press question

87mustang · April 12, 2010, 07:02 PM

i have some 22-250 brass that has been only neck sized and is getting tight in my rifle. some of them will barely chamber now. so i full length sized them with a rock chucker and FL die and they still won't chamber. BUT i take the same die and screw it into a LEE pro1000 press and size it and it will chamber fine.

so then i took one of the pieces of brass that wouldn't chamber after the rock chucker sizing and sized it in the LEE press and it chambers fine.

my question is: why is this happening? i am making the die touch the shell holder on both presses.

mrawesome22 · April 12, 2010, 07:04 PM

Shell holder is thicker on the rock chucker. Turn the die in another 1/4 turn, you're golden.

87mustang · April 12, 2010, 07:45 PM

can't turn in the die any further. the die touches the shell holder on both presses.

geetarman · April 12, 2010, 07:54 PM

Instuctions for my die sets tell me to adjust the size die down until it touches and then back it off a half turn.

I just had a problem with some 22-250 brass that would not chamber because I did not do that.

1chig · April 12, 2010, 08:41 PM

usually when you adjust your sizer die you just touch the shell holder, and then turn 1/8 to 1/4 more down . your seater die is just touch the shell holder and then turn 1/2 to 1 full turn back. keep adjustin your sizer die down until the case will work in your chamber.

87mustang · April 13, 2010, 04:03 AM

how can you adjust the die down further when you are already touching the shell holder?

geetarman · April 13, 2010, 08:25 AM

You turn the die down until it touches the shell holder with the ram in the up position.

Then you lower the ram and turn the die clockwise another 1/8 to 1/2 turn and tighten the lock screw.

Raise the ram and you should feel some resistance when the ram reaches the end of the stroke.

Be careful. If you overdo it, you can damage the press. Those things can generate a tremendous amount of pressure.

Just make sure you follow the directions of the die manufacturer on whether they want you do screw the dies in or out.

mrawesome22 · April 13, 2010, 09:18 PM

Like said above. Raise ram. Lower the die FIRMLY onto shell holder. Lower ram. Turn the die down another 1/4 turn. Screw lock ring down while keeping the die in its position. Tighten lock ring cross bolt (unless you have a Lee lock ring).

April 12, 2010, 07:02 PM	#1
87mustang Member Join Date: March 29, 2009 Posts: 91	press question i have some 22-250 brass that has been only neck sized and is getting tight in my rifle. some of them will barely chamber now. so i full length sized them with a rock chucker and FL die and they still won't chamber. BUT i take the same die and screw it into a LEE pro1000 press and size it and it will chamber fine. so then i took one of the pieces of brass that wouldn't chamber after the rock chucker sizing and sized it in the LEE press and it chambers fine. my question is: why is this happening? i am making the die touch the shell holder on both presses.

April 12, 2010, 08:41 PM	#5
1chig Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2009 Location: central missouri Posts: 246	usually when you adjust your sizer die you just touch the shell holder, and then turn 1/8 to 1/4 more down . your seater die is just touch the shell holder and then turn 1/2 to 1 full turn back. keep adjustin your sizer die down until the case will work in your chamber. __________________ those who anger you are those who control you!!!!

April 12, 2010, 07:04 PM	#2
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Shell holder is thicker on the rock chucker. Turn the die in another 1/4 turn, you're golden.

April 12, 2010, 07:45 PM	#3
87mustang Member Join Date: March 29, 2009 Posts: 91	can't turn in the die any further. the die touches the shell holder on both presses.

April 12, 2010, 07:54 PM	#4
geetarman Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,157	Instuctions for my die sets tell me to adjust the size die down until it touches and then back it off a half turn. I just had a problem with some 22-250 brass that would not chamber because I did not do that.

April 13, 2010, 04:03 AM	#6
87mustang Member Join Date: March 29, 2009 Posts: 91	how can you adjust the die down further when you are already touching the shell holder?

April 13, 2010, 08:25 AM	#7
geetarman Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2009 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,157	You turn the die down until it touches the shell holder with the ram in the up position. Then you lower the ram and turn the die clockwise another 1/8 to 1/2 turn and tighten the lock screw. Raise the ram and you should feel some resistance when the ram reaches the end of the stroke. Be careful. If you overdo it, you can damage the press. Those things can generate a tremendous amount of pressure. Just make sure you follow the directions of the die manufacturer on whether they want you do screw the dies in or out.

April 13, 2010, 09:18 PM	#8
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Like said above. Raise ram. Lower the die FIRMLY onto shell holder. Lower ram. Turn the die down another 1/4 turn. Screw lock ring down while keeping the die in its position. Tighten lock ring cross bolt (unless you have a Lee lock ring).