Belted Cases

I got some shot once brass and I ran it through my full length resizing lee die. When putting the case in my headspace gauge it hits on the belt and won't go down into the gauge. Does this mean the brass was shot too many times or am I doing something wrong? I got some once fired federal brass and fits in the gauge just fine.

http://i52.tinypic.com/1rt93t.jpg

http://i52.tinypic.com/e6wshe.jpg

They still fit in my chamber fine and extract ok.

I am guessing that the area right above the belt has expanded...there is a die available that sizes just that part, because of this problem... i was looking at getting one, having a 7 mag and a 338 mag...but i got rid of the 338, and the die costs like $80.00...if you do a search on google for "belted case sizing die...you'll probably find it...rsbhunter

Chad, common problem on belted mags. RSBHunter called it right! google: Innovative technologies. Also google: resizing belted magnums for more sizing tips. Dale

If they chamber in your rifle okay, it sounds like you don't have a problem. I would set up the dies so that the cases headspace on the shoulder to get the best case life. You'll need a measuring tool like the Hornady to check your chamber length, then set you dies to just bump the shoulder back .001-.0015".

Anyone who shoots a magnum runs into this problem if they shoot near max or over book max loads....

I found the easiest way of solving this is by over caming your FL die...

I like Redding but others may work too...

I runn the type-s FL die... Start long and keep adjusting your die depth till it reaches the top of the belt and if you use the competition shell holders you can control yoru shoulder bump as well... As you are bring ram up, check each time till they fit yrou chamber very easily with minimal bolt force..best way to go...

Any questions, contqact Redding... they are great people...