Manual

18
around the top of the primer pocket to prevent the
primer from backing out. Usually found in military
cartridges. Crimp must be removed to allow you to
insert a new primer.
DECAP: To push out a primer from the primer pocket
with the decapping pin in the sizing die.
EXPAND: To open rifle pistol cartridge casemouths to
the proper diameter needed to hold the bullet firmly.
Not to be confused with “belling”.
FLARING: See BELL.
FLASH HOLE: The hole leading from the primer pocket
into the cartridge case.
HEADSPACE: The distance from the bolt face to that
point in the barrel or chamber that stops the cartridge
from moving further forward into the chamber. Rifle;
cartridge rim, belt or shoulder. Handgun; cartridge
mouth of the case or rim.
LEADING: Lead deposited in the bore from shooting
swaged lead bullets. Hardcast bullets will not cause
leading in pistols.
NECK SIZE: To resize the neck on a rifle case. For rifle
cases only.
OVER ALL LENGTH (OAL): The distance from the tip
of the bullet to the base of the case.
OGIVE: The rounded portion of the bullet ahead of the
cylindrical section. Also the radius of the curve ahead of
the bearing surface.
OIL DENT: Dent in the case formed by having too
much oil or lubricant when sizing.
PRIMER POCKET: The portion of the cartridge case
that contains the primer. Note: It is not necessary to clean
primer pockets on modern ammunition. This practice is
a carry over from the old corrosive primer days.
RESIZE: To return a fired cartridge case to its original
dimensions by its insertion into a resizing die. Note:
resizing does not compensate for the stretching of a rifle
case when they’ve been fired. See CASE TRIMMING.