.22 BR - neck die selection and bushing size

B

Bold Lion

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Hello guys,

Just got a nice no turn neck Lawton 7500 .22 BR. I have a Forster .22 BR die (the die is marked ".22 BR Rem" but I've learned that it is for the .22 BR Norma not the Remington version). I'm looking to get a neck die - I'm caught between a Wilson bushing neck die or a custom Lee collet die (quoted a price of $55 for the Collet neck die and a custom formed seater die - but I already have a Wilson seater).

I also measured 6 loaded rounds and got a measure of .252, -.002 = .250 bushing size?

Thanks.
 
If you set up an FL die properly so that it doesn't over size the cases it will work as well as a NS die and you'll never have to worry about tight cases, or the 10% or cases that get tight before the rest for whatever reason if you neck size.

An FL die that's set to bump the shoulders back ~.002" should allow cases to chamber easily and give minimum headspace. You'll need a "headspace gauge" that measures the distance between the head of the case and the datum line on the case shoulder. I believe that Sinclair International and Hornady both sell tools that attach to a dial or digital caliper for this purpose. The cases need to be fired, then measured. There's no loss of accuracy in using FL sized cases either.

Your arithmetic is correct. The necks need to be reduced ~0.002".
 
Larry Elliott,

Thanks for the information. My understanding of neck sizing is that it also prolongs the life of the brass.

I can tell you how I currently set up a full-length die and you can critique accordingly: insert shellholder, raise ram to highest point, screw in full-length die until it touches the shellholder, lower ram, screw die down 1/8 of a turn more, raise ram to highest point and then lock die in place so as to align the shellholder and die. Also using Imperial Wax on outside/inside neck, as well as body.

EDIT: found a pretty good article from Sinclair's - I think this is what you were getting at Larry - here
 
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Anyone else? I think I've got it figured out pretty well...
 
Bold Lion: I adjust my neck sizing die by taking a fired case as it came out of my chamber, hand punching out the primer, cleaning the case, and use the Stoney Point/ Hornady over-all-length gauge to measure headspace length from the case head to the datum point on the shoulder. The die is then adjusted down to the point where it sizes to that same dimension or .001" or .002" shorter, depending on the cartridge, and its use. 22BR, 6ppc, 6BR same dimension. 223 Rem for AR-15's will be set back .002" shorter. Just took the headspace lengths for 2 barrels on a BAT receiver. Bartlein barrel measures 1.131" as fired. Krieger barrel measures 1.136" as fired. Die will be adjusted accordingly using shims to get the longer length of 1.136". Your method sounds like the instructions supplied with most die sets, and is "OK", but does not account for different headspace lengths, as an example the difference between 2 of my 6ppc chamberings. If I sized them all to the shorter length (1.131") I would be pushing the shoulders back excessively for the 1.136" case lengths= short life before case head seperation and a lot more trimming required between loadings.
 
Forget the neck size only idea, cases will get tight, the idea is to just resize enough not too much. Call Harrels 540-380-2683 they well fix you up you send them 3 or 4 fired cases and $70 and they will send you a Custom die tailored to your chamber.
 
Bold,
Your method of FL die adjustment does not seem to incorporate any sort of measurement of fired or sized cases. IMO you need to do what f d shuster described. One more thing that I should mention, I believe that he mistakenly wrote neck instead of full length in the first sentence of his post. What he described was the adjustment of a FL die. Neck dies do not bump shoulders, and he knows this. He just got in a hurry. The advice to contact Harrell's was spot on. With a properly adjusted FL die, that is a close fit to your chamber, you will get great case life. The trick is to get the right fit, and to do a proper adjustment.
 
Boyd: Yes, you got me. I meant to write " FL neck sizing die". I use the Redding FL Type S neck bushing dies almost exclusevely. Sometimes the finger works faster than the brain. Thanks for the correction.
 
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