May 13, 2012, 03:22 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: October 26, 2011
Posts: 35
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Help with Headspace
I would like some information on reloading for .50BMG. Headspace! I have been reading about headspace and its importance and am somewhat confused. Headspace, as I understand it, is the distance from the middle of the shoulders of a case(or where the shoulders sit against the breech of the barrel in the chamber) to the base of said case. The shoulders sit on the chamber walls of the breech of the barrel. So when I full length size the cases I measure the length of my trimmed cases and all are within specs, 3.910, and the shoulders look and measure just as the specs in the manual say they should. My question is this: If I have shot a new round in my gun and have now fireformed the case to my guns breech do I still need to worry about headspace? Or is the headspace now set for my gun? These newly fired cases are going to be worked on a neck sizing die only and not on a full length sizing die so would headspace still be an issue? Thanks to all in advance.
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May 13, 2012, 04:34 PM | #2 |
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Are you using a bolt action or a semi-auto? If bolt you are correct, the fireformed cases should fit your action if only neck sizing. However, you will reach a point where they will not chamber and must be FL resized. In a regular caliber this may be three to five firings. With the 50 I wouldn't be able to tell you how many before you will have to FL resize. If a semi you may have to FL resize each time since the case will stretch as the action is moving.
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May 13, 2012, 04:47 PM | #3 | |
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Quote:
You'll know 'when' as the loaded cases will give you more & more "feel" on closing. When that feel gets truly noticeable, resize again. |
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May 13, 2012, 10:38 PM | #4 | |
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JRLSH comments:
Quote:
I strongly suggest full length sizing your fired cases. Use a gage to measure case headspace; first on the fired case to see what it reads then after full length sizing it such that the shoulder's set back about 3 thousandths. Adjust the die height in the press to do this. This prevents any binding of the sized case against the bolt face when its chambered. Anytime the bolt binds when chambering a round, even the slightest amount that barely noticed, accuracy sufferes. While neck only sizing of fired cases was popular in benchrest disciplines, they've been full length sizing their cases more and more the last couple dozen years. Full length sized cases center just as perfect as neck sized ones when they're fired anyway. Last edited by Bart B.; May 13, 2012 at 10:44 PM. |
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May 18, 2012, 04:49 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: October 26, 2011
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My thanks to all
To all who responded, my heartfelt thanks. I sincerely appreciate this board and all who generously give of their knowledge to help folks like myself keep from blowing themselves up. (LOL) No, really, thanks guys for your help. Happy Shootin....
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