How to easily set up your FL sizing die precisely

As promised. The video hit 5,000 likes, so here is the F/L sizing video.
I have been asked to make this video for a long time, and thanks to my Patreon supporters, here it is! You can do this by trial and error, or you can do it precisely using measuring tools and verifying that the shoulder bump is not excessive. In this video, I show you how I do it.
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[@ransegandee2374]

I love how this video isn’t 45 minutes long. Pretty sad you have to elaborate like you do for these videos for some people and critics but thanks for the short and simple videos!

[@LondonarabS]

Mr Cortina, just want to say thank you for your time and effort. I am in England and we are in the dark ages sort of blind following the partially sighted. Many people probably laugh at me but to me having these videos is like Michael Schumacher teaching somebody how to take a corner from basis. Thank you

[@glennkoch5437]

Your kind of like Quigley when he sent a representative target to a ranch owner in Aus. as a resume for his marksmanship. Bovine scatology walks targets talk. Thank you for your very fine and clear lecture on reloading. Like every everybody else out in ammo land I was not getting the performance out of my rifles that I wanted,. I was leaving the range frustrated and disappointed time after time. On a few occasions I was getting 100 meter cloverleaf with my 338/378 Weatherby but could not get cloverleafs consistently.. I now know why, bullet seating depth I was not paying close attention. I am a bit miffed at u because I now have to purchase a 249 dollar Amp annealing machine that I did not know I needed before I watched your video. Only kidding of course, thanks for the video and keep em coming

[@JohnDoe-l1kmya5s]

Mr. Matt Davidson, good luck to you in your efforts. Good on you for learning about ballistics and firearms while living in a country which has outlawed them. You're a patriot for your nation and I hope God blesses you in your pursuit of knowledge. Much love from the States to you.

[@tdb922f]

@@JohnDoe-l1kmya5s the irony of your comment is that precision target shooting with custom bolt actions is one the popular types of shooting you can do in the UK.

[@10-4CodyWade]

I'm glad you showed how "sensitive" the dies are. I've heard people say just move the die down 1/4 turn at a time until the brass chambers easily. 1/4 turn is about 18 thousandths!

[@unknowntrail]

Mr. Cortina, there are times when your genius shines. This how-to vid, is one of those times. Thanks a bunch!

[@spencerhurley8359]

I do it SLIGHTLY different but you blew my mind with using the calipers on the die... THATS a repeatable way to do it. Thanks for the tip man! Game changer!

[@5axmachine167]

As a fellow machine shop owner and hand loader, I always key in on how someone uses calipers. It's always easy to spot someone that knows how to hold, operate, and get correct measurements using them. I know it's a stupid observation, but we in the industry just know a professional when we see one. Thanks for the content Erik.

[@ericconner9971]

Very true. Not a machinist, but I noticed it as well.

[@chipsterb4946]

Not a stupid observation at all. I had watched this video a year or more ago and didn’t notice how Erik uses the calipers. This time it jumped out at me.

[@edwardsmith2651]

Erik this has to be the best video on setting up your sizing die for proper shoulder bump that I have ever seen. I find all of your videos to be extremely well done and very informative. I have been loading since I was 16 years old and I'm now 74 and I still learn a lot from your videos. Thank you so much.

[@scottturner3081]

Thanks I have been reloading since 85 and I pick up something every time I watch you

[@markthegunplumber8376]

when i rebarrel a comp. rifle for a customer. i take the 1" i cut off the muzzle end and chuck it up square it up and make the customer a bump gauge with the reamer i used to chamber their barrel with and stencil the caliber on it as a service to them so they get an accurate bump gauge.

[@ErikCortina]

Just run their reamer shoulder into Hornady comparator. That’s what I did with mine and works perfectly.

[@hazcat640]

Eric wasn't gracious enough to say it but that is a really nice service you provide for your customers and the mark of a craftsman.

[@thinkfirst6431]

@@hazcat640 I would say that there were two points of view to Erik's response. Erik could have just said that's great and moved on, no one would have learned a thing other than the obvious that Mark Skaggs goes above and beyond for his customers. On the other hand Erik gave a tip about doing something that a lot of people can use even if they are not getting a custom barrel. Or if they are getting a custom barrel an easy way to get a custom bump gauge with out part of all of the work to do the machining of the stub of the barrel. Maybe more custom barrel work would come with a bump gauge if most of the work is done already. Time is money or more time to do other things.

[@PatriotPaulUSA]

Very Nice Mark Skaggs

[@kennethgarrison521]

My smith, Jon Beanland, did the same for me. It is also useful for seeing, measuring, and setting the trim to gap.

[@impactaustria]

I like using Redding's .002" graduaded competition shellholder set and set the die so the press won't cam over. Makes it easy and repeatable.

[@chipsterb4946]

I never thought of measuring from the base to the ring on the sizing die. Thanks!

[@none-ya2242]

I always ask this question, who gives a thumbs down to these videos. Erik takes time to share information and people don't like it?

[@ErikCortina]

Neck sizers is all I can figure. 😂

[@canadian3gunner844]

Thanks Erik, really appreciate the time you take to make great content for us all to watch! Been reloading for a few years but just got into long range where these details really matter.

[@aaronwalser438]

Thank you so much for those tips! I will be trying that on my next sizing die setup. Great content and look forward to your next videos!

[@donaldbougie694]

I adjust my dies and cases samething to you Erick.Thanks for your great video.I live in Quebec,Canada,i dont speak english very well,just a little bit.

[@claverton]

Perfect vid thanks Erik. I've been searching for ages to find how to setup a FL sizing die properly for shoulder bump and strangely very little info on youtube on how to do this. Except for this vid ... well done, from the antipodes I appreciate. Very generous of you to share your knowledge and in such a clear manner. Thank you.

[@xsmj1986x]

Hey Erik. Thanks for cranking out all the content lately. I have been hand loading for many years myself, but it's always good to see another perspective.

[@chicowize]

I was waiting on this video. It’s always good to see different tips & tricks from others IMO. I’ll try to attempt it. Informative. Thanks for sharing.

[@peterandersson5662]

Wow,this is real deal,👍, never seen this before, great reload tip. Thank you Erik 🙏

[@williamflood8296]

I am 81 years old and I countinually learn from you when I watch your presentation

[@craignapoli]

Thank you Erik, your instructions are always clear and precise, as such the information you give "freely" is extremely valuable, instantly useful and so greatly appreciated.

[@waderatcliff-ci6lg]

Mr. Cortina, Always an awesome video sir and thank you so much for your posts. I am an avid Reloader and shooter from Northwest Louisiana and I appreciate your instructional videos so much! I always learn a lot and you have helped me be a better Reloader and shooter. Thank you sir!

[@jaybigboy34]

I'm actually really good at reloading and know allot about it, but saying that I still learn something new from you in every video you make. I really appreciate you making these.

[@barrygrant2907]

I do something similar but use shims under the lock ring to make the fine adjustments. Once I get my desired case headspace, I record the shim thickness for future reference. Being a cheapskate, I use the same set resizing die on different rifles of the same caliber and install the required shims needed for that particular rifle. Then I don't need to worry with resetting the lock ring.

[@bbowling4979]

Barry that's a great idea.

[@jasonbroom7147]

That only works if you have two cartridges with the same caliber, case diameter AND shoulder angle. How many of those are there, exactly?

[@barrygrant2907]

@@jasonbroom7147 Well, I shoot a Ren 788 in .223 and an AR in 5.56, and I use the same dies for both, so there is that. I can adjust the shims to set the headspace for either firearm without having to readjust the die setting. I have two different .30-06s I reload for, using the same dies. Both have different head spacing.

[@GGNoble47]

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule, to share your knowledge.

[@PeterfromtheGrove]

Erik- thanks for this- of all the tasks and processes involved in reloading, this was the one I hated most. This is a great concept and look forward to using it.

[@kleingarrett55]

Great video! Thanks for all you are doing! I have always had an interest in long range shooting and reloading, so your videos have been great! Just got my wife onboard with getting me into my first PRS match, we will see if it happens!

[@redstag5428]

Really like this way you can make a note of the measurement and your always good to go.

[@mr.noneyabidness]

All of this information is outstanding thank you sir. And sweet bang stick! I wanted to note also that the use of quality calipers like this man has is a must. I had a 0.004" difference between 10 rounds OAL (ogive) using the cheap $50.00 hornady and rcbs Chinese calipers. They all read zero, then I used my Mitutoyo calipers I use on my metal lathe and found the error! Do yourself a huge favor folks and spend the money on Mitutoyo or Starrett. The few extra dollars you spend may save you a gun in the end!

[@rutrose2000]

You have no idea how much your videos help out this new reloader. Thank you.

[@nielrossouw7831]

Thank you very much for the detailed video. You have saved me from destroying a ton of brass! Your channel should really have a million subscribers. Greeting from South Africa.

[@tsnorway6911]

Probably the single best piece of reloading advice i have gotten on sizing brass. No nonsense, straight to the point and works great! Thanks!

[@o2wow]

A straightforward process to follow and an actual example of using your calipers in a unique way, a hidden feature.

[@Bearhunt002]

Excellent information. Thanks for taking your time to share some tips that will save many of us a lot of frustration.

[@littlejoey22]

Thanks for sharing your process and simplifying things for us. You rock man.

[@wardo17]

You are such a wealth of information. Just starting into reloading so some of this is going over my head but if I watch enough, I'll get it. Thanks

[@pgithens1]

I just got a set of dies for my newest rifle. I'm looking forward to trying this method out. It really makes sense. Thanks Erik.

[@robertdidion2525]

Great video and some awesome information as always! Thanks Erik

[@timothypelletier8502]

This works perfectly! I didnt realize I was resizing my brass .007 too much. When raising the ram my shellholder lightly touched the die before adjusting and after adjusting, so without this measuring I'd never know. This is the best way I've seen to get there. I had to swap the lock ring on my RCBS die to one that clamps because the RCBS set screw isn't consistent for this. Thanks Erik!

[@alnancyguerra5305]

I know this is an older video, but if you read this I want to thank you Mr. Cortina. This has been the only method I have successfully been able to duplicate on all my fl/ and body dies. Also a big fan of your products. Thanks again

[@countercivilization]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge (you solve few of my problems, I was able to understand what I was looking for (always a good start :) You improve and open the discipline to a lot of new shooters! Cheers from Australia 🦘

[@jjsemperfi]

Thank you so much for making this. I built my first wildcat recently and I've been having lots of learning pains with it. Shoulder bump was one of my issues. This makes so much sense.

[@daahodaar]

Thanks Erik, that was really useful. Good luck this weekend!

[@bavarianbrit1]

Interesting to see the proper shoulder bump. The tool that I have developed lets you set the bump even more exactly than your method and it is not expensive. Regard Martin from UK.

[@pjones7836]

Thanks for posting, this was very helpful. Although I've read a lot about what shoulder bumping is, it has never been explained in this way so your explanation was a lot more clear about how to exactly do it. Looks like I'm going to buy myself the brass comparator now

[@conservativesniperhunter7439]

I’ve never seen this way of doing it but I like it . I’ll have to try it . Thanks Erik 👍 . Best of luck for the PRS match . Cheers 🍻

[@ErikCortina]

I had to come up with it because I got tired of doing it the “trial and error” way that everyone else shows.

[@xmachine7003]

@@ErikCortina Eric,are you reaming your own chambers,cutting shanks and threading your own barrels?

[@benjaminhaas4634]

Now that is slick! Never would have thought about doing it that way. I normally end up under sizing way too much brass to get my dies setup. Will definitely be giving this a try.

[@cornerstoneweezylouise410]

Eric I just want to say Thank You Sir for always taking the time to try to explain what it takes to get to that high level of accuracy. So many people have no idea that small details make a huge difference in a rifle. Don't ever let those that feed negative things to u stop u from what u do. God Bless U hope u do great at all ur matches. Please keep the great info coming I watch them all

[@WilliamCChapin]

Nicely presented, and without the sensationalism I’ve seen in other videos on the topic. Well done. 👍

[@drkar]

Been shooting Senior Olympic pistol. Just started precision rifle. I'd like to give a big thank you for ALL your videos. Proves your never too old to learn.

[@robmccomb4218]

Thanks Erik for that tutorial. I followed your die body thread math a little further and found the following. Every five degrees of lock ring rotation will yield one thousandth of an inch of lift or drop on the die body. While this is not necessary to know for your adjustment method it gives a frame of reference for why this procedure can be so difficult. All the best to you.

[@Aereaux]

After watching some other videos and doing some reading this make a lot more sense as the way to do case sizing. Simple and repeatable.

[@georgemoomaw9437]

You sir are the most knowledgable reloading expert on the internet. There may be others out here that can top your ability to educate us, bet they are not on the web. Thank you.

[@DCS026]

Thank you for posting this. I will be doing this to my loads from now on.

[@armeddiver]

Thank you for doing this video it was extremely informative and extremely helpful for someone (me) who is just getting into reloading. Again, thank you.

[@oldschooljack3479]

Thank you sir, good stuff. The tape trick is slick and crazy simple.

[@alchampion340]

👍 my dad has an antique gunsmithing all the way through to handloading that tape tree. My dad’s been using it before I was ever born my dad’s 83. He hasn’t hand loaded for the last 45 years. That is an old trick but it’s proven, and it is true. I use the same method on my lock ring also. 👍 I’m looking forward to some more knowledge. Have a great day. God bless.

[@redraiderreloading7612]

Man i love learn new ways to do things... a much simmpler way...THANK YOU Got my Short action custom comparator coming

[@Kimbrelloo]

Everything I've seen you do makes sense and its quick and effective I've reloaded shotshells for ducks,geese and turkeys for 20+ years but this gig is more math and I appreciate your help and time making it easier to get to BZO

[@genemichael2359]

Erik, siempre aprendo algo con usted!!! Gracias!!!

[@harryhenderson2259]

Genius on making your DIY Die" Best Instruction on you tube yet ! Simple straight foward language on point & Easy to understamd Total Process !" Finally a Great Specific Instruction by A Great Instructor ! Thank You Friend !"

[@seapierce]

Great tip on running the reamer into the comparator body!

[@arnoldfoote1925]

Thanks for the great info, from a eastern Canadian Shooter, wish we had more 1000 yd ranges up this way.

[@TheChrisRichard]

Such a simple concept. Thank you Eric!

[@theoverwatch23-10]

Awesome!! just did this and checked it with tape and its perfect!!!! Beautiful job.

[@SnipeU696]

Thank you. And you have the targets to prove this works.

[@wvlongshooter3912]

Hell yes!’ Nice to see some common sense here on this subject and the internet!!! Much appreciated !!

[@Mark-uq9km]

Having the correct shell holder is also helpful in getting the correct bump. I had been using a #3 holder to resize my .30-06 brass and had trouble chambering every reload. I switched to the #2 shellholder and now my reloads chamber easily. The other thing, my RCBS resizing die, even with the #2 shell holder would not give me adequate bump. So, I switched to the Lee dies. Problem solved. The tape is a good thing to use by leaving it on the shell base and then resizing. The tape raises the shell higher into the die if more bump is needed. Every shell holder has wiggle room in it and the tape can take the wiggle away.

[@TubeDobs]

I'm using Hornady comparator for .223 and .308 with very consistent results. Thank you very much for those instructive video, Mr. Cortina.

[@jamesmiller360]

Always learn something from your videos, thanks for posting.

[@clydeowens8014]

Thanks for sharing your wisdom. That’s much easier than the way I was doing it.

[@ToadleyBrowne]

Great tricks to share! Nice paint on that rifle.

[@SikaSeeker]

Thats awesome, thanks Erik, thats a much better way of doing it compared to what ive been doing. Cheers. Loving all your recent vids

[@RWeeks-hx9ut]

Wow! No more quarter turns, half turns and all kinds of guess work. Thanks, another great and informative video. Can't want to start loading for my 7mm Rem Mag.

[@jimallen7254]

You are an outstanding teacher. Thanks for your clear, concise instruction, it is very much appreciated. I have learned a great deal from your videos. Thanks again!

[@pocketbike698]

And this is why your PRS/F-class competitors keep telling you to stop sharing the secrets... Thank you!

[@servicedogojokeguys2967]

Thank you for explaining this very well to where I can understand!! Some other videos just aren’t helpful to a newbie

[@nottellin1340]

This was incredibly useful. Thank you for the great information. Love this content!

[@user-TJ365]

I just set up my 7mm rem mag FL die using your method. Took me 5 minutes and my first piece of brass that was “over” bumped is still longer than factory brass so it’s still serviceable. Thanks for making it quick easy and accurate!

[@jerrynighswander899]

Great video - you have made sanity out of a frustrating task - I always tried to think of the ring like a clock face and move it from 8:00 to 8:20 to get .002’’ - chasing it all over the place - I can’t wait to try your method!!

[@86309]

Great video Erik , !!! The tape trick is VERY useful!!! Thank you!

[@ericbc7]

simple and elegant! Thanks so much!

[@dandypoint]

Thank you for the good information. Your explanations make good sense.

[@xulrok6565]

Great video. I use Lock & Load bushings on my dies, so this process would be a bit trickier, but not impossible. Load developing this month, so I'll give it a try. Thanks Erik!

[@hrbricker]

I am a slow learner for openers and have always had a lot of difficulty keeping track of multiple details at the same time. Good checklists are my salvation. Erik and F-Class John have made it possible for me to reload precision ammunition with a high degree of confidence,. I can't think you enough.

[@TexasTrained]

Myself

[@centexreload5327]

Good stuff, sir. Thank you for sharing.

[@Niobium23]

Another excellent and informative video that highlights some ‘tricks of the trade’! The tape trick is very cool, great stuff! These videos share your hard earned wisdom, we appreciate it sir!!!! Good luck and good skill at the match!!

[@NiteQwill_]

It's also a cheap, more efficient way of checking headspace for field expediency (use two pieces of tape). Instead of spending hundreds on go, no-go gages (still worth every penny if you do have them).

[@Madmartigan1]

Another informative video sir. I also appreciate the purple marbleized stock on your rifle....my Nesika Bay Classic 6 PPC BR gun is emerald green marbleized.

[@richerdandrusiak2225]

Erik, Thank you for keeping it simple. I notice on your rifle has a Kahles scope mounted on a Near Manufacturing scope mount from Alberta, Canada. I know Richard personally and have 5 of his mounts on different rifles. Probably the one best scope mounts made. And I like to support small business.

[@JeffinTD]

Great video. Thank you for doing these. IMHO that makes perfect sense.

[@flexmtb]

I had to watch this twice (getting old) but this is amazing. I will do this and report back. Makes a whole lotta sense to me. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@Dwayne7834]

Thanks for the information Eric.Great video

[@AirborneMOC031]

Hi Erik; I enjoyed your well done and informative video for the long range set. I think I've kind of been doing what you do for about the last 50 years, although a lot slower, sneaking up on end result from the other end of the resizing operation. About 1972, I got a steal of a deal on a Husqvarna Featherweight in 30 Newton, complete with reloading dies and a 100 pieces of Speer brass. Somebody bought the rifle new and had the gunsmith who also owned the shop rebarrel it to 30 Newton. He never came back. So I got the original light sheep hunting rifle in a flat shooting cartridge (but already an orphan) for dirt cheap. He was honest enough to tell me that might be the last brass I would ever find for 30 Newton, and told me how to extend case life by both sizing die adjustment and annealing. Anyways, he showed me 'press' or 'crush' fit resizing as well as annealing in an alcohol lamp flame. So by successively screwing the FL sizing die down, you first got to a point where the sized brass wouldn't come close to chambering (only body being sized and shoulder being pushed forward I've always assumed), to where it would finally close with some effort. From that point, kept turning the die down until I hit the point where it would reliably close with some resistance - and no worries about finding myself on the top of a mountain on a hot day with a big full curl bighorn or Dall sheep, and a bolt that wouldn't close. That was with my Baer C-press, although that might date me a bit; it was replaced about 1974 by a Bonanza Co-Ax that I still use for all non-bulk reloading. I don't think comparators and other tools existed back in the early 70's. Or if they did, it was the benchrest boys who had them and they weren't telling us about them in Handloader Magazine. It was slower than what you do, but it worked. Has worked on all the rifles I bought since then, come to think of it. One thing I do that I notice you don't do - I expect you've thought of it but have decided it isn't worth it.. As I'm adjusting my dies, I leave the lock ring fairly loose as they turn them looking for the sweet spot of bolt closure. When I have the right amount of resizing, I put the next case in and run it up into the FL die with the lock ring still loose. After the press is cammed over into TDC, THEN I tighten the die lock ring. My thinking when I started doing this with the Co-Ax was that the shellholder at the base, the case with it's base sitting flat in the shell holder, and the die having some wiggle room in the slot that it slides in to, perhaps leaving the die locking ring loose initially would allow the case sliding into the die to move into best alignment around a central axis. If I tightened the die lock ring then, hopefully everything would be tightened while in best alignment. I don't see any reason to change that now for my hunting and varmint rifles, and I've never shot at distances like you do since retiring from the military. But - just curious - do you do anything similar with how and when you tighten down the lock rings in order to get everything in best alignment? Anyways, thanks for entertaining and informative videos. Best...

[@jimmorwood9715]

Thank you I’ve been nick sizing for years but going for the bump now

[@ironDsteele]

I was happy when you mentioned the reamers. I used lettered chucking reamers and set them up in a milling machine to hone my universal dies so they size my brass only .002" under my expander mandrel sizes for each caliber. Now I'm working the brass at a bare minimum.

[@williebulletman5217]

Thanks it’s always good to see how other people bump there shoulders back

[@gdusek84]

Awesome video Erik and great job at explaining this out. I put more weight into your method and advice compared to someone who says "all you guys who've been doing it this way your entire life, well you're wrong" as their die moves in their press. Keep up the great content Erik!

[@loupuleff571]

thank you for your knowledge !! i started load development on a 260 rem break open freedom arms pistol getting good results but helps to have as many techniques as possible. iv'e been reading a great long range book by donald bower great reading for long range shooting not alot of loading information for break open pistols out there !! thanks again erik !!!

[@michaelfrings5885]

I fix the die upside down in a vice and measure the distance between die bottom and the lock ring the way Erik shows in this video. A Hornady lock ring can be tightened, so that it can be turned carefully with a plier. By attaching a modified paperclip into the gap of the lock ring, it is possible to get a pretty good indication about small increments and .001 turns can be applied in a controlled way. Best regards from Germany

[@desertfarmer248]

Thanks for sharing. Great content as always