Rick got thinking about my Ruger BH in 30 carbine. I haven't shot it much because it was such a pain to load cast for. Those days are over.
I finally bought some pin gauges and found that I had one throat a bit tighter than the others. The tight one wouldn't take a .308 guage. A bit of work with a split rod and 400 grit paper got me to all throats just taking a .309 guage.
I made a sizer to give me a .309 bullet. I'm going to use the MP 311410 plain base.
I want to use 32-20 brass as I have a bunch and it is easier to work with in some ways. Problem is that my 32-20 sizer gives an outside dimension of .322 and that is the same as the size of a round loaded with a .309 bullet. The bullet moves easily due to low neck tension.
Solution was to make a neck sizer to give more neck tension. I used a bit of 7/8 O1 tool steel. Cut the threads then drilled to just under .308. A bit of work with a small boring bar I ground and checking with the .315 pin guage got me a snug fit. After a little polishing it gives a .316 outside neck dimension. Bullets are held firm.
The die has a slight lead in angle but is otherwise a straight hole. No need for anything else.
The die won't be heat treated as I don't see a need. It may wear over time but I bet it will take more use than it will ever see.
I finally bought some pin gauges and found that I had one throat a bit tighter than the others. The tight one wouldn't take a .308 guage. A bit of work with a split rod and 400 grit paper got me to all throats just taking a .309 guage.
I made a sizer to give me a .309 bullet. I'm going to use the MP 311410 plain base.
I want to use 32-20 brass as I have a bunch and it is easier to work with in some ways. Problem is that my 32-20 sizer gives an outside dimension of .322 and that is the same as the size of a round loaded with a .309 bullet. The bullet moves easily due to low neck tension.
Solution was to make a neck sizer to give more neck tension. I used a bit of 7/8 O1 tool steel. Cut the threads then drilled to just under .308. A bit of work with a small boring bar I ground and checking with the .315 pin guage got me a snug fit. After a little polishing it gives a .316 outside neck dimension. Bullets are held firm.
The die has a slight lead in angle but is otherwise a straight hole. No need for anything else.
The die won't be heat treated as I don't see a need. It may wear over time but I bet it will take more use than it will ever see.
