Reloading for the Encore?

[bucksnort06]

O.K. I finally got all my dies for the 204 and my encore is ready to start reloading for. Anything I show know in particular for reloading for an encore. I hear lots about headspace on an encore and was wondering how you guys measure this or if you just guess? Thanks guys. You've been a ton of help already with my earlier posts!

[sidekick]

PM sent.

[rks1949]

I take a fired case,and use it to adjust the sizing die (full length die) to just bump the shoulder of the fired case. Run the die down a little bit at a time,and try it in the gun. You want a snug,but good fit. Once you have it set where it closes snug,give it 1/8 turn more and set the locking ring. Then use your neck sizing die (if you have one) and don't full lenght resize until the case gets too tight for your liking. I actually use a body die. It just sizes the sides,and shoulder of the case(some call them a bump die) then you resize the neck,and your good to go.   Here's a link Ron  http://www.sinclairintl.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=REDIREBSD&item=RD75XBDIE1&type=store

[encore3006]

I drop a bullet into the chamber...take a caliber...set the back end of the caliber on the end of the chamber and open the caliber so that the center portion pushes into the chamber until it contacts the base of the bullet. That gives me the dimension from the end of the chamber to the bullet. I measure the length of the bullet...add the two dimensions to get the dimension from the end of the chamber to the lands. I subtract 0.020" to 0.030" and that is my maximum COL. The base of the cartridge may extend beyond the barrel chamber...head-space...but not too much to greatly affect my COL. Consistency is the key.

I full length size new brass and I neck size fired brass if fired from the same barrel. I can neck size with a full length sizing die by adjusting the die to re-size the neck a length equal to at least 75% of the bullet diameter. Consistency again is the key.

Good luck and enjoy...

[Kurt L]

encore 3006
why don't you just slip a bullet in a fired case insert all the way and then take it out and measure and save the = + -
Just a thought no offence.

[encore3006]

No offense taken...I tried that...most of the time the cartridge hangs up in the chamber so that I need to drop a cleaning rod in from the muzzle end to push, with the likelihood I will push the bullet into the casing if even ever so slightly.