Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Case seperation

Case head separation is not usually associated with loads that are too hot. It is normally associated with stretching the brass in the chamber and shortening it in the full length die.

That is what we figure the slight misadjustment of the die caused.It was slight,but likely enough to cause the problem.

You might like the Lee collet neck sizing die. No muss, no fuss, never sets the shoulder back, and brass lasts a very long time with just a little annealing.

Some excellent advice here but, has anyone heard of, or used the Skip's die shim kit for partial resizing?

It consists of 7 precision ground washer-like spacers which fit between the sizing die lock ring and the top of the press. You just set up your die, as per the manufacturer's instructions, then experiment with the spacers until you get a slight resistance when closing the rifle action. Make sure to start with the thickest spacer. If the action won't close, or feels too tight, try the next thinner one. Repeat until you get the right "feel". Single spacers or any combination of spacers can be used. Once you get the right combo, make note of it in your data. You'll never again have to fiddle around re-adjusting your die between FL and partial sizing. Slick as a whistle. They're not expensive and are available through Sinclair International.

The same thing can be accomplished using automotive (spark plug) spacers but you should have duplicate sets so you can put an equal spacer on opposite sides of the die to ensure that all is square with the world. I did it this way for years until I heard about the Skip's spacers, which are much handier.

I saw these yesterday. The guy that helped me get the case out of my chamber had them. They worked just as you explained,and he loved them.

$12:99 at Sinclair's International. Ya can't go wrong.👍