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I've got a question to clarify something. I'm just now repurchasing some new reloading stuff after a hiatus in shooting/reloading rifles and pistols much other than rimfires.
Since wareagle said I had to have bump gauges I had some sent here and a case length gauge as well.
If I set back the shoulder .003 on cases fired in my 5.56 is there the possibility that they will fit my chamber just fine but maybe stick up just a hair in the Lyman drop in gauge?
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Campfire Regular
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Glynn, what you are doing is sizing brass for your rifle, not back to SAAMI specs. The resized case may be longer, but that's because you aren't taking your brass back to factory specs. Sounds like you are doing it right.
FWIW, I can resize brass all my .223 AR barrels with the same die, all the chambers headspace within .0015" of each other.
Last edited by wareagle700; 02/15/16.
John 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Here's all you need for measuring the case headspace dimension directly........not a go-no go gauge. Measures directly in that it's zero is the minimum SAAMI headspace dimension for a chamber of that caliber. Measure a fired case from your gun & that will give you a dimension; set your die (either FL sizer or shoulder bump die) to .002-.004" less & you're are done. You will generally find that most virgin factory brass will be around .004" below SAAMI headspace minimum so as to fit all rifles. Most normal chambers will be from around +.002" - to around +.004" from minimum (zero). RCBS Precision Mic MM
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OP
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Ok, I received my Hornady Headspace gauges and OAL gauge. Yes, there is plenty of room from the bullets ogive to the rifling.
As for brass, my fire formed brass is measuring 0.001-0.002 shorter then the fully processed brass I purchased. There is some processed brass that is measuring 0.002 shorter then my fired brass and that brass chambers well.
I'm guessing problem solved. Just because someone sells you fully processed brass ready to load doesn't mean its done right.
Thanks all for the help. I learned a lot and got myself some more handy tools for the bench.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Here's all you need for measuring the case headspace dimension directly........not a go-no go gauge. Measures directly in that it's zero is the minimum SAAMI headspace dimension for a chamber of that caliber. Measure a fired case from your gun & that will give you a dimension; set your die (either FL sizer or shoulder bump die) to .002-.004" less & you're are done. You will generally find that most virgin factory brass will be around .004" below SAAMI headspace minimum so as to fit all rifles. Most normal chambers will be from around +.002" - to around +.004" from minimum (zero). RCBS Precision Mic MM Perfect answer
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Here's all you need for measuring the case headspace dimension directly........not a go-no go gauge. Measures directly in that it's zero is the minimum SAAMI headspace dimension for a chamber of that caliber. Measure a fired case from your gun & that will give you a dimension; set your die (either FL sizer or shoulder bump die) to .002-.004" less & you're are done. You will generally find that most virgin factory brass will be around .004" below SAAMI headspace minimum so as to fit all rifles. Most normal chambers will be from around +.002" - to around +.004" from minimum (zero). RCBS Precision Mic MM That is what I use. Whidden Gunworks makes a similar tool in SS. I'd only add that if you obtain a bunch of once-fired brass fired from multiple guns, set the sizer to bump it back to minus 0.005 until it is fired in a chamber of known size.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I'd only add that if you obtain a bunch of once-fired brass fired from multiple guns, set the sizer to bump it back to minus 0.005 until it is fired in a chamber of known size. Yes; -.004" is probably enough, but -.005 is surely safe. MM
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What is the min and max headspace dimension for .223 rem? SAAMI spec
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Campfire Ranger
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1.4636 - 1.4736"
But you really don't need that actual dimension to use the tool.
MM
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My fired brass is measuring 1.4635 with the gauge. What would be the ideal length to set it back to? 1.4605?
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Campfire Outfitter
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Let's Go Brandon! FJB
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Campfire Ranger
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My fired brass is measuring 1.4635 with the gauge. What would be the ideal length to set it back to? 1.4605? Yes, that's .003", so should be just right for a semi-auto. Looks like you have a chamber on the small (short) side which was probably a big part of your original problem. MM
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Whats odd about it is that both my DDM4A1 and my buddies DB are on the short side. His DB is actually 0.002 shorter then mine. Do you think that is normal?
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Campfire Ranger
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Not based on the ones I've seen.
I have 4 AR's & all are from +.002 to +.003" above minimum.........but that's exactly why virgin ammo & brass is typically .003-004" below minimum.
As long as you are aware of it & load accordingly, it's actually a good thing to a point, as the brass stretches less on the 1st firing than compared to a gun with, say a +.005 headspace dimension.
MM
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