Thread: Loose projectile

Ive got three different versions of that chart erniec on my wall above reloading bench...still refer to it at times too. LOL

Originally Posted by Cigar

That spare depriming stem makes me think the sizing die is a collet die, and for my neck collet die it needs to be hard down on the shellholder and its the amount of pressure you put on the press that determines how much the neck gets sized (iirc they recommend 25lbs). So screwing the die out probably means you can't put enough pressure on to size the neck properly.

Ah was meant to throw that spare away its bent and when I bought them second hand on here the seller put a new depriming stem in.

did you check to see if any other lettering on dies???

Not yet will have to be tonight after work, still battling snow here, at least all my fences are back up again.

Pretty sure its a full length die looking again tonight, it has OS1 on it.

interesting...mine has L9 on it....and its a LEE rgb set.

Greetings again Happy Jack and all,
To summarise the die is almost certainly a full length sizing die. As the full length die sizes the neck down a little too far and then expands it to the proper size harder brass will result in more neck tension rather than less, the opposite of the collet dies. Sorry small_caliber. The spare decapping stem in the box is a red herring as it does not look like it belongs with the die. A full length die stem will have an expander button. It has likely been used to deprime cases as it seems burred at the top. This was likely how it got bent. Partial full length resizing as you seem to be doing Happy Jack works quite well with tapered cases for about 3 loads until they become tight. A better option would be minimal full length resizing where the case is sized just enough to chamber freely. Someone can show you how to set up your die for this. My son shoots FTR and sizes his cases this way for consistent fit in the chamber. He uses the Redding competition shell holders to ensure consistent sizing.
So where are we left with the errant projectile problem? Right back where we started. It seems from the photo that the projectile is seated with the ogive (start of the full dia section of the projectile) seated inside the neck of the case limiting the case grip. Seating the projectile longer should help with this.
There is one other possible cause and that is a crack in the case neck. These are hard to spot until the round is fired when they become hard to miss. Have a good hard look at the neck to see if there is a hair line crack.
Regards Grandpamac.

you have got me now GPM.....patial length resize I understand as have done it for years....minimal full length resize is the same thing is it not????
the only diference is you keep backing off till feel resistance then go back in a fly turd....

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

you have got me now GPM.....patial length resize I understand as have done it for years....minimal full length resize is the same thing is it not????
the only diference is you keep backing off till feel resistance then go back in a fly turd....

Greetings Micky,
With minimal sizing you only back of a few thou. My 6.5x55 backs of 0.2mm or 8 thou. The shoulder is moved back just enough to chamber freely. Partial sizing you back of a lot more to size enough of the neck for seating. You only reduce the case body a little and don't touch the shoulder. As you reduce the body more, from partial sizing, the shoulder is squeezed forward until the case won't chamber. Minimal sizing moves it back just enough to chamber again. With partial sizing, or neck sizing, you will need to full length size after 3 or so loads but not with minimal sizing. The latter gives a more consistent chambering so is preferred by target and bench rest shooters.
Regards Grandpamac.

cant see a diference myself...even with your explanation it seems like the same thing...either way you just changing case size enough for it to chamber and no more...
I learnt to PLR from my Nosler #2 manual and have done it for 30 years.

To add to that I would suggest its a lot harder to pull a projectile out if it's been seated too dep than to push it in, I will get him sorted I just can't get up his way for a couple weeks. I only get every second weekend off and my next weekend is already spoken for.

Poor bugger is likely fedling properly bamboozled by now

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

you have got me now GPM.....patial length resize I understand as have done it for years....minimal full length resize is the same thing is it not????
the only diference is you keep backing off till feel resistance then go back in a fly turd....

Greetings Micky,
Yes it is a subtle difference. I looked up my No 1 Nosler manual which seems to have the same excellent description as yours. Minimal Full Length resizing just matches the full length sized case to the chamber. There is often a bit of slop between the rifle chamber and the case produced by full the full length sizing die so minimal FL resizing produces a better match. You still have a FL sized case but it fits your chamber better and the brass lasts longer. The Nosler talks of the die being 1/16 inch (1.6mm) from the shell holder for partial sizing. My 6.5x55 dies are only 0.2mm from the shell holder for minimal sizing. Other people call it different things.
Regards Grandpamac.

So could this round with the pushed in projectile have had a hard weekend, causing or accentuating the problem?
I have had .30-30 rounds where the projectile has been pushed deeper from the pressure of being in the tube magazine (I now crimp all my .30-30 rounds). Maybe your round took a hard knock or had something heavy pressing down in it at the wrong angle in your pack?

Quite possible as they were loose in a pouch type bag, I find it best to carry rounds in the plastic holders that come with factory ammo, Norma ones are the best imo cause the project the full round right to the tip.

Its possible as I didn't have any ammo carriers available so had them loose.