Neck sizing issues...

Share information about reloading the 204 Ruger.
User avatar
jdefranc938
Senior Member
Posts: 126
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:35 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Cooper 21 Varminter .204 Ruger
Location: Erie, PA

Neck sizing issues...

Post by jdefranc938 »

Hey guys,
Decided to start neck sizing the brass for my 204 rather than to keep FL sizing it. However, I am having trouble with the neck sized brass chambering easily. There is a decent amount of resistance when only neck sizing at the end of the forward throw and bolt turn down. When FL sized, rounds feed effortlessly. The brass is Hornady and the brass was previously fired from this same rifle. The FL die is Redding as is the neck die. What could possibly be making this problem?
Jeff
Cooper M21 Varminter 204 Ruger with Leupold VX-3 6.5-20x40mm LR VHR
Custom Remington 700 6.5 x 47L with Leupold Mark 4 8.5-25x50 M1 TMR
User avatar
RAMOS
Senior Member
Posts: 765
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:30 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage Model 12 FLV, Cooper M21
Location: Sherman County, Oregon

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by RAMOS »

My first thought would be the shoulder needs bumped back. Seems strange that it would need it after every firing though.
User avatar
jdefranc938
Senior Member
Posts: 126
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:35 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Cooper 21 Varminter .204 Ruger
Location: Erie, PA

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by jdefranc938 »

My thoughts exactly!
Cooper M21 Varminter 204 Ruger with Leupold VX-3 6.5-20x40mm LR VHR
Custom Remington 700 6.5 x 47L with Leupold Mark 4 8.5-25x50 M1 TMR
User avatar
Rick in Oregon
Moderator
Posts: 4942
Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:20 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Sako 75V, Cooper MTV, Kimber 84M, Cust M700 11 Twist
Location: High Desert of Central Oregon
Contact:

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by Rick in Oregon »

+ Another.

As mentioned, strange that it would need the shoulder bumped so soon. You may want to measure the rifle's headspace via the fired brass and consider investing in a body die just for shoulder bumping when/if needed to save the necks from oversizing/overworking the brass.
Semper Fortis
Rick in Oregon
NRA Life/OHA/VHA/VVA

Oregon, East of the Cascades - Where Common Sense Still Prevails

Image
User avatar
jdefranc938
Senior Member
Posts: 126
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:35 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Cooper 21 Varminter .204 Ruger
Location: Erie, PA

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by jdefranc938 »

Good idea Rick!
Cooper M21 Varminter 204 Ruger with Leupold VX-3 6.5-20x40mm LR VHR
Custom Remington 700 6.5 x 47L with Leupold Mark 4 8.5-25x50 M1 TMR
Sth Oz Dan
Senior Member
Posts: 406
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2011 9:52 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Ruger M77 Hawkeye
Location: South Australia

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by Sth Oz Dan »

Trim length?
I only neck size so not sure how the FL sizer affects Over All case length, but I imagine pushing the shoulder back a little would take the case mouth back a touch too?? - Please correct me if this is not so.
But if so, when neck sized only, the case may be just a tad over length and need trimming.
Ol` Joe
Junior Member
Posts: 74
Joined: Thu Dec 08, 2011 8:12 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Remington XR-100

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by Ol` Joe »

Are you lubing the inside of the case mouths?
Expander drag can pull the shoulder foreward and cause the brass to give a snug fit
sharptailhunter
Senior Member
Posts: 137
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:26 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage Model 12FV
Location: Southeast Idaho

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by sharptailhunter »

Sth Oz, FL sizing increases case length, thus necessitating trimming more often.
Jim White
Moderator
Posts: 1406
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 2:06 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: CZ-527, Remington 700 VLTHSS

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by Jim White »

Ol` Joe wrote:Are you lubing the inside of the case mouths?
Expander drag can pull the shoulder foreward and cause the brass to give a snug fit
I always lube even when using carbide expander balls.

To the OP, as a quick check you could coat/color one of your neck sized cases with a "Sharpie" (or use lay-out die) and see where the resistence is coming from. If you have a comparator you could neasure the diffence between a F/L sized case vs a neck sized case.

Are your loads warm/hot?

What kind of brass?

Definetely a strange problem.
User avatar
jdefranc938
Senior Member
Posts: 126
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:35 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Cooper 21 Varminter .204 Ruger
Location: Erie, PA

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by jdefranc938 »

The brass I'm using is Hornady. The loads are hot. 27.9 of benchmark pushing a 32grain SBk @ just under 4200fps. I was lubing the case neck with the Redding powder.

If I would use a body die and then neck size, isn't that the same as FL sizing?
Cooper M21 Varminter 204 Ruger with Leupold VX-3 6.5-20x40mm LR VHR
Custom Remington 700 6.5 x 47L with Leupold Mark 4 8.5-25x50 M1 TMR
User avatar
Joe O
Senior Member
Posts: 449
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 6:20 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Savage LRPV,Ruger K1V,G2 Contender
Location: Upstate SC

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by Joe O »



If I would use a body die and then neck size, isn't that the same as FL sizing?[/quote]

The body die does not size as much as a FL die. I don't know how much differencs, as my other dies in the same caliber are neck bushing dies.
Jim White
Moderator
Posts: 1406
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 2:06 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: CZ-527, Remington 700 VLTHSS

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by Jim White »

- Never used a body die but I don't think they're the same as a F/L die. Others can chime in on that one. There are F/L neck bushing dies made by Redding.

- 27.9 graind of Benchmark is on the high side per their online data center but it is-not an over charged load. With respect to hot loads, are there any other tale-tale signs (hard brass extraction, obvious bolt face marks on the case head, etc...)? You can always try a lighter charge and see if the issue sticks around or goes away.

- FWIW, I've never heard anything good about Hornady brass. However, if the brass is heavier it could have a reduced internal volume thus a creating higher pressures (much like military brass). You could try another brass manufacture and see if the problem goes away. Meanwhile you could fill a case with water and then weigh it to get an estimate of internal volume and compare to other cases.
User avatar
jdefranc938
Senior Member
Posts: 126
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 10:35 am
.204 Ruger Guns: Cooper 21 Varminter .204 Ruger
Location: Erie, PA

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by jdefranc938 »

There are no signs of pressure with the brass, primer, or bolt face
Cooper M21 Varminter 204 Ruger with Leupold VX-3 6.5-20x40mm LR VHR
Custom Remington 700 6.5 x 47L with Leupold Mark 4 8.5-25x50 M1 TMR
User avatar
GaCop
Senior Member
Posts: 117
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:53 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: AR-15, 24" stainless varmint barrel
Location: Warner Robins, Ga

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by GaCop »

Rick in Oregon wrote:+ Another.

As mentioned, strange that it would need the shoulder bumped so soon. You may want to measure the rifle's headspace via the fired brass and consider investing in a body die just for shoulder bumping when/if needed to save the necks from oversizing/overworking the brass.
+1 :D
dowpet
New Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:42 am
.204 Ruger Guns: h&r 204 ruger

Re: Neck sizing issues...

Post by dowpet »

check your travel length on your dies. I had the same issue and what was happening on mine was the neck was being pushed back slightly by the die and causing the case to have a slight mushroom. adjusted the die and fixed the problem. Maybe this will help.
Post Reply