Re: Sizing Die for each Rifle?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kevin Thomas</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sandwarrior,
It wasn't an option for me anyway, as at any given time I probably had 20 different rifles chambered for 308s, and a similar number for 223s. Several other calibers as well. I was routinely putting 400-600 rounds a day through these guns, six days a week. Trying to keep cases isolated by lots to specific rifles was a practical impossibility for me. Several of these 308s used different chambers (Palma, M852, Obermeyer, etc.), and the brass had to be prepped and ready to use in anything that was required for testing. This is where the gages came in, and why I'm so adamant in using them. In rifles that are chambered properly, so long as you're paying attention to the gages, you won't have any problems. The cases were perfectly interchangable between all these rifles, never had a problem and often had cases go 20-25 firings (sometimes more) before they had to be tossed.
As for my own reloading, it's more like five competition guns (minimum) that I have in rotation at any given time. The ammo I load has to work interchangeably in any of them, without so much as a hiccup, ever. I've had rifles chambered (in no particular order) by Derrick Martin of Accuracy Speaks, John Holliger of White Oak Precision, Frank White of Compass Lake and Steve Satern of Satern Custom. They all gage within .001"-.002" of one another, even done with different reamers and at different times. Again, it just comes down to knowing what the gage readings are, and keeping track of them. If you're got a different situation that allows (or even requires) you to use brass isolated to just one gun, that's fine. I've had that also, in the form of a 338/06 I had done many years back. It had what the gages would have termed excessive headspace. Not a problem, in that I was aware of it, was able to adjust (fireform) the cases out to fill the chamber, and didn't set the shoulder back more than .002" from that point on. No excessive headspace that way, and no problems. The cartridge was still a wildcat at that time, so there technically was no headspace specification/measurement that was "correct." HAd I been loading for another 338/06 with a shorter chamber, yes, I would have kept the brass separate. All depends on what you're doing, but just trust the gages and they'll save you from a lot of headaches. </div></div>
That makes sense, with what you've got to deal with. Even with the gauges the cambers have got to be super close or you'll get work hardening of the brass. But, like you've shown, if they are seriously matched up, then it can be done.
FWIW, the one that gave me powder burns was my 7x57's, chambered fifty years apart. I used my match brass for hunting loads and back again. Of all places for it to happen, at a match. Sitting there and feeling stupid because your match friends watched it happen. ...I suggested I pull the rest of the ammo and not finish the match. Literally ~saving face~.
I use minimum sizing to the chamber. So each time I reload, I size the cases down to the chamber and that's it.
Someday, when money and life allows, I may get two or more matched chambered rifles.