Thread: Headspace gauge/ case head separation

A standard die is threaded 7/8 - 14". One turn of the die moves it by 1/14" I.e. 71/1000" To move it by 2/1000" (which is what all of the internet sources advocate) you would have to turn it by 2 x 1/71 of a turn. That is impossible to set and more impossible with the slop in the die and press. So, you need a set of shims to go between the die and the shell holder to set the case to fit the chamber in your rifle, so that the case will fit in the way that -BW- has described. The easiest shims are cut from beer can which is 0.004" thick. Cut as many as you need to set the resizing of the case to fit the chamber of your rifle. You may need to reduce the number of shims as the cases work harden and develop more spring back.