stroke might be a little more consistant because of the way the stop was designed and the fact that it has a little more clearance than the Redding. I like to keep my options open for a Lapua or RUM in the future.

I've been loading for 15 years now. I pick it up more ambitiously some times and let it slide some times, but it never ceases to amaize me how much one can learn when you delve into it again. looking back now, I think to myself how bad my first few loads must have been

 

[kraky]

If you enjoy reloading spend the $35-40 for a headspace bushing kit by stoney point (who may now have sold out to Hornady). You will NOT reload without the kit again in the future. I use my kit constantly and set up for a bump of .002-.003.
Trying to neck size with a fl die is looking for trouble. It will get you when you don't want it to.....on a serious hunt......or for sure when you are in the field. Very few benchresters neck size anymore....they all bump for fast reliable feeding.
FYI---I own fl dies, neck dies, collet dies, and body dies. I can find NO DIFFERENCE IN ACCURACY between any of the methods in my hunting rifles when I set up for a small bump. I have many guns capable of less than moa accuracy using FL dies properly set up.