General discussion

T

Ted Witkowski

Guest
Need advise
Sent Harrells Precission 3 fired 6br cases.
Recieved my full length sizeing die today.
My question is how do i use it.Is it the same as any other full length die .ie screw the die into your press untill it touches the shell holder lube the case then size it???
Any advise would be appreciated
Thank You
 
Using the Harrell's die

The way that I was taught to use it was to take some fired cases, deprime them but don't resize them. Using the little comparator sent with the die, measure and record the fired brass. Next, remove the firing pin from the bolt, and using the chamber, insert a fired case and close the bolt. Normally, you will feel pressure. Using the Harrell die with the button of your choice, adjust the die to reduce the OAL of the case, as measured with the comparator, by about .001 inch. If this makes the case, chamber, bolt close easier, stop there...that is the setting. If the bolt still closes stiffly, turn the die down and resize the case. Measure it, the goal is another .001 for a total of .002 in. the bolt should now close easier. I don't like to bump (size) more than .002 in. Do this several more times to confirm. Then load 'em and go.

Hope this helps,

Geary Koglin
Grand Blanc, MI
 
tried calling but could not understand them

hmmmm

Witkowski-Harrell........ Harrel-Witkowski.......

Wail HAIL son, Aye ju's cain't cozen the dif'culty ..... THAY was pire-de clear wazz'nay?? you jus' musta' not LISSENED hard enough! :D


I think Geary gave a solid explanation..... but if you have more questions or clarifications just keep on asking the questions as you set up the dies.

The goal is to have your die set so nicely that your bolthandle drops with little effort yet your brass doesn't grow in length over time.

al
 
I normally take out the bushing when adjusting the die . I also use a different case for every new adjustment instead of sizing the same case 2 or 3 times while finding the ideal position. Using die shims makes the adjustment proceedure a bit more precise.

I can tell that the lower case is a fired case by it's dimension.

BRreloadingcasegaugeandjamfinder.jpg
 
Further, just as a general practice and unless you're loading for several rifles of the same caliber and different chambers (factory, or different reamers from different gunsmiths), just running the bottom of the FL die onto the top of the shellholder isn't the ideal way to adjust the die.

I know that's what the die manufacturers say to do, but what that gives are cases sized to some sort of minimum spec so that they'll chamber in anyone's rifle. If as advised above, the dies are adjusted to give 0.002" shoulder bump cases will last longer and accuracy will be better. For repeating rifles requiring ease of chambering (hunting or high power rapid fire) a bit more bump 0.003" to maybe 0.004", may be beneficial, but for all other use the least sizing that gives the necessary ease of chambering is all that's needed.
 
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