Reloading Blank Krag Brass | Winchester Shooting and Hunting | Forum

Bert H. said
Mike,
Why? Is 30-40 brass not readily available?  

It may be now, wasn’t when I started loading the cartridge a few years ago. Funny thing is I’d given away a few boxes of 303 British ammo and brass (and a rifle) a few years before that. Last time we talked about this I loaded up 20 rounds and shot my old 1895. That was fun! I wonder if I reloaded those rounds. If not I bet I have some bullets left.

Mike

I’m confused, did you fire the blanks in your 1895 before reloading the cases? If not fired in your rifle did you full-length resize them? 

Mike

Ronald, do you use a micrometer with a case headspace comparator to check the bump?  Usually you want about .002" of bump from the max length of your chamber.  SAMMI specs are a much greater bump so the cartridge will fit all SAMMI chambers.  Maybe another .002".

rwsem said
I don't have a comparator- it's just a tool I never really needed.  I just use trial and error but didn't even consider the shoulder location this time.  I don't know why.  You can see in the picture below, the issue I tried to describe above.  The case shoulder would make contact with the inside of the die and raise the die as I lifted the case up.  I just didn't catch the movement.

  

First off this press is designed so the lock nut will rise some during normal operation.  Forester makes thicker lock nuts but you really don't need them.  If you need to move the shoulder back some just adjust the die further into the nut. Here is the set up I use when sizing my brass.  You need the black piece to clamp onto the caliper and the specific silver comparator designed for your case neck/shoulder. The comparator part is supposed to contact the shoulder in about the middle.  I doesn't have to be that exact it just has to hit the shoulder in the same spot each time.  With this tool I can set my shoulder back/bump .002" from the max chamber measurement. In your case you need it to be .003" to .005" shorter than max.

When you take the die out of the press measure the length of threads showing on the bottom below the nut.  Adjust this amount by screwing the die in some until you can chamber your cases.

One other thing I forgot to mention is that today the latest philosophy is to let the case shell holder, the die and the neck bushing to move a little.  This lets the case self align.  The bullet seating dies use some of the same designs.   It's not like in my rockchucker where everything is tight and no movement is allowed even if it is crooked.