Resizing brass

[John Hunter]

I was resizing some rem. brass I fired in my 1898
rifle and notice the huge difference in the shoulders.
Th one on the right is before resizing, the left is after.
Is there something wrong with my chamber? Thanks

[John Hunter]

I'll try a better picture

[butlersrangers]

It looks normal to me John. I believe you Dies are made to an industry standard that manufacturers adopted in the 1930s. Your Krag was chambered to dimensions decided by the U.S. Ordnance Department in the 1890s.

I suggest you 'back-off' your F.L. Sizing Die one turn and enjoy the virtues of 'fire-formed' brass.

p.s. - Humor me and see if one of the cases fired in your rifle will fit in your carbine, without resizing.

[John Hunter]

Thanks for your reply, unfortunately I only have 20
rounds of brass and when the first one chambered in
in the rifle I resized them all. I did chamber a resized
one in the carbine and it closed but it was tight. I usually
clean the chamber and bore on new to me milsurps but I
haven't cleaned the carbine yet so maybe it's just dirty.
After I fire these rounds I will try a fire formed case in both.

[madsenshooter]

You'll find some variation in chambers between rifles, but still I'm amazed at the tolerances they held.

[psteinmayer]

Amen to that!

[Eagle223usa]

I only resize about 70% of the neck on my 30-40 cast loads. They chamber fine and are very accurate. They should last longer too as you are working the brass less. When you take her out to shoot dry out your chamber, it is easier on your lug if the case gets a good grip on the chamber walls.

[RichWIS]

I anneal my brass and size only enough to ensure easy chambering. My cases fail when the neck splits which is the part worked by neck sizing. Even with annealing sooner or later the cases fail, nothing last forever. You can also neck size with a .308 Win die, adjust it so sizing stops at or just above the juncture of neck and shoulder.

[butlersrangers]

'Madsenshooter' has suggested using a 7.5X55mm Lee collet die to resize .30-40 case necks. I happen to have a set of these Dies and am giving it a try.

[GBertolet]

I use a .303 British, Lee collet die. Turn down the mandel if necessiary, using a drill press with emery cloth, to get the bullet tension you like.