Always FL size for a gas gun?
- Thread starter thefitter
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Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
Probably should but you could go light and not set the shoulder back more that a couple .xxx
Probably should but you could go light and not set the shoulder back more that a couple .xxx
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
yes you always want to FL size and you always want to make sure the shoulder is getting bumped back far enough .004 to .005 any more and you are working the brass to much. on some guns you might need to use a small base FL die.
yes you always want to FL size and you always want to make sure the shoulder is getting bumped back far enough .004 to .005 any more and you are working the brass to much. on some guns you might need to use a small base FL die.
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
Yeap. Also you may need to set the shoulder back a little more or use a small base die depending on your rifle.
Yeap. Also you may need to set the shoulder back a little more or use a small base die depending on your rifle.
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
Yes. About SB dies I guess it depends on your casings. I have one of my AR-15's that I reload for most, I only use the regular FL die. You have to measure the base of the cases and see what reading you get from them and that will tell you if you need SM dies.
Yes. About SB dies I guess it depends on your casings. I have one of my AR-15's that I reload for most, I only use the regular FL die. You have to measure the base of the cases and see what reading you get from them and that will tell you if you need SM dies.
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
Does anyone use the RCBS X-die to resize for semi-auto loads? That's all I use.
Does anyone use the RCBS X-die to resize for semi-auto loads? That's all I use.
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
Yes, always FL size.
Think about it. In a gas gun, the gas is still expanding the brass while it ejects making the body of the brass larger than the chamber. Thus you need to FL size it so it can be smaller than the chamber.
I like the Dillon Carbide FL die for .308. The carbide is smoother and less sticky so I can use less lube when FL sizing my .308 brass.
Yes, always FL size.
Think about it. In a gas gun, the gas is still expanding the brass while it ejects making the body of the brass larger than the chamber. Thus you need to FL size it so it can be smaller than the chamber.
I like the Dillon Carbide FL die for .308. The carbide is smoother and less sticky so I can use less lube when FL sizing my .308 brass.
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: thefitter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was told last weekend at the range that it's necessary to <span style="text-decoration: underline">ALWAYS</span> FL size for a gas gun. </div></div>
You have two choices:
A) FL size every time
B) measure the shoulder position and decide to NO size of FL size based on the measurement.
Last yeat I shot over 2000 rounds of 223/5.56*45 that were NO sized most of the time without a failure of any kind. What you cannot do is to avoid the measurement step and sort the brass into NO piles and FL piles (or Body die and then NO piles). Most people will find FL sizing easier. However this in no way makes it the only way to reload rounds destined for semi-auto actions.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: thefitter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I was told last weekend at the range that it's necessary to <span style="text-decoration: underline">ALWAYS</span> FL size for a gas gun. </div></div>
You have two choices:
A) FL size every time
B) measure the shoulder position and decide to NO size of FL size based on the measurement.
Last yeat I shot over 2000 rounds of 223/5.56*45 that were NO sized most of the time without a failure of any kind. What you cannot do is to avoid the measurement step and sort the brass into NO piles and FL piles (or Body die and then NO piles). Most people will find FL sizing easier. However this in no way makes it the only way to reload rounds destined for semi-auto actions.
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
The M1A is brutal on brass. Here is a good article specific to reloading for the M1A platform:
http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf
I'd suggest FL sizing of all brass for the M1A. For an AR-15 or AR-10 platform you may not always need to as they are reletively speaking "less brutal" on brass.
Also, pay close attention to the section starting on pg 10 titled "<span style="font-style: italic">powder and port pressure</span>" when you are considering loads to develop for your M1A. Stick with 4064 or 4895 loads. 41.5g of IMR-4895 under a 168gr SMK at 2.80 OAL is a pretty good choice.
A good online reference for all things M14/M1A is:
http://m14forum.com/
Hope that helps.
The M1A is brutal on brass. Here is a good article specific to reloading for the M1A platform:
http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf
I'd suggest FL sizing of all brass for the M1A. For an AR-15 or AR-10 platform you may not always need to as they are reletively speaking "less brutal" on brass.
Also, pay close attention to the section starting on pg 10 titled "<span style="font-style: italic">powder and port pressure</span>" when you are considering loads to develop for your M1A. Stick with 4064 or 4895 loads. 41.5g of IMR-4895 under a 168gr SMK at 2.80 OAL is a pretty good choice.
A good online reference for all things M14/M1A is:
http://m14forum.com/
Hope that helps.
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
Up to you. I never FL sized my LR243 or my AR10 and never had a failure.
Up to you. I never FL sized my LR243 or my AR10 and never had a failure.
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bunsen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The M1A is brutal on brass. Here is a good article specific to reloading for the M1A platform:
http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf
I'd suggest FL sizing of all brass for the M1A. For an AR-15 or AR-10 platform you may not always need to as they are reletively speaking "less brutal" on brass.
Also, pay close attention to the section starting on pg 10 titled "<span style="font-style: italic">powder and port pressure</span>" when you are considering loads to develop for your M1A. Stick with 4064 or 4895 loads. 41.5g of IMR-4895 under a 168gr SMK at 2.80 OAL is a pretty good choice.
A good online reference for all things M14/M1A is:
http://m14forum.com/
Hope that helps.
</div></div>
+1
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bunsen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The M1A is brutal on brass. Here is a good article specific to reloading for the M1A platform:
http://www.zediker.com/downloads/14_loading.pdf
I'd suggest FL sizing of all brass for the M1A. For an AR-15 or AR-10 platform you may not always need to as they are reletively speaking "less brutal" on brass.
Also, pay close attention to the section starting on pg 10 titled "<span style="font-style: italic">powder and port pressure</span>" when you are considering loads to develop for your M1A. Stick with 4064 or 4895 loads. 41.5g of IMR-4895 under a 168gr SMK at 2.80 OAL is a pretty good choice.
A good online reference for all things M14/M1A is:
http://m14forum.com/
Hope that helps.
+1
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bunsen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The M1A is brutal on brass. </div></div>
Agreed, and I would have agreed with the original poster hasd the querry been: "Always FL size for an M1 or M1A?" But that was not the posed question. It could have been the intended question, however.
But there are may GAS GUNS that can get by with NO sizing for handfulls of reload cycles before a trip through a body die is required. And that is the question I posd a response toward.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bunsen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The M1A is brutal on brass. </div></div>
Agreed, and I would have agreed with the original poster hasd the querry been: "Always FL size for an M1 or M1A?" But that was not the posed question. It could have been the intended question, however.
But there are may GAS GUNS that can get by with NO sizing for handfulls of reload cycles before a trip through a body die is required. And that is the question I posd a response toward.
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MitchAlsup</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bunsen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The M1A is brutal on brass. </div></div>
Agreed, and I would have agreed with the original poster hasd the querry been: "Always FL size for an M1 or M1A?" But that was not the posed question. It could have been the intended question, however.</div></div>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: "the fitter"</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Going to start reloading for an M1A for the first time this week</div></div>
Reread post #1 Thanks for playing!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MitchAlsup</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bunsen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The M1A is brutal on brass. </div></div>
Agreed, and I would have agreed with the original poster hasd the querry been: "Always FL size for an M1 or M1A?" But that was not the posed question. It could have been the intended question, however.</div></div>
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: "the fitter"</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Going to start reloading for an M1A for the first time this week</div></div>
Reread post #1 Thanks for playing!
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
I reload 6.5 Grendel and it is an absolute necessity to FL re-size every case. The same goes AR-10 in .308 Win.
I reload 6.5 Grendel and it is an absolute necessity to FL re-size every case. The same goes AR-10 in .308 Win.
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
I FL size every time when loading for my M1A but I've never needed or used a small base die. Bunsen is right about the powder selection and port pressure. Slow burning powders can damage or break oprods on a M1A. IMR 4064 and 4895 are sure bets. I've seen some people use Varget as well.
I FL size every time when loading for my M1A but I've never needed or used a small base die. Bunsen is right about the powder selection and port pressure. Slow burning powders can damage or break oprods on a M1A. IMR 4064 and 4895 are sure bets. I've seen some people use Varget as well.
Re: Always FL size for a gas gun?
Always FL re-size for an autoloader.
Buy a .308 case gauge or I can almost guarantee that you will ruin more cases than you'll spend on the gauge, not to mention unproductive days at the range, banging on charging handles (under bumped), or wondering why you have flattened primers with your starting loads, poor accuracy, and case head separations (over bumped).
Test re-sized brass in your chamber.
With the gauge, and a re-sized case, you can determine what the rifles headspace requirements are.
In my experience:
THE SINGLE BIGGEST RELOADING ERROR is improperly re-sized brass.
You should nail it to within 0.005" or less.
No need for small base dies.
Always FL re-size for an autoloader.
Buy a .308 case gauge or I can almost guarantee that you will ruin more cases than you'll spend on the gauge, not to mention unproductive days at the range, banging on charging handles (under bumped), or wondering why you have flattened primers with your starting loads, poor accuracy, and case head separations (over bumped).
Test re-sized brass in your chamber.
With the gauge, and a re-sized case, you can determine what the rifles headspace requirements are.
In my experience:
THE SINGLE BIGGEST RELOADING ERROR is improperly re-sized brass.
You should nail it to within 0.005" or less.
No need for small base dies.
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