Setting up Hornady Sizing Die

[Rmitch223]

I'm fairly new to reloading. I'm getting ready to start reloading .243 for my Rem. 700 SPS V.

My question is that I see a lot of people setting up there sizing die by raising the ram and turning in the sizing die until it touches the shell holder then lowering the ram and turning in the sizing die another 1/8 to 1/4 turn. I recently took a local NRA certified reloading class and the instructor suggested this method but does not have experience with the Hornady dies I will be using.

In the instructions that come with the Hornady dies it says to screw the die down until it touches the shell holder when the ram is at its highest position without camming over them lower the ram and tighten the lock ring and its set.

Which way do I need to setup my die for proper resizing to insure a safe and accurate headspace?

Thanks,

Ryan

 

[DrMike]

Ryan,

Hornady engineered the dies they market; I'd follow their instructions. Having said that, your NRA instructor gave you standard advice that will work just fine. When you set the dies according to the instructions provided by Hornady, there will be a slight camming in any case, so you still get a full length sizing of the case.

 

[kraky]

You only need to set up the die to can over if your resize brass isn't chambering smoothly. So...start with it touching the shellholder turn in ever so slightly from there if you have trouble.

 

[big rifle man]

I would agree with Doc. As your experience grows you can start "bumping" your cases so they fit perfectly in the chamber of "your" rifle.

 

[Oldtrader3]

If a reloader has the tool or gauge block to set headspace properly, they should set up the die to do that. I set my FL sizer dies to bumb the shoulder back to about .0015/.0020 from actual chamber headspace measurement.

If the handloader does not have the expertise to do ths, they should follow manufacturer recomendations.

 

[FOTIS]

All my dies are set up to deprime and size 1/2 of the neck of the brass.

 

[Oldtrader3]

That is fine, Fotis but I am not sure that I can do this in the 9.3x64R? It does not have camming power of a bolt.

 

[FOTIS]

ABSOLUTELY!

All my #1 were loaded like that.

 

[Rmitch223]

What about new brass? What dimension should the headspace be set to when sizing? Min SAAMI spec? Or the highlighted dimension is the attached pic?

 

[SJB358]

You need some way of measuring a fired case in order to know exactly what to set your die for. Whether it being the Hornady OAL set or something else. With those tools, you can set the dies to push the shoulder back .0015-.003 depending on your rifle. Setting the die up the way they mention in the instructions is fine, you just won't get excellent case life, but certainly more than adequate.

Belted mags take more attention to setting up dies and others, but it isn't rocket surgery either way.

 

[Rmitch223]

I understand what to set fired cases to using a headspace gauge, but what dimensions do I set the new brass to? The highlighted dimension in the above pic??

 

[Guest]

If you have no fired brass from your rifle to measure, you can simply follow the Hornady directions for full length sizing the first trip through for any new brass. Then readjust your sizing die to fit your rifle after you have a fired dimension. Or you could simply test chamber the new brass, and if it fits, just size most of the neck and recheck fitment in your rifle. It is, as Scotty indicated, not rocket surgery. People do it all different ways. I tend to set up my dies on new brass for a new rifle to size enough to fit in the chamber. Then once I have a fired case, I readjust the dies to bump the shoulder, and don't move them again. When I've loaded for multiple rifles in the same chambering, I've always tried to have a dedicated sizing die for each. The only time that's happened is when other folks have asked me to work with their rifles, so I just have them provide a sizing die (usually they provide a die set). I return the dies when I return the rifle.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I normally set the dial indicator to about .0015/0020 less on the datum wth my RCBS Master Gauge. This gives me sufficient datum clearance to assure easy bolt handle closing and matching the case to my rifle's chamber. I do not worry about what SAAMI dimension is except to check headspace.

 

[rick smith]

RMitch, you don't need to size new cases. Maybe run the necks over an expander ball or neck sizer to straighten any neck dents.Rick.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I run new cases through a neck sizing die just to assure myself that they are the same diameter inside the neck and thereby that the neck hoop tension (to hold bullets) on all cases is as much the same as I can make it.