Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting Rimlees cartridge cast bullet loads

Rimless cases and cast bullet loads. Do you segregate cases
from full power load cases? I seem to remember something about rimless cases used for light loads having excessive headspce when used with full power loads.
Thanks.
Bob

Absolutely! While the problem may not be so prevelant in a controlled feed action, it is a definite problem in push feed actions. The blow of the firing pin, plus the explosion of the primer cause the case to be shoved forward, driving the shoulder back. There is not enough pressure in a light cast bullet load to drive the case back and expand it to properly fill the chamber, thus not pushing the shoulder back against the chamber restoring it to it's proper length.
About the only way to salvafe those cases for full power is to expand the neck to a larger caliber, then run them through the resizing die just enough so that the expanded portion forms a shoulder to headspace on. Or, you can seat the bullets out enough to engage the rifling with a moderate load and fireform them that way.
A controlled round action may, or may not hold the shell against the bolt face upon firing thus the problem of headspacing arises there as well, just because you can't be sure.
Me? I keep it simple. I keep the brass separated from full power brass.
Paul B.

Thanks Paul.
Bob

I use once fired cases and neck size only and you will not have any problems as the case fits the chamber...

It depends on the chamber design. With my 350 Rigby, which has a 45 deg shoulder, there is no worries about headspacing increasing. Same goes with the ackley improved designs.