Sizing die with micrometer adjustment on headspace

[kraythe]

Greetings,

I was wondering if there is a resizing die that allows me to adjust the headspace in thousandths of an inch. I have seen a couple that have micrometers for bullet seating but not headspace. What I would like is a die where the adjustment for headspace isn't a matter of leaving the ram short of the sizing die. Right now in my lee dies, I have to adjust the sizing die to be a little off the ram at full stroke so that I can get a case that is a tiny bit long as my chamber is .001 shorter than standard and I would like to size the case .001 short of the chamber size. However, as I size the cases I think the die shakes or something because it ends up being off size quickly and I spend an inordinate amount of time re-adjusting.

So if I had a die that would allow me to use a micrometer to set headspace and then would take the case all the way into the die until the ram meets the die base. Then I would be able to dial in the headspace and size the cases quickly.

Any recommendations there?

 

[FLIGHT762]

Re: Sizing die with micrometer adjustment on headspace

I would suggest a set of Redding's Competition shell holders.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/525874/...ingfield-45-acp

There is a set of 5 that backs off your headspace .002" at a time up to 010".

You set your sizing die up to maximum sizing then change to Redding's shell holder depending on how much head space you want to back off.

I think they're about $45.00.

 

[wilecoyote]

Re: Sizing die with micrometer adjustment on headspace

slim machinist's shims of the various sizes,their inside hole has the width of a die,their place is between the die and the press_Sinclair sell them,but you can easily make them with some thin foil,adding more of them,if needed_

 

[wilecoyote]

Re: Sizing die with micrometer adjustment on headspace

if you buy them from Sinclair,keep them well lubed:their price is cheap,but as you touch them,will rust_

 

[DanGuy48]

Re: Sizing die with micrometer adjustment on headspace

http://www.warner-tool.com/reloading.htm

 

[memilanuk]

Re: Sizing die with micrometer adjustment on headspace

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kraythe</div><div class="ubbcode-body">as I size the cases I think the die shakes or something because it ends up being off size quickly and I spend an inordinate amount of time re-adjusting. </div></div>

If thats the situation... you're doing *something* wrong. Not really sure what, but once your sizing die is set and locked down, you shouldn't be seeing much variation - assuming case lube is consistently applied, and uniform force is being used, etc. I'd say you need to get things sorted out before spending more $$$ on a new die... that will likely have the same 'problems'.

If you have a press that will work with them, the Redding Competition shellholders do work pretty slick. I was not as happy with the results from the die shims, personally. Nowadays I use either a 550 (with the dies 'floated' in the tool head) or a Co-Ax... neither of which works well with either of those methods. Turning the die in or out works well enough to keep my case headspace easily within tolerance.

Another thought... is the expander ball dragging excessively as it comes through the neck? Some dry lube in the neck may work wonders for ya.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Sizing die with micrometer adjustment on headspace

<span style="font-style: italic">"Then I would be able to dial in the headspace and size the cases quickly. "</span>

No such die is available nor is it possible to size that way. Your dies nor anything eles is "shaking", your cases aren't sufficently consistant in hardness to be sized with such precision anyway, nor is it necessary.

IF your chamber is .001" short you should be working to jam your cases aa far as possible into the sizer and wishing they would go a tad further. For that you will need to remove a thou from the top of your current shell holder or the bottom of the sizer. All the various shims and "comp" shell holders do is limit how far into the sizer our cases can go.

 

[LRCampos]

Re: Sizing die with micrometer adjustment on headspace

.

I dont know of such die that allows you to adjust 0,001 on the headspace.

But I do know of a PRESS that allows you to do it on ANY die. I dont think it is still made anymore. I first use one of a friend on short Benchrest match.

I think it was a RFD Press : http://www.rfdoddknives.com/pages/rifles.htm

The photo on the link dont show the adjustable bushing that is installed on some as optional.


LRCampos

 

[Conqueror]

Re: Sizing die with micrometer adjustment on headspace

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fuzzball</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No such die is available nor is it possible to size that way. </div></div>
While I agree that no one makes such a die, not sure I agree that it's not possible to do. It would be nice to be able to just set a shoulder bump die to 0.002" under your rifle's known headspace with a micrometer. It should be relatively easy to manufacture such a die.

 

[tigerfan_9]

Re: Sizing die with micrometer adjustment on headspace

Use redding comp shell holders to adjust to bump 0.002" easily.