Brass growth slower than expected

[dbshabo]

I've got a 6.5 Creedmoor rig that I've been trying to work up a load for. I'm new to reloading and I've been reloading and shooting a group of 20 cases. I've been trying to get the brass to the point that it won't chamber in my rifle so I can bump the shoulders back and set my full length die. I've been using a Lee collet neck sizing die only, so far. I checked and this die is not bumping the shoulders. I read that Hornady brass is considered soft. I thought that by the 4th firing I would be ready to bump the shoulders. I've fired this group of brass 6 times now and it still chambers in my rifle. The rifle was built by a company that got very good reviews on this site so I doubt the chamber is out of spec. Is this odd or not? What might I be doing wrong here? Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions.

Shabo

 

[pawprint2]

Shabo, Where did you get the Lee 6.5CM collet die? Hope they have some more in stock.

 

[9H_Cracka]

"I've been trying to get the brass to the point that it won't chamber in my rifle so I can bump the shoulders back and set my full length die."

Not sure where you came up with the assertion that this somehow desirable. If brass fired in a rifle won't rechamber in that rifle, you have a problem, not a desirable situation.

Setting the die is very easily done with a case gauge. RCBS or Wilson. You can also do it simply with a dirtied smudge of lube on the shoulder itself. You will be able to see the lube spread out when the die makes contact with the shoulder. A case gauge however lets you measure how much you are moving the shoulder. Doing the math on the threads of the die/degrees that you moved the lock ring will work as well when using the lube smudge method.

 

[damoncali]

You're doing it wrong. Read this for everything you need to know: The Rifleman's Journal: Basics: Resizing - Case Dimension Changes

 

[dbshabo]

Pawprint2, I had the Lee 6.5CM collet neck die made from a .260 Rem collet die. It works great.

I read one of the sticky posts here that suggested you shoot the brass till it won't chamber. Then you adjust your full length sizing die to bump the shoulder back just enough to allow the case to chamber in your rifle. The article suggested a .002" shoulder bump. The cases I've been loading haven't grown enough yet for me to do this. They still chamber after six firings. I've only had to trim two of these 20 cases for length so far.

Shabo

 

[EMorr]

I am far from an expert when it comes to reloading but that won't stop me from offering a suggestion. If you already have 6 on your brass it certainly won't hurt to run one piece of brass through the FL sizer, but set your die up intentionally to not bump the shoulder back. After the brass has been run through the die it will have grown in length, trim it if you need to and then, hopefully you feel resistance when you try to close the bolt. At this point you can start bumping the shoulder back a little at a time until you reach the desired headspace, then you can take a measurement and compare it to your neck sized only brass and see where you are at.

 

[pawprint2]

Pawprint2, I had the Lee 6.5CM collet neck die made from a .260 Rem collet die. It works great.

I read one of the sticky posts here that suggested you shoot the brass till it won't chamber. Then you adjust your full length sizing die to bump the shoulder back just enough to allow the case to chamber in your rifle. The article suggested a .002" shoulder bump. The cases I've been loading haven't grown enough yet for me to do this. They still chamber after six firings. I've only had to trim two of these 20 cases for length so far.

Shabo

Where did you have it made? What did they charge? Did you have to supply the 260 die? What was the turn around time? Thanks in advance, I'm sure I'm not the only one wanting to know.

 

[dbshabo]

EMorr, thanks, good suggestion. I'll give that a try when I get a chance. What's goin' on in Colorado man? Shocking news outa your state for sure.

Pawprint2, someone on this sight read an earlier post of mine inquiring about a collet neck size die for the 6.5CM. This person suggested modifying a .260Rem die. I told him that I wasn't a machinist and didn't have the tools to do it. He offered to do if for free if I sent him the .260 die a couple of bullets and a few fired cases. True to his word he came thru. I'm not sure what all is involved with the process but I think the case cavity in the die has to be shortend. I know the .260 case is longer than the 6.5CM case. He may have done more to it as well, I don't know. I do know that he did a good job because the thing works like a champ. I'm getting consistant OD neck measurements of .292" when I use the die. I think that's a little tighter than SAMMI spec but it seems to work well in my rifle. Maybe he'll read this post and contact you as well.

Shabo

 

[MALLARD]

lol this is cute, you cant use a lee collet die , or any "neck sizing" die to push the shoulders back on a case.

you need a full length die or body die to move the shoulders back.

get lapua brass. I don't use any other kind. Probability suggests that any other brand will be inferior.

 

[justinbaker]

lol this is cute, you cant use a lee collet die , or any "neck sizing" die to push the shoulders back on a case.

you need a full length die or body die to move the shoulders back.

get lapua brass. I don't use any other kind. Probability suggests that any other brand will be inferior.

He's not trying to use his collet die to bump the shoulder, and lapua does not make creedmor brass