Comments on: Bedeviled by Bump — When Full-Length Dies Don’t Work

By: Louis

Louis — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 01:54:55 +0000

I have the same experience with several RCBS dies so I ended up grinding the shell holders. I avoid the problem now by buying Redding dies.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 04:41:32 +0000

If you are using a die with an expander ball, the issue can be resolved in some cases. If you remove the decapping assembly with the ball and see that the shoulder is being bumped as expected, the solution is to lube the inside of the case neck. I had the same perceived issue, but it was due to the ball friction re-stretching the shoulder on exit after it was bumped. Lube inside the neck solved the problem.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:15:21 +0000

The problem with cam over is that it forces the hardened pin into the softer metal of the press linkage, eventually egging the hole and ruining the press. the easiest method to fix this for the average reloader is to remove material from the top of the shell holder. Be careful to measure shell holder on both sides of the slot and the back to ensure that the top remains square.

By: Editor

Editor — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 21:02:35 +0000

Mark,
Rest assured. The decapping rod was removed for this entire operation. Why? Well, when this Gold Medal Die was made a couple years ago, it shipped with an oversize decapping pin that would not fit in Lapua or Norma 6mmBR brass at all. RCBS representatives told me last week that current versions of the RCBS 6BR die ship with the correct 0.057″-diameter decapping pin.

The sizing button was also removed from the rod itself, pretty much as soon as the die arrived a long time ago.

By: Mark M

Mark M — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 14:10:44 +0000

When I hear this I often wonder if anyone with this experience has taken the time to remove the decaping rod and then check the head space. Most of the full length sizing dies rely on the decapping sizing button to pull back through on the up-stroke to size the neck and when this happens it sretches the whole upper part of the cartridge.
Redding makes different thickness shell holders as well. There was no mention of ” we then took out the decapping rod and sizing button” and got the the same results. for what it’s worth, my two cents.
Mark M

By: Kendall

Kendall — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 12:48:47 +0000

I have the same problem with a 22-250. My Redding dies will not bump the shoulder back when used in my RCBS press. In my RCBS press I have used a buddies RCBS die set that work perfect! Purchased the Redding 3 die set and thats when I noticed our groups growing. When the NK die were used. Went back to FL die and still chamber problems I made a tin bushing placed it under the shellholder and was able to move the shoulder .001 or less. Then made one to use over the top of the brass and again only moved the shoulder around .001. Should I send the die back or just buy another brand?

By: Bruce

Bruce — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:01:54 +0000

I actually just very recently posted the same findings with a Lee 22-250AI FLS die. Eventually ground 0.10″ off the bottom to make it touch.
Grinding the shell holder makes all your other bullets out again.
Good article

By: Dwight Larson

Dwight Larson — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:28:25 +0000

I had exactly the same experience with a Redding Body Die for .223 Remington. Fortunately,I was able to bump the shoulder back with just a small amount of cam-over.

By: Roy

Roy — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:14:47 +0000

A simple exercise would be to have all your chambers cut with “+1″ or “+2″ headspace so that your dies will work.You would still not have to over work your brass if the die is set up properly to slightly bump the shoulder to fit the “+” chamber.

A secondary result will be that most all of the other shooters ammo will fit your gun in an emergency situation, however your ammo may NOT fit another shooters gun as it might be too tight.

With that said, I must confess that all of my chambers are cut on “0” headspace.
Just habit I guess.

Roy

By: Carl

Carl — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 18:14:35 +0000

Years ago I had to grind off the bottom of a 22-250 die to get this done. Back then we had to “soot up” the neck and shoulder to check bump and neck sizing. “Soot up” was a method where you held & rolled the brass at the top of a flame to deposit soot on the brass. Obviously all powder was closed and put in a cabinet before doing this.