I'm getting a bit concerned with the direction this thread is going... to summarize and para-phrase some of what the above is suggesting:
I have four Lee die sets in different calibers and all FL sizing dies work just fine. I have never compared the resulting cases to reference case headspacing BEFORE using them. I didn't have a Hornady Headspace Comparator until just recently so comparisons were not possible. My only critical measurements when resizing cases were case length and COAL length using calipers. Most of my reloading has been for semi-autos so FL resizing cases every time is the norm. Accuracy was a secondary consideration to reliable operation.
I don't own any GO or NO-GO gauges for the firearms I reload for. I have never encountered a Lee FL sizing die that created a resized case that was so short at the shoulder it separated one the first reload. I trusted that the resizing die would create cases that would be smaller than a SAAMI chamber but not so small it would be dangerous.
I would even point out that RCBS makes a "small base" FL resizing die which creates cases that are even smaller than the normal FL dies. This suggests that there is an allowable amount that a case can be further sized down and still be safe and usable. Of course, repeated use of the small base die will eventually result in a case failure sooner than if a normal sizing die were used. This is just from the brass being reworked more than with a normal die would.
Obviously, the suggestions above to adjust the FL die so it only pushes the case shoulder back enough to maintain a tight fit in the rifle's chamber. This works if you are reloading for one rifle and for maximum precision. But what if you are loading for multiple rifles of the same caliber? In such cases you want to resize to a size smaller than SAAMI so the round will fit into ANY SAAMI spec rifle. Or if the round is to be used in a semi-auto or full-auto rifle you want them to load reliably (this is the description that comes w/ the RCBS small base die). This is the primary function of the FL sizing die compared to the neck sizing dies.
So, does anyone have 1st hand experience with new Lee dies creating dangerous cases that were so small they separated on first use? Or are the above just overly cautious approaches to cases being produced from a FL sizing die? Is there a minimum spec for resizing cases?
On the question about case lube building up in the sizing die... this needs to be cleaned out periodically. I disassemble the die and run cleaning patches with solvent thru the die followed by dry patches. The Lee dies have a small hole drilled at the shoulder to "vent" excess case lube. Make sure this hole is clear. If too much lube builds up you will see dents around the case shoulder area.
- A Lee full-length sizing die (adjusted per instructions) has pushed the shoulder of the case back so far it created cases that is now "unsafe" to use for reloading
- Cases sized in a new FL sizing die should be compared with boxed ammo, once-fired cases formed in the rifle's chamber or GO gauges. And if the shoulder is more than a few thousandths (0.004"-0.008"?) shorter than those reference examples... the die is bad (or maybe the shell holder is bad?) and should NOT be adjusted to the manufacture's instructions for creating resized cases.
I have four Lee die sets in different calibers and all FL sizing dies work just fine. I have never compared the resulting cases to reference case headspacing BEFORE using them. I didn't have a Hornady Headspace Comparator until just recently so comparisons were not possible. My only critical measurements when resizing cases were case length and COAL length using calipers. Most of my reloading has been for semi-autos so FL resizing cases every time is the norm. Accuracy was a secondary consideration to reliable operation.
I don't own any GO or NO-GO gauges for the firearms I reload for. I have never encountered a Lee FL sizing die that created a resized case that was so short at the shoulder it separated one the first reload. I trusted that the resizing die would create cases that would be smaller than a SAAMI chamber but not so small it would be dangerous.
I would even point out that RCBS makes a "small base" FL resizing die which creates cases that are even smaller than the normal FL dies. This suggests that there is an allowable amount that a case can be further sized down and still be safe and usable. Of course, repeated use of the small base die will eventually result in a case failure sooner than if a normal sizing die were used. This is just from the brass being reworked more than with a normal die would.
Obviously, the suggestions above to adjust the FL die so it only pushes the case shoulder back enough to maintain a tight fit in the rifle's chamber. This works if you are reloading for one rifle and for maximum precision. But what if you are loading for multiple rifles of the same caliber? In such cases you want to resize to a size smaller than SAAMI so the round will fit into ANY SAAMI spec rifle. Or if the round is to be used in a semi-auto or full-auto rifle you want them to load reliably (this is the description that comes w/ the RCBS small base die). This is the primary function of the FL sizing die compared to the neck sizing dies.
So, does anyone have 1st hand experience with new Lee dies creating dangerous cases that were so small they separated on first use? Or are the above just overly cautious approaches to cases being produced from a FL sizing die? Is there a minimum spec for resizing cases?
On the question about case lube building up in the sizing die... this needs to be cleaned out periodically. I disassemble the die and run cleaning patches with solvent thru the die followed by dry patches. The Lee dies have a small hole drilled at the shoulder to "vent" excess case lube. Make sure this hole is clear. If too much lube builds up you will see dents around the case shoulder area.
