elkeater2
Handloader
- Jan 5, 2009
- 761
- 85
I've searched and read most of the posts, and continue to learn, although I, too have been reloading since the early sixties.
I have an Encore that I've been loading for in 25-06 for three years, but continue to measure and experiment. Always felt like resizing was taking more force than necessary, even with the best lubes, etc.
I just did a chamber cast, and compared measurements with fired brass, resized brass, and loaded rounds. What I discovered is that the necks are going from a .292" chamber, shrink back on firing to .2895", sized to < .278, expander balled to .279", and then out to .282" when the bullet is seated. Whew! To me that seems excessive. This is in an RCBS X die. Necks on WW brass have been turned to even up, and are .0125" thick.
Shoulder/body junction is .443" fired, .436" resized. Midpoint is .461" fired, .451 resized. These seem excessive to me also. Do those out there who give most of the resizing advice think so?
I resize now to where I have .001" clearance between the case head and the Encore firing pin bushing. The measurements I gave are with the die set for this headspace. Am thinking about honing out the die body somewhat to match the chamber better. Not sure how to open up the neck even if I wanted to. Got a plain Hornady FL die I can butcher first.
Thanks!
Elkeater2
I have an Encore that I've been loading for in 25-06 for three years, but continue to measure and experiment. Always felt like resizing was taking more force than necessary, even with the best lubes, etc.
I just did a chamber cast, and compared measurements with fired brass, resized brass, and loaded rounds. What I discovered is that the necks are going from a .292" chamber, shrink back on firing to .2895", sized to < .278, expander balled to .279", and then out to .282" when the bullet is seated. Whew! To me that seems excessive. This is in an RCBS X die. Necks on WW brass have been turned to even up, and are .0125" thick.
Shoulder/body junction is .443" fired, .436" resized. Midpoint is .461" fired, .451 resized. These seem excessive to me also. Do those out there who give most of the resizing advice think so?
I resize now to where I have .001" clearance between the case head and the Encore firing pin bushing. The measurements I gave are with the die set for this headspace. Am thinking about honing out the die body somewhat to match the chamber better. Not sure how to open up the neck even if I wanted to. Got a plain Hornady FL die I can butcher first.
Thanks!
Elkeater2