T.I.R. 338lm

[chariotdriver]

Been painstakingly reloading the 338lm to get the TIR below .002" Using Redding dies and competition shell holder (0.010 reduced bump), carbide expander ball, o-ring under the die lock ring/shell holder, size it, drop it down a bit (not touching the expander ball) then rotate 180 and size it again. Run the cases through a NECO concentricity gauge tool with some coming out almost zero while others are 0.006 (on the middle of the neck) which is detectible by my old eyes. If it isn't less than 0.002 it gets run it through the die using the above procedure until it is less than 0.002. After seating using a Redding competition seater it gets checked again on the ogive. Most are tight but a few need an adjustment in the CAT.......basically bending them to 0.00 concentricity. Don't really want to go the neck sizing route, gun sees time in the dangerous game arena as well. Lapua brass and it gets annealed every reload prior to resizing.

 

[High Binder]

Been painstakingly reloading the 338lm to get the TIR below .002" Using Redding dies and competition shell holder (0.010 reduced bump), carbide expander ball, o-ring under the die lock ring/shell holder, size it, drop it down a bit (not touching the expander ball) then rotate 180 and size it again. Run the cases through a NECO concentricity gauge tool with some coming out almost zero while others are 0.006 (on the middle of the neck) which is detectible by my old eyes. If it isn't less than 0.002 it gets run it through the die using the above procedure until it is less than 0.002. After seating using a Redding competition seater it gets checked again on the ogive. Most are tight but a few need an adjustment in the CAT.......basically bending them to 0.00 concentricity. Don't really want to go the neck sizing route, gun sees time in the dangerous game arena as well. Lapua brass and it gets annealed every reload prior to resizing.

Whoa, man you're being WAY too anal.

 

[X-fan]

Below 6 thou TIR and you can expect no return in accuracy, but let me share my experiences.

Long term I get less runout from a standard non bushing die with no ball. The bushing can cause a "dread doughnut" after a few firings which causes runout. Forster and Redding can make them to suit....You specify the neck dia.

Get an annealing machine (will pay with Lapua brass anyway). The Bench source is fantastic.

Check your neck thickness and variation. Variation=runout
You can either sort the cases or turn them. Over-turning can create problems in a hunting rifle unless you address the reduction in neck tension.

Good luck