Headspace, Ya, it's that important!

[gunrac]

After nearly 200 rds. I was about to cut ties with my 22-250 Encore barrel. After switching scope mounts, rings, floating the forearm, switching OAL and countless different recipes, I couldn't get a group to save my a$$.

I had a Ruger and also a Savage in this cal. that were absolute tack driver's. Almost boring to shoot.

Starting with my so called reliable load, it didn't work in the Encore. I tried everything or so I thought.

I came across a website explaning headspace. After a short read, the guy came out an said something on the line's of double banging the barrel to get it locked up to cock the hammer. I thought yep, that's me. This happened on several occasion's. Also said, the vast majority of Contender and Encore shooters don't have the foggiest notion about how to adjust the size die to get the correct headspace. Well, in short, this got my wheel's spinning again.

My buddy { reloading for some 30+ yrs. } had helped me set my presses up some 3 yrs. ago. Everything worked great until I got the Encore. After several shot's, and being confident I knew what the he!! I was doing, I started questioning myself, an got my buddy back over to see if eveything was still ok. He assured me everything was correct. Well, for the most part at least in the bolt action rifle's it worked out great. But, he had never had a break open rifle, and after my read I knew there was a size die problem.

After going to the RCBS website, I soon figured out my buddy wasn't even going by there size die spec's, the other die was correct. RCBS want's you to, with handle down, to bottom out the die to the shell holder, then bring your handle up, then give your die another 1/4 to a 1/2 turn toward the shell holder. Tighten locking nut.

I went with the full 1/2 turn and it cured all my problem's. Before doing this, my sizing die was set the same as my seating die with just a hint of light between the die and the shell holder.  The gun will lock-up with one finger every time, if you choose. Talk about improving my 100 yd. group.  Now I'm ready to play with some long range target's.
 

[Oldshooter]

Interesting, thanks for the post!

[wncchester]

That experience proves that we should size by the results, not by any printed instructions.  How far down to turn a size die in a press depends on the degree of spring the press has, and they all have some.   

Adjust it by the results and it will work every time.   Adjust it by rote and it may work.

[Lone Star]

I'm glad that worked for the OP, but in reality just the opposite happens too.   Most reloaders who report short case life are moving the case shoulder back too far when sizing, creating excess headspace.  The result is case stretching and ofter poor accuracy. 

"Adjust it by the results" is absolutely correct.  The next firearm the OP gets may shoot terribly if he runs the ram all the way up.......





.

[wncchester]

"Most reloaders who report short case life are moving the case shoulder back too far when sizing, creating excess headspace.  The result is case stretching and ofter poor accuracy."

Quite true.  But, again, sizing for the correct result is still the answer.  Seems few do it.

[gunrac]

"Most reloaders who report short case life are moving the case shoulder back too far when sizing, creating excess headspace.  The result is case stretching and ofter poor accuracy."

Quite true.  But, again, sizing for the correct result is still the answer.  Seems few do it.

L.S.} Being fairly new to reloading, I can still understand where your at with your thread. Is there any sign's to watch for if I have indeed went too far?

As I mentioned earlier, the gun is locking up with absolutly no effort every time. But at time's it doesn't want to open after the shot. It just takes a slight pop on the forearm an it will open right up. I'm sure I still have an issue, but after the excellent result's I'm getting, I'm leary on touching the press again. Any suggestion's why the spent case hang's up? Did I go to far or maybe not enough? I'll play with it a little today an try to figure it out.

After moving the die, resizing seems to be a bit smoother now. Also seems to to be less fuz coming off the trimmer. I'm thinkin this is a good thing.

[Lone Star]

Sticky extraction with a Contender - which it sounds like you are describing - is usually a sign of high pressure.  It could be excess headspace but probably not.  If the chamber or ammo is oily or damp that can cause the case to ram back hard into the breechface and cause hard extraction.  Are you using different brands of brass? 

The 'best' way to set headspace is to back out the die one turn, then size a case.  Try it in the gun, it may be too tight to close the action.  Screw in the die 1/16th of a turn, try the case in the gun, and keep turning the die into the press until the action just closes without extra effort.  Size another case and try it.  If all is well, then lock down the die.  This will give you near-perfect headspace for your chamber, brass and die.  Since all three have tolerances, they may or may not work well together without going ouside the die maker's directions.  It is interesting that RCBS dies used to say (maybe they still do) to turn the die into the press far enough to "jam" into the ram/shellholder - while the Speer reloading manuals specifically say not to do this.  A bit of corporate confusion......



.

[john keyes]

I'm glad that worked for the OP, but in reality just the opposite happens too.   Most reloaders who report short case life are moving the case shoulder back too far when sizing, creating excess headspace.  The result is case stretching and ofter poor accuracy. 

"Adjust it by the results" is absolutely correct.  The next firearm the OP gets may shoot terribly if he runs the ram all the way up.......





.

+1, and misfires, having to shoot twice to fire, or not detonating at all because the firing pin is moving the cartridge forward

[Glanceblamm]

The 'best' way to set headspace is to back out the die one turn, then size a case.  Try it in the gun, it may be too tight to close the action.  Screw in the die 1/16th of a turn, try the case in the gun, and keep turning the die into the press until the action just closes without extra effort.  Size another case and try it.  If all is well, then lock down the die.  This will give you near-perfect headspace for your chamber, brass and die.  Since all three have tolerances, they may or may not work well together without going ouside the die maker's directions.  It is interesting that RCBS dies used to say (maybe they still do) to turn the die into the press far enough to "jam" into the ram/shellholder - while the Speer reloading manuals specifically say not to do this.  A bit of corporate confusion......

We are starting to get in the ball park here. Redding is the only die manufacture (to my knowledge) with instructions on whether one is loading for a single rifle or for multiple rifles of the same caliber.

[gunrac]

Sticky extraction with a Contender - which it sounds like you are describing - is usually a sign of high pressure.  It could be excess headspace but probably not.  If the chamber or ammo is oily or damp that can cause the case to ram back hard into the breechface and cause hard extraction.  Are you using different brands of brass? 

The 'best' way to set headspace is to back out the die one turn, then size a case.  Try it in the gun, it may be too tight to close the action.  Screw in the die 1/16th of a turn, try the case in the gun, and keep turning the die into the press until the action just closes without extra effort.  Size another case and try it.  If all is well, then lock down the die.  This will give you near-perfect headspace for your chamber, brass and die.  Since all three have tolerances, they may or may not work well together without going ouside the die maker's directions.  It is interesting that RCBS dies used to say (maybe they still do) to turn the die into the press far enough to "jam" into the ram/shellholder - while the Speer reloading manuals specifically say not to do this.  A bit of corporate confusion......



.

Thanks LS. The common since approach. I like that. DAH, why couldn't I figure that out?

No, I'm not mixing cases. I've been loading Win. cases. I am aware that different brand name cases will react differently in the press and in the load.

After checking, I did indeed have some oily cases. Cleaned an shot 5 rds, w/o a hang-up. The simple things really do tend to work me.

Thanks again

 

[Emmett]

...Just a little note concerning "locking down the die" that I've experienced more than once....Once you have found that "sweet spot" for your die and are ready to tighten the locking ring screw, I've found it best to tighten the screw slightly, and verrry carefully back the die out of the press a couple of turns and then re-torque the locking screw. Too many times in the past I've tightened the locking screw with the ring tightened down to the top of the press, only to have it move on me as I removed the die. Saves a lot of re-doing and under-the-breath words...

[lonewolf5348]

After nearly 200 rds. I was about to cut ties with my 22-250 Encore barrel. After switching scope mounts, rings, floating the forearm, switching OAL and countless different recipes, I couldn't get a group to save my a$$.

I had a Ruger and also a Savage in this cal. that were absolute tack driver's. Almost boring to shoot.

Starting with my so called reliable load, it didn't work in the Encore. I tried everything or so I thought.

I came across a website explaning headspace. After a short read, the guy came out an said something on the line's of double banging the barrel to get it locked up to cock the hammer. I thought yep, that's me. This happened on several occasion's. Also said, the vast majority of Contender and Encore shooters don't have the foggiest notion about how to adjust the size die to get the correct headspace. Well, in short, this got my wheel's spinning again.

My buddy { reloading for some 30+ yrs. } had helped me set my presses up some 3 yrs. ago. Everything worked great until I got the Encore. After several shot's, and being confident I knew what the he!! I was doing, I started questioning myself, an got my buddy back over to see if eveything was still ok. He assured me everything was correct. Well, for the most part at least in the bolt action rifle's it worked out great. But, he had never had a break open rifle, and after my read I knew there was a size die problem.

After going to the RCBS website, I soon figured out my buddy wasn't even going by there size die spec's, the other die was correct. RCBS want's you to, with handle down, to bottom out the die to the shell holder, then bring your handle up, then give your die another 1/4 to a 1/2 turn toward the shell holder. Tighten locking nut.

I went with the full 1/2 turn and it cured all my problem's. Before doing this, my sizing die was set the same as my seating die with just a hint of light between the die and the shell holder.  The gun will lock-up with one finger every time, if you choose. Talk about improving my 100 yd. group.  Now I'm ready to play with some long range target's.
 

I been there with the single shot SPR 18 for the life of I could not understand why the light hits or misfires.I been loading the way you did for some past 35 years.
I was told from a member here the problem was my full length resizing,I did re-adjust my die and after 125 rounds not one misfire

[gunrac]

...Just a little note concerning "locking down the die" that I've experienced more than once....Once you have found that "sweet spot" for your die and are ready to tighten the locking ring screw, I've found it best to tighten the screw slightly, and verrry carefully back the die out of the press a couple of turns and then re-torque the locking screw. Too many times in the past I've tightened the locking screw with the ring tightened down to the top of the press, only to have it move on me as I removed the die. Saves a lot of re-doing and under-the-breath words...

Good tip.

Fortunatly I also learned that one the hard way. Being a bit careless with my sizing lube, {dimples in the case} I found myself constantly cleaning my die. It didn't long to figure out how to set the locking ring.

Another perfect example of {when all else fails, read the direction's}