20 tactical, how much headspace do I want?

Originally Posted By: chris biesterOn my 20 tactical ar my once fired sized cases measure .010 shorter than my fired cases. Seems like a lot of headspace, how much should I have?

Whoa...
Your once fired cases are shorter than your fired cases?

You better run that by me again...
 
You want 0.003 to 0.005 shoulder movement on resizing. Any more than that overworks the brass and can result in case head separation. I should both TAC & PRAC. Super cartridges. The PRACTICAL is my favorite though I have two more wildcats in the wings to test.

Greg
 
Originally Posted By: chris biesterNo, once fired in my gun cases that I have resized with my dies are .010 shorter than cases fired in my gun but not resized yet.

Well that's what dies do!

Your issue is this. If you try neck sizing or adjusting the die so to minimize that .010 its going to do nothing but bite you in that azz later. Been there done that, got the t-shirt...... If you only neck size there's a greater chance of them sticking in the chamber or they won't chamber fully because the body of the case is out of spec and a little fatter than it should be. Your best doing a FL size on your brass for the AR and other auto loaders. That way you know your brass has been returned to factory specs and it will cycle and function thru your rifle like it should. It sure sucks to have a bunch of ammo loaded that sticks right before the bolt goes into full battery.
 
Originally Posted By: R Johnson I would just back up the size die about .005 and call it good!!!!

This ^^^

Originally Posted By: GLShooterYou want 0.003 to 0.005 shoulder movement on resizing. Any more than that overworks the brass and can result in case head separation. I should both TAC & PRAC. Super cartridges. The PRACTICAL is my favorite though I have two more wildcats in the wings to test.

Greg

and this ^^^
 
.005 sounds good but I was pretty sure .010 was to much. I have a set of redding +.002- +.008 shell holders so I can put it were ever I need to. Just wasn't sure on the ar since they are new to me.
 
its not so much that 0.010 is too much from a safety aspect but its just working your brass a lot more than necessary and with a caliber like the 20tac it makes sense to maximize brass life.
 
Originally Posted By: midwestpredatorits not so much that 0.010 is too much from a safety aspect but its just working your brass a lot more than necessary and with a caliber like the 20tac it makes sense to maximize brass life.

I don't woory about case life with the 20's. I will make up 500 pieces of brass and then rotate through those and with their expected life of at least four to five firings they last about forever. Rotation of rifles stretches out the need for replacement dramatically.

I favor the PRACTICAL because forming is a one step process and with the TACTICAL I prefer to do it in two steps. Using a 650 the production rate is identical but the advatage in the 20 PRACTICAL is I can use it for my base brass on my 17-223.

Greg
 
Chris, you are getting mixed information here, and from the information you have provided, I can understand why.

First: when you say the fired brass is "longer than the sized cases" how are you measuring this? The length of the case from the base to the end of the neck? Or are you measuring from the base to a datum line on the shoulder. (Headspace length)

Second: depending on powder/bullet combination, your fired case will be longer than your sized cases, and more important, longer than the chamber it was fired in. Keep in mind, you are not shooting a bolt-action rifle here. Measuring your fired case from yor AR does not necessarily represent chamber length. Setting your die so the shoulder only gets bumped back a little from a fired case may cause you lots of anguish.

If you have any doubts about what I have said, or need clarification on any of this, you no how to get in touch with me.
 
Thanks mike, still working on it. Will probably get ahold of you at a later date when farming isn't so busy. Measurement was datum line on shoulder to base.
 
Originally Posted By: BOBTAILSWouldn't using a FL 20 tactical sizing die eliminate all? Not sure that why I'm asking. Just reload and shoot again.

That's what I do. Redding Type-S bushing dies have served me well. Shoulder bump for consistent performance is not hard to achieve. I have used the RCBS case mics and the Stoney Point/Hornady gauges and have had nary an issue.

Greg
 
Originally Posted By: BOBTAILSI use a hornady 20 tactical FL die and haven't had any issues so I was a little lost.

I didn't even know they existed when I got my upper. I figure I have 1500 rounds down mine and still going strong. It was ny first 20 wildcat. I now have three other chamberings. What a blast.

Greg
 
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