What at I doing wrong?

Sadly, what the OP has posted is exactly what RCBS book says to do.

Ninesosdemtete: If you continue, do not shoot those cases more than 5 x.

You will get a head separations crack.

Just kissing helps.

Minium shoulder bump back is more better, should be U tubes on that.

Or you can turn the die out trying your shell in the gun each time until the bolt close gets still.

What the full quarter turn thing does is shoves that shoulder all the way back to original.

That stresses the base. That then breaks on firing 5 or so.

Minim shoulder bump back uses a device that goes on the micrometer blade, an insert that indexed to the shoulder and the dies is adjust to bump the shoulder back just a .001 or so, enough to get back in the gun fine, but not stress the base.

That case is sized to the chamber in your gun, it may not fit another one.
 
Im a bench rest shooter 308 cal . My one an only press is the same as yours , good choice great press . don't cam over just bring the die down to meet the shell holder to remove any slack in the threads . I ordered the Redding competition shelll holder set of 5 , this helps to prevent from oversizing your cases. I use them with the RCBS F/L die . Works really well , on the ring at the bottom of the case , rub some 0000 steel wool around the base an see if it cleans up . I wouldn't think once fired brass would stretch leaving the ring . Can you chamber a fired case ? How hot are you loading ? are you jumping or jamming your rounds ?
 
Or you can turn the die out trying your shell in the gun each time until the bolt close gets still.
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This is what I use... the "feel" method. I used to neck size. Then found that you must eventually FL size eventually anyway. Then I learned how to properly set up a FL die to promote accuracy and reduce stress on your brass by sizing just the right amount. It's not the method die instructions or reloading manuals describe. Lee and RCBS give instructions on how to set the
 
There's nothing wrong here thats where the brass becomes thicker and it depends on how far you sized it if youre full sizing you should go as far as you can.
 
There's nothing wrong here thats where the brass becomes thicker and it depends on how far you sized it if youre full sizing you should go as far as you can.
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No, the idea is NOT to size as far down the case as you can with bottleneck cases. Remember, as you size further down the case into the web area, you are also bumping the shoulder further back, creating a potential excessive headspace situation. The idea is to bump the shoulder back just enough so that the cartridge chambers properly irregardless of how far down into the web area sizing takes place.

Don
 
I only full length size on unkown brass to get it to min spec. Once its fired i keep it marked for that particular gun and then neck size. Most of my brass has gone 5 or more firings before failure and its always a crack down the neck. Never case head separation. But im always willing to learn so please inform me
 
nino is starting to reload . Resizing a case is simple , resizing a case with minimum case headspace could be be confusing , some cases expand an will become shorter others will stretch an get longer . Knowing the size of you chamber is important using a Go Gauge . Checking case headspace I use the RCBS Precision Mic . Sized with the RCBS F/L Die & the Redding Competition Shellholders. Neck sizing the cases aren't the same length , headspace will be different in most cases . Full size with .001 headspace works much better for me.
 
Wrought
If your changing barrels you would use both gauges but with the Go Gauge you could add a .001 shims to the back of the gauge until the bolt closes with resistance that's zero head space . The 308 go gauge measurement is 1.630 my zero is 1.632 . I full size every time to .001
 
Nice info i was going to order a set of go/nogo gauges.. Just need spending money lol
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Go/nogo gauges are pretty much meaningless for reloading. All they do is tell you whether your firearm's headspace is within specs. Either test your resized cases in your firearm (assuming it is a bolt action rifle), or use the RCBS Precision Mic and set your die up to bump the shoulder back a couple thousands from what it reads on your fired case.

Don
 
USSR
My brass gets shorter after firing , they expand . Using the Go Gauge & shims I know the length from the datum to the bolt face . When I size my fired brass they get longer by .002 Sized & checked with the Precision Mic. How would you know the true length of your chamber . If your brass gets longer an you can't chamber a fired round then yes you can adjust your die down a little at a time until your fired case can chamber . It didn't work that way for me & I wanted the know the chamber length . When I first started reloading I didn't know about headspace , jumping or jamming , runout . Also the differences in case thickness , I just adjusted the die as the instructions & followed the load data . After reading everything I could on the subject I found out its much more then that . Great Sport or hobby whatever its called . Anyway Be Well . Chris
 
Yes, the case gets slightly shorter after it has been shot, due to the annealed properties of brass. The amount of case body expansion is also reduced once the pressure goes down. If this "spring back" did not take place, the case would stick in the chamber. The case then lengthens after resizing because you are reducing the body size of the case to bring it back into spec, and the displaced brass moves forward. All you have to do is measure the headspace of your fired case (which is essentially a cast of your chamber) with the Precision Mic, then set your die up so that you resize your cases so the headspace dimensions match your fired case's headspace dimensions. If you intend to use your reloaded ammo in more than one rifle, then set up your resizing die so that your ammo fits in the rifle with the shortest chamber. Unless you have one rifle with a minimum chamber and one rifle with an excessively long chamber, there will be no problem. Yes, I agree the die manufacturer's die setup instructions are crude at best.

Don
 
I did not get a chance try sizing again last night. No updates so far, hopefully tonight I will try without the +1/4 turn. I will scrap the ones I already did as I was playing with the die and mixed some brass (3) with the first 10 I did. What I did I was -1/4 turn on the last 3 brass just to see if I got the rings and 2 yes and 1 no.

~

Cw308, I haven't loaded any brass yet or chambered (your questions on previous page). I was just starting to size and then going from there. As you mentioned above as well, for me it is confusing as I'm starting. With all the information given by everyone some I understand and some is still confusing. But really appreciate the help.

~

But I know doing hands on will help me learn correctly. I know that reloading period is something not to take lightly and not knowing anything puts me on the edgy side. Maybe too much, LOL. But I rather prevent than something bad happen. I have been looking at what can happen if something goes wrong. Not to scare myself but to know what can be the cause of it and I can see the signs and avoid it myself.
 
For now and as a new reloader, continue as you are and just keep an eye out. More often than not a new reloader will ask a question and some members will get into theory and advanced reloading techniques, and it often just confuses the new feller. Information overload...

K.I.S.S. (I f/l size my 308 brass every time for the first 500-800 rounds reloaded just to keep it simple and my Ruger with Hornady bullets and IMR powder produced many sub 1" groups, smallets consistent groups 7/8". Later I went "deeper" into the reloading methods..).
 
USSR
Don l only have one CF Rifle , Rem. 700 308 cal. that I shoot bench rest only , completely blueprinted ,bedded with a match barrel an a Jewell trigger set a 10 ounces . Just love shooting it , I never have the urge to buy another. My average range day I go through 30 rounds in 2.5 hours . In case prep , in 25+ years of reloading I have tried every tool , dies an evey gadget you could think of . I have switched to wet tumbling my brass , didn't like the carbon build up inside the case . Use to neck size switched to full sizing with .001 case headspace , zero headspace could gall the bolt locking lugs. I don't neck turn my brass , I use the standard RCBS full length die with the expander ball . Works much better then bushing dies , less runout . Bench rest season is over for now , only shoot 50 degrees an above .
Be Well , Chris
 
Sounds like a nice rifle, Chris. I've got 3 custom built match rifles (.308, .30-06, and 6.5x55) from my 1,000 yard F Class shooting days. Sadly, they rarely get shot now days since I am primarily into handgun shooting. Yeah, I wet tumble as well. I was under contract for a couple years to a guy down on Long Island to provide him with completely processed brass so that he could deliver it to a guy with a Type 6 FFL for reloading into ammunition that he sold.

Don
 
mikld said:
For now and as a new reloader, continue as you are and just keep an eye out. More often than not a new reloader will ask a question and some members will get into theory and advanced reloading techniques, and it often just confuses the new feller. Information overload...
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You can say that again. Reading through this thread has been entertaining with all this chest pumping. No wonder people think reloading is some sort of Voodoo.
Headspace gauges, Go/ No Go gauges,,,,,,Incipient case head separation!!! :eek:
 
You can say that again. Reading through this thread has been entertaining with all this chest pumping. No wonder people think reloading is some sort of Voodoo.
Headspace gauges, Go/ No Go gauges,,,,,,Incipient case head separation!!!
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In the reloading course I teach, I show examples of cases that have had the case head separate from the rest of the case, as well as cases showing signs of incipient case head separation. There is a right way and lots of wrong ways to reload, and personally I don't consider getting info out as to how to safely reload "chest pumping".

Don
 
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