Help with Redding Full-Length Resizing Die Not Sizing

[bluebie]

Hey Guys,
I recently bought a bunch of stuff to get set up for reloading 6.5 creedmoor.
I am currently using once-fired hornady brass that I have cleaned, lubed, and deprimed. I am using a hornady comparator body and headspace gauges (size c, specifically) to measure shoulder setback.

The problem I'm having is that the die does not seem to be pushing the shoulder back at all. I have followed a guide on this site, as well as some random youtube videos, and the terrible redding instructions.

Here's what I've tried:
Method 1:
1. disassemble die, remove depriming pin, remove grey button, replace with black button, screw interior collar all the way down closest to the button
2. Add bushing, re-install top backed off 1/16th turn
3. Using the largest (0.010) competition shell holder, bring the ram up until it touches, tighten lock collar
4. Insert case and run it through the die

Method 2:
Same as above except screwing the interior collar all the way up to the top of the rod

Method 3:
Same as above except removing the rod that holds the black button completely, and just tossing the interior collar down on top of the bushing.

Method 4:
1. disassemble die, remove depriming pin, remove grey button, replace with black button, screw interior collar all the way down closest to the button
2. Add bushing, re-install top -1/16th turn
3. Using the largest (0.010) competition shell holder, bring the ram up until it touches, back the die off 1/4 turn, tighten lock collar
4. Insert case and run it through the die

In all cases, the neck appears to get sized by the bushing, but I am not seeing any setback of the shoulder. Even after replacing the shell holder with the progressively smaller shell holders. I do see what appears to be a ring scored around the shoulder, as if some sizing was attempted, but the case can't get far enough up into the die or something.

Any advice? Let me know if I can provide any additional information. Thanks so much.

 

[Supersubes]

Why are you using the .010 shell holder? That’s holding the case out of the die by .010. The idea is to step down until you get the desired bump. BUT, set the die to slight cam over on a standard height shell holder before you put the Redding comp shell holder back in. Otherwise the shorter shell holders will be hovering off the bottom of the die.

 

[XLR308]

Agree with @Supersubes my Redding type S with a standard RCBS holder will bump new unfired Lapua 65 Creedmoor brass back .0005 with slight cam over.

 

[Supersubes]

Wanted to add something else. Your press, any press, has deflection. If you screw a FL sizer to just touch the shell holder, it isn’t going to be touching during the sizing operation, because the forces involved are pushing the ram and die away from each other. In some cases you’ll be able to see daylight between them. The theory for the redding shell holders is to have a simple step for changing case headspace, but also to keep the shell holder in firm contact with the bottom of the die, so the resulting dimensions are very consistent case to case.

 

[bluebie]

Interesting, I started with the 0.010 because of a stickied guide I read on here. I don't have a standard she'll holder, so I guess I'll do the initial setup with the +0.002 one in the kit, since that's the shortest I have. Also it sounds like firm contact means FIRM contact, I hadn't considered deflection. I was worried about being overzealous and breaking something.

Should I set the initial contact point with the smallest shell holder, then replace it with the 0.010 and work my way down?

Thanks so much for the feedback guys.

 

[XLR308]

Interesting, I started with the 0.010 because of a stickied guide I read on here. I don't have a standard she'll holder, so I guess I'll do the initial setup with the +0.002 one in the kit, since that's the shortest I have. Also it sounds like firm contact means FIRM contact, I hadn't considered deflection. I was worried about being overzealous and breaking something.

Should I set the initial contact point with the smallest shell holder, then replace it with the 0.010 and work my way down?

Thanks so much for the feedback guys.

I would start in the middle and would also pull the bushing until you are confident you have the required or needed shoulder bump.
No need to repeatedly run the neck through the bushing and pull the button back through it until it's required after the die is properly set up otherwise you are working the shit out of the neck of the brass unneccesarily.

 

[Supersubes]

Interesting, I started with the 0.010 because of a stickied guide I read on here. I don't have a standard she'll holder, so I guess I'll do the initial setup with the +0.002 one in the kit, since that's the shortest I have. Also it sounds like firm contact means FIRM contact, I hadn't considered deflection. I was worried about being overzealous and breaking something.

Should I set the initial contact point with the smallest shell holder, then replace it with the 0.010 and work my way down?

Thanks so much for the feedback guys.

There is such a thing as too much cam over. Screw the die down to touch on the .002. Lower the press ram and screw the die down an an additional eighth to a quarter turn. Then as you said, go back to the ten and start working down.

 

[bluebie]

Man holy shit. 2 things:
1. Thank you guys so much for the help. Overcamming a little on the .002 shell holder, and then working down from .010 did the trick. I had no idea that overcamming it was necessary, let alone an OK thing to do. ended up with the .008 shell holder and a perfect fit.

2. I'm a fucking IDIOT. As I was following your advice, I almost broke my work bench. (2x6 top). I was seriously grumbling as I was grunting out reps on the press, cracking my workbench 'man these guys on the hide must have hulk strength and steel workbenches WTF' until it dawned on me It was at this point that I realized I'm a filthy newb, and that I was trying to shoulder bump it an order of magnitude more than I needed (.020 rather than .002).

Anyway, thanks dudes ?

 

[Supersubes]

Glad you got it worked out.


One more thing. Some combinations may render the comp shell holders ineffective. Usually it’s a combination of a long chamber, and a die that’s reamed on the short side. What you end up with is over sizing, even with the .010 shell holder. You’ll be forced to back the die off so there’s no contact between it and the shell holder. Basically you’re back to the same method everyone normally uses.

 

[bluebie]

Glad you got it worked out.


One more thing. Some combinations may render the comp shell holders ineffective. Usually it’s a combination of a long chamber, and a die that’s reamed on the short side. What you end up with is over sizing, even with the .010 shell holder. You’ll be forced to back the die off so there’s no contact between it and the shell holder. Basically you’re back to the same method everyone normally uses.

Yep that makes sense, good to know. I'll keep that tip in my back pocket for my next barrel.