Can a SB die still be used to bump the shoulder like a FL?

[Djstorm100]

Reason I ask is I'm going to start to load for .308 remington (only .308 I own) I intend sometime in the next year to get a .308 semi AR platform and I know I'll need to run that brass through a SB. Brass for the Remington is fire formed. Trying to get out of buying two sets of dies.

 

[Mad_Charlie]

S.B. dies are not needed in the majority of rifles, but that doesn't mean that yours wont. Never having owned a S.B. die, I wouldn't want to bet my life on it, but I have always thought that S.B. dies were F.L. dies...

 

[oldfudd]

The only difference between a SB die and a FL die is that the SB squeezes the case to a lesser dimension closer to the head of the cartridge than a FL die will. The shoulder set-back is determined how far you set the SB die towards the case holder, just like with a FL die.

 

[HodgdonExtreme]

The only difference between a SB die and a FL die is that the SB squeezes the case to a lesser dimension closer to the head of the cartridge than a FL die will. The shoulder set-back is determined how far you set the SB die towards the case holder, just like with a FL die.

This is correct.

Additionally, note you may not want to squeeze down the case as much as it does when the die is set to bump the shoulder appropriately. In that case, you can set the SB die so as to size the body how you like, then follow up with a standard FL die to set the shoulder where you want it.

This is a requirement for my tight-chambered 284. I have a tool head configured for my Dillon 650 with both SB and FL dies to get the brass sized right - without sizing too much.

 

[dauntedfuture]

All Fl and SB dies can be set up to bump the shoulder back. There are specialized Shoulder bump dies that are designed to size the neck of the case and can be adjusted to move the shoulder back without affecting the case body dimensions. The only reason one would not be able to bump a shoulder back with a FL or SB dies is if you cant get the die far enough down into the press at which point you need to trim the bottom of the die or make other modifications; its usually easier to try another FL die or shell holder.

 

[oldfudd]

Now just for chuckles, there's also another option to squeeze down the case near the head, but not touch the shoulder. This is what a SB body die does. Doesn't touch the shoulder or neck.

 

[Djstorm100]

Do I need to take the expander ball for the neck out? I've read about many people taking the neck ball out but never under why? Seem like the ID of the neck wouldn't be perfect circle.