I have been reloading for a .35 Remington and have been using a Lee Class Loader to neck size the cases. I have Lee FL sizing dies but never use them. I've recently suspected that I have a little bit of a headspace issue in my rifle. The reason for this is that I find my primers slightly protruding from the primer pocket after firing. It doesn't matter how much powder I use and I'm not firing especially hot loads. I don't notice any other signs of pressure. Extraction is very easy and the shells easily rechamber without resizing. The primer doesn't have any real crisp edges or show any signs of flowing crisply into the firing pin hole.

Here's my data

.35 Rem
H4895 39.4 grains
Speer FN180
Fed 210 primers

I think the .35 Rem headspaces off the cartridge shoulder and it's a very slight shoulder at that. I'm wondering if the neck sizing with the Lee Loader has allowed me to move the shoulder back a little leaving a little free space for the cartridge in the chamber (front to back)


So, here's my questions:

1. Is it possible for neck sizing with the Lee Loader to move the shoulder back on the cartridge brass?

2. Would moving the shoulder back on the cartridge cause a headspace issue inside the chamber?

3. Would full lenght sizine the brass bring the shoulder back to where it should be?


What do you guys think?



:cool:

It's possible that the Lee Loader is moving the shoulder back, and that will create a headspace problem. I'm not sure that's your problem though. Headspace is easy to check on a Marlin, as the extractor groove of a chambered cartridge is visible though the loading port. Compare the depth a factory cartridge drops in to a fired cartridge and a neck sized cartridge. You should be able to see any significant difference.

Even through your load is slightly over Hodgdon's data, the .35 is such a low pressure round that a little primer setback is normal. The firing pin drives the cartridge into the chamber, pressure forces the primer back, the case grips the chamber, but there isn't enough pressure to stretch the case and force the case head back against the bolt, reseating the primer.

I resize with my Pacific die backed off 1/32" or about a 1/2 turn. This slightly resizes the case body as well as most of the neck. Some cast bullet shooters have seen headspace increasing with light loads, as the firing pin drives the case in further with each reload, and there isn't enough pressure to blow it back to chamber dimensions. I fooled around with some low velocity loads, and rotated the cases with one light load, then one heavy load, to prevent this.

Bye
Jack

Excellent answer, Jack - think you've nailed down the problem from about every angle.

Used to load the .35 Rem in a T/C Contender and found the cartridge to be quite forgiving with most loads. The slightly protruding primer was considered a quirk of the Contender. What you say makes good sense.

Same problem loading the .35 Rem for my XP-100R. Protruding primers with factory ammo and most of my reloads using the Redding Deluxe 3 die set neck sizer die. The "problem" went away with loads that where quite a bit above book loads, on Hornady's advice, as the M7 action the XP is based on is more than strong enough to handle the pressure generated.

These guys have it nailed, I believe. I have seen the same thing with the 30-30, even though it headspaces on the rim. The heavier the load (within reason) the less primer protrusion I see.

Thanks for the replies, guys. It gives confidence in the opinion when all the experienced loaders agree.

But, for part three of my question - does full length sizing bring the shoulder to where it should be? I'm not quite sure what all FL sizing does. In a lateral plane it sets outside diameter of the body and neck, I'm sure. But does it have an effect in the longitudinal plane and put the shoulder where it should be? Apparently, Jack's Pacific dies size the case body and neck but don't affect the shoulder. Is this typical of FL dies?

Thanks again!

A full length resizing die will move the shoulder back if it's screwed all the way down and the case shoulder to base dimension is longer than spec. The .35 Remington case doesn't seem to stretch at SAAMI pressures. Benchresters, who routinely neck size and tend to load just a mite warm, find they have to full length resize after several neck sizings. Redding makes a "bump" die just for moving the shoulder back and sets of deeper than standard shellholders for full length resizing to a longer than standard length to fit your chamber.

Bye
Jack

As Jack mentioned, an out of spec or incorrectly adjusted FL die can set your shoulder back. However, a resizing die will not normally be able to increase the case length to the shoulder - at least, not much. When you full length resize, the case walls get squeezed, so there CAN be a nominal amount of growth in the base to shoulder length, but I would not count on it to make "short" cases long enough to account for a headspace issue. So, the short answer to question #3 in your case is no.

As stated before, I don't necessarily think you have a headspace issue, though. If you want to make SURE the cases are fully filling the chamber, fireform them on the first loading. To do this, seat the bullet so that it is pushing hard against the rifling when the action is closed. Use a somewhat reduced powder charge, and fire the round. The bullet against the rifling will ensure the case does not move forward, and the expanding gasses will cause the case to fill the chamber. After fireforming, just be careful not to bump the shoulder back upon subsequent loadings.

I would add one thing to what everyone said. When setting up your full length reloading die, get a Willson Headspace guage. These really help to make sure you are sizing your brass back to the proper setting on your die.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=830560

Happy shooting

30-30 Man