On a more serious note. I found that if I adjusted my dies, "for belted magnums", to resize so they headspaced on the belt.....I'd end up with incipient case head separation....just in front of the belt. Depending on the specifics (and there are always variables, ie...brass manufacturer, particular caliber, particular firearm, etc.) it would happen after just a few reloads.

But, if I adjusted my dies to "not set back the shoulder" and instead allow the case to remain headspaced on the shoulder, (for that particular rifle), I frequently could double....or better....my case life. However, and this is important, if by doing that procedure it in any way would adversely affect functional reliability, (as in difficulty chambering, closing bolt, etc.), I would readjust the dies to "set back the shoulder" and reestablish headspace on the belt. On nearly all of my rifles...it was never a problem!

I have also owned three or four, (give or take a half dozen), .375 H&H's. For that particular caliber I was careful to adjust my dies to headspace "on the belt". Though a very "careful and prudent" person could have used the shoulder. But considering what was normally at stake when I'd use those rifles....I opted to insure the headspace was proper.....and "to dang with case life". (This discussion doesn't apply for cases like the .458 Win Mag.....because they have no shoulder.)

For cases with a "modern" shoulder, like the .338 Winchester Magnum (another favorite of mine), and most other belted magnums.....case life is much better without setting back the shoulder. (If and only if you intend to use that cartridge in the "same" rifle.) I've never had a reliability issue when reloading my belted magnums this way.....and truthfully I learned the technique in one of my earlier reloading manuals. (No....I do not remember which company or edition.....but I remember reading it at that time....15 or 16 years old....with a big ? on my face. (Couldn't understand at the time why they put the dang belt there for a purpose.....only to tell me that it actually was not needed for that purpose?!?)

It like many other seeming puzzlements have slowly revealed themselves to me over the years. (Yes, usually accompanied by the same ? each time!) But that's okay......I figure when I've quit learning....it must be time to die[:-]?!?