Encore Reloaders take a look see!!!

[5Redman8]

I have copied this from Varmint Al's page.  His theory is that polishing an Encore or Contender chamber that it will help or eliminate case stretching.  What do you think???


"I have over a thousand rounds through the rifle and some of the brass has been loaded 4 or 5 times and is just like new. I confess. I don't even have dies for the rifle. I have no FL, or Neck die. I don't even have a seating die for it. I use the Wilson hand seating die for my 23/40 with a spacer to seat the bullets. When I reload, I clean the neck ID with a cotton swab, punch out the primer, and uniform the primer pocket. I seat the primer, charge with powder and seat the bullet. No dies are involved. I polished my chamber and there is no case stretching and the brass chambers easily."


Kyle

[KN]

Wishfull thinking or he's just lucky.  KN

[Lefty Behind]

I remember Ken Waters writing several years ago that he had a 6mm "something" that was built for him by Sealy Maskers that had a tight neck, and he said he never had to resize for it.  So I guess it is possible.
Also, Varmint Al is very credible.  
           Lefty Behind

[Catfish]

I`ve got a .17 AH and a .17-223 thight necked barrel from Bullberry that you could do that with some brands of brass, but I prefer to turn my case necks so that I get about .002 of neck expantion.

[Ohioyotecaller]

I believe that Al uses "fitted neck" cases for this one.  The 23/40 isn't a T/C, I think it's a Stolle Panda.  I had a 22 BR I had set up the same way.  Actual loaded neck clearance was .0005" (yes, five ten-thousanths).  I also never had a sizing die, just a seater and body die.  It does work as Al says, but takes time to set up correctly.  Once you get the proper setting on your neck turner, make a hundred or so cases and you'll be set for a long time if you shoot moderate loads and don't blow the primer pockets after two or three loadings.

[5Redman8]

Ohio,

He used the 23/40 as a reference, the 223AI is in the Encore.  I totally believe him but is it replicable?

Kyle

[DannoBoone]

Ohio,

He used the 23/40 as a reference, the 223AI is in the Encore.  I totally believe him but is it replicable?

Kyle

I believe it's replicable, but ya need to pay close attention to the rest of
his article. Ohioyotehunter mentioned "tenths of thousandths" and that's
what Al is working with, along with quality brass. He's got neck expansion
and contraction down to an exact science (what would ya expect from a
nuclear engineer?), knows exactly the size of his chamber neck in relation
to the OD of the neck size of his brass, and even warms up his neck turner
in his pocket so it will get just the right amount of brass off the neck!!! He
readily admits that it's quite a process to get everything perfect in the
beginning prior to make a large run, but says that, to him, it's worth it. If
only I had so much patience!!!!

[444encore]

Case stretching is caused by chamber pressure and is directly proportional to case size vs. neck size and pressures concerned. The stretching comes from within the case as brass is moved from the shoulder area towards the neck. Since this comes from within the case , polishing the chamber could not logically take part in changing this process.

[5Redman8]

I agree it defys logic but I have found 2 other people who have had the same experience by using perfect fit necks aka tight necks but not too tight.  So it may be all about the neck dia as opposed to polishing???  I posted this on another site and these 2 gentlemen replied and said it has to be PERFECT.  With Al's Nuclear enigineering background, I guess he is more patient and precise than most.

Kyle

[ihookem]

If Varmint Al says it, it is the truth when it comes to reloading. You have to tell the barrel maker exactly what you want to do before they make the barrel. I think you might want to make a hundred cases all the same with quality brass and then give some cases to the barrel maker so they can make the barrel chamber to fit the case. I think that's how it goes. Give Al an e mail and ask. I have mailed him with questions and his answers are all but  gospel truth when it comes to reloading.