Small Base Dies?

[Bayway]

Not complaining. No better deal out there than the H&R Handi Rifles. Like many single shot rifles and lever actions that are chambered for higher pressure bottle neck cartridges, case expansion can be a challenge to deal with. Has a lot to do with springy actions and chambers cut within SAAMI specs but on the loose side. With my three 243s and my 708 I have had to go to small base dies. No matter how much I screwed the sizing die down on standard dies, I could not push the shoulder back enough to ensure the action would lock up tight. None of the resized cases would chamber in my bolt actions - not that I wanted them to - just for reference. Modern dies are made that way, they make it hard if not impossible to push the shoulder back. The small base dies solve the problem. Rounds now chamber just like new cases do. Anyone try another route?

[Sourdough]

I use standard full length dies for everything except my semi-auto, and pump 30-06s.  I shoot multiple .223s, 243s, 338s, .35 Whelens, 350 Rem Mags, 44 Mags, 45 LCs, and 45-70s.  All the ammo is interchangeable, except my 30-06s.  I have seven 30-06s and use standard dies with them except the Semi and Pump.  They require small base dies.

[3leggedturtle]

444 dies works as small base dies for 308 based rounds and carbide 357 dies work for 223 based rounds. Especially Lee dies they seem to be 2-3 thousands smaller than other dies. 3leg

[quickdtoo]

Just remove a little off the bottom of the die so the shell holder can go a little higher and size the case just a tad smaller and push the shoulder back a little more, poor man's small base die. 

Tim

[nicholst55]

Just remove a little off the bottom of the die so the shell holder can go a little higher and size the case just a tad smaller and push the shoulder back a little more, poor man's small base die. 

Tim

That's what I do when I encounter that problem.  Sometimes a different shell holder will do the trick - like the Competition shell holder sets that Redding sells:  http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=525874

[gcrank1]

+1 on check the shell holders,  the actual height of the top of the SH off the bottom where the case sits when being sized can be several thou' different, especially between brands. It isnt too hard to grind a little off the top of the SH with it properly jigged up, but they are usually too hard to file.

[quickdtoo]

Don't take too much off the top of the shell holder if you anneal it, if you get a sticky case during resizing, it will ruin the shell holder, don't ask how I know. 

Tim

[gcrank1]

Too true! The lip of the SH design is fairly thin for aggressive thinning; Im suggesting something under .010", but that can (has for me) done enough to make a case chamber well.
I prefer to just chuck the SH in the lathe 3jaw and, with a Dremel mounted on the cross slide take off a bit and retry sizing (rather than anneal). You can shorten a die the same way.
Short a lathe you can do it in a big chucked elec. hand drill mounted in a vise and careful application of a hand held Dremel.
The slowest, but it would work, is a piece of fresh sandpaper on a good flat surface and you rubbing and rotating the SH across it. You arent likely to take off too much that way!

[Drilling Man]

Just remove a little off the bottom of the die so the shell holder can go a little higher and size the case just a tad smaller and push the shoulder back a little more, poor man's small base die. 
Tim

  Not even close!  A real SB die sizes the whole case smaller, NOT just push the case shoulder back more.

  DM

[gcrank1]

That is true.
I should mention that if, for whatever reason, your rifle seems to be 'short chambered' the thinning the SH or shortening the die a tad can allow you to shoulder back during sizing. If you had a set of go/no-go gauges would be ideal to know whats going on. Without them it may be enough to know that resized cases wont chamber in your gun. Any modifications you make will be a 'custom fit' and perhaps out of SAAMI spec!, though you can still adjust the die set to spec. I was able to get one rifle to close nicely on a reload with only a .003" thinner shell holder (it is tight breached) and that brass is only used in that rifle. Happy day for me.