Another honest question

A

Andy Cross

New member
Having read through all the posts from a previous thread titled An Honest Question I am a bit bewildered as to why BR shooters would be FL resizing. The last batch of 6ppc brass I prepared I initially FL resized the new cases. Then neck turned them to fit the chamber and fire formed them. After that for the next year all I needed to do was neck size them.

So my question is why would BR shooters need to FL resize after the initial tune up ? By only neck sizing there aren't any issues regarding shoulder bump which relates back to the content of that original thread.

Andy
 
Andy, times have changed.

There are now available fitted dies made specifically to fit the dimensions of your chamber. The "full length resize" referred to is a far cry from the cramming together of an off-the-shelf die and an out-of-the-factory chamber. These new fitted FL dies simply caress the brass back into shape so that the bolt hannle drops without upsetting the bags. I can fire a case 50 times and never trim it and never feel it in the chamber. And it'll shoot to the level of neck-size only.

or better.

I personally think better.

al
 
Even with factory chambers and off the shelf dies I've noticed that accuracy is frequently better with FL sized or new cases. I've got a little CZ 527 in .222 that's not exactly a tack driver, but there's a noticeable difference in accuracy between FL and NS cases and the FL sized cases come out in front every time. The FL die takes a little fiddling to get it properly adjusted for the chamber and headspace, but unless the chamber is oversized there's no problem with FL sizing. The dies used were Redding bushing dies in both cases.

OTOH, if the FL die is just cranked down until it touches the shellholder and left there it's not likely to produce the best accuracy or case life.
 
Andy,
With the popular powder, 133, many competitors find that they like the results that they get with warm to hot loads. They also like having the option of "running" their groups, without having to deal with tight bolts, when conditions favor that approach. That is why FL sizing, every time that a case is reloaded, has become pretty much the standard approach. This is done with dies that are very closely matched to chambers. Just out of curiosity, what is your load, and velocity?
Boyd
 
My load in summer when the ambient air temperature averages 27 degrees C is 25.5gn of N133 and winter is 26.5gn behind a 70gn Sierra or a 70gn that I swage myself if I have the time.

Andy.
 
Well....you'll never blow up a rifle. 'Sort of loading a 30-06 to 30-30 velocities. If you average five five shot groups, shot on the the same morning, what would the number be?
 
I can usually get a 5 target agg in the mid two's at 100yds if the wind isn't too erratic. Nothing to write home about I know but that's about all I can do at the moment with having got a bit out of practice.

Much more powder than that and I notice some resistance with the bolt and the primers begin to alter shape a little.

Andy.
 
It is essentially one built by PSECO here in Oz some time ago. A sleeved Rem 700 action glued into a McMillan carbon fibre stock. A LV profile on a fluted Madco tube. Modified lock time with those titanium springs and what not you used to be able to get. Usual rem 2oz trigger with a 36X luepold. It's basically an antique which is why I will just use it to practice with while I get a more competitive set up made.

Andy.
 
Andy, you say your primers alter shape a little, I guess that means that they're starting to flatten a bit. Most warmish loads will produce primers that are pretty flattened, but as long as there's no cratering (assuming a normal sized firing pin hole in the bolt) you can likely increase your powder charge. Bolt lift with a match load will be stiffer than with a factory hunting load in Rem 700 with a "normal" load.

For awhile I had a Kimber 84 in 6 PPC, and my usual load in that little action was 26.5 gr of H322 with 70 gr bullets, which was fairly warm. I'd imagine that a Remington action would take more powder without complaint. As I remember N133 and H322 use about the same charge, but hardly anyone uses H322 anymore in the 6 PPC
 
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