280 Ackley SAAMI Head space

[Lefty G-gear]

No that's why I was asking the question. When the ram is all the way up the base of the die is against the shell holder so I can't go down any further.

Actually, if you set the ram all the way up, and spin the die to the bottom (shellholder), you can then bring the ram all the way down, then spin the die down just a little more - though it will interfere with a little resistance - it can work for that .002"

 

[Lefty G-gear]

Actually, if you set the ram all the way up, and spin the die to the bottom (shellholder), you can then bring the ram all the way down, then spin the die down just a little more - though it will interfere with a little resistance - it can work for that .002"

Or, take the die to a machine shop and have them shave a little of the length down.
Or, shave the shell holder down, or buy another that is .002" shorter (less thick) on top.
RCBS, Hornady, Redding, Lee, et al. have shell holders for your 30-06 - 280 - 308 size case head.

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[Lefty G-gear]

If you can find someone with a micrometer depth-gauge, and measure your current shell holder, then go to a sporting goods store and measure their shell holders for one that is .002" less deep... = Leg Work.
(A sheet of paper is around .003" thick.) (3/1,000th-inch) (333-sheets = 1-inch.)

 

[sodakota]

I am new to this site but have received a lot of great info. I have a 280 Ackley SAAMI chamber and using Nosler brass. I measured the head space of fired cases at 2.137, full length sized the fired cases and they measure the same 2.137. I was thinking the FL sized case would bump the shoulder back more than the fired case? The gunsmith who cut the barrel requested the dies and sized brass before chambering the barrel. Thanks in advance.

Sounds like your die/chamber is a perfect fit.
if you no longer can chamber by setting the die so that it touches the shell holder, turn the die another 1/4 turn. This will take care of any flex.
An RCBS tech gave me that advice on issues with a tight chambered 300 Savage and it worked.

 

[sodakota]

In other words, do as Lefty said. No need for grinding metal, it seems to me.

 

[hunter66]

Unless your rounds won't chamber you are good to go. Had a 7mm that wouldn't chamber even when die was touching shell holder + 1 round. I built a .002 shim (As I couldn't get the Redding shell holders as mentioned) to go between the shell holder and the case, this did the job but it is slow, I have the Redding holders on back order.

 

[Alibiiv]

I am new to this site but have received a lot of great info. I have a 280 Ackley SAAMI chamber and using Nosler brass. I measured the head space of fired cases at 2.137, full length sized the fired cases and they measure the same 2.137. I was thinking the FL sized case would bump the shoulder back more than the fired case? The gunsmith who cut the barrel requested the dies and sized brass before chambering the barrel. Thanks in advance.

You could purchase some custom Redding shell holders, they come in graduated measurements that start with a .002 thousandths bump and go up from there. Or.....you could measure the shell holder that you presently are using, get some wet 200 grit sand paper, a flat surface (piece of glass or I use the top of my table saw), some WD40 and sand a couple of thousandths off the top of the shell holder, that ought to give you the .002 thousandths bump. You may have to take an extra thousandth or two off to get the .002 thousandths you are looking for.

 

[Lefty G-gear]

A machine shop could put your shell holder in a lathe with a collet and make short work of it shaving .002" off of the top. Hopefully they have a tight machine with no slop in it.
The shell holders are probably the weakest link in the chain. (Or, easily made the scapegoat.)

 

[Mike Matteson]

Not sure of the number of firings but at least twice fired.

You should be tracking the firing of the case. to know just how many firing are on each case. Not sure not good. Look into Redding shell holders too.

 

[Indian7953]

You should be tracking the firing of the case. to know just how many firing are on each case. Not sure not good. Look into Redding shell holders too.

You may have too much headspace already. Put a piece of scotch tape on the back of your resized case and chamber it, if there is a little bit of resistance there you have a perfect fit. If it's still chambers without any felt resistance you need to let the shoulder stretch out more on your fired cases by backing off your full length resizer.

 

[MNbogboy]

Not sure if you anneal but keep in mind that annealed cases usually bump much easier and you may actually have to "back" off your die when you do anneal.

It does sound however that your smith did a great job and as others have said you probably are in good shape where you are right now.

Well developed loads that are not over pressure spring back after firing. Your chamber may indeed be more than what you measure on a fired case. The "scotch tape" trick mentioned by Indian7953 above is a great check and i use it all the time when setting bump. Normally Scotch tape is approximately .002. One layer should go, 2 layers should be "snug" or possibly no-go.
All part of a learning process. The team on this forum has jumped through most of these hoops at one time or another.
Good post

 

[kfreeze]

Or, just Dremel or belt sand .002" off the top of the shell holder.

You don't want to use a dremel or belt sander for that, or the top will be uneven. All you do is get some finer grit sandpaper and lay it down on a flat surface and then hold the shell holder top firmly against the sandpaper and work it over the sandpaper. That gives a much better result.

 

[Seabeeken]

Mine is the same as yours. As lefty said, turn the die to touch shell holder, lower the ram and turn in a touch more to get a bit of resistance or cam over and that should get you another .001
As already said, if it chambers fine then there is no problem and an added benefit is longer case life and less trimming. I've yet to have to trim my brass in any of my Ackleys.

 

[vancewalker007]

No that's why I was asking the question. When the ram is all the way up the base of the die is against the shell holder so I can't go down any further.

Usually one must go a little past the touch point to bump the shoulder. I've found this to be true on the 5 different cartridges I've loaded for over the years. And when I say a little its a tiny move. I'd have 4-5 fired cases prepped (ie. the primer removed) before doing this operation. I use an old sizer die center pin to hammer out the spent primers.