Lee sizing die trouble

[CoalCrackerAl]

I bent a Squirrel Daddy pin on a Norma 9mm casing.

 

[gifbohane]

I use Imperial case lube (grease like) and apply it to the case neck/body as I pick up the case from the pile of not yet sized brass. I swipe my thumb across the opening to force a bit of lube into the case mouth. This lasts for a few cases. As I start to feel it getting difficult to pull the case free I will apply some to the next case and it loosens it up for a while.

Funny but I thought (smugly) that I invented this technique. There really is nothing new.........................

 

[HankC]

I had the same issue with my Lee 308 sizing die that the pin got pulled out of the die on reverse stroke, I do lube inside, I had to polish the expander "ball" to reduce the diameter by about .002" to make sure it works every time. Not all cases does it, maybe some cases have thicker wall. It is my backup die and the only set of Lee for necked cases that I bought cheap when on clearance, I use RCBS for my rifle caliber sizing dies.

 

[FLIGHT762]

Another thought; I have seen reports on some forums about small flash hole diameters. Some cases (Norma?) have flash holes small enough to stop decapping stems/pins from punching out a primer. Reports also mentioned Lee stems/pins being a bit larger than the flash holes and not decapping (pushing stem up in die). But I have been reloading with Lee dies for many years and haven't run into this yet. I have found some cheaper brass with off center flash holes but no undersize...

There are several European brands of brass that have smaller flash holes than the normal U S .074". The smaller flash holes need a .057" pin. Lapua brass also has the smaller flash holes. There are some die makers that offer both sized pins for their dies. Mighty Armory is one. I found this out many years ago on some Hirtenberger 308 brass and PPU 223 brass.

 

[Blackrock]

The expander section of some Lee dies are a little rough and can be polished up by chucking them in a drill and polishing with 600 grit paper. I do use Imperial sizing wax for almost all of my FL resizing chores. Just dip the case neck in, sometimes just every third one.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I use the Imperial sizing wax. When i resize 270 brass into 30.06. I only use them for low pressure plinking loads.

 

[Nature Boy]

Oops, wrong thread

 

[Hondo 60]

Call Lee. They're good folks

 

[FROGO207]

Another thought; I have seen reports on some forums about small flash hole diameters. Some cases (Norma?) have flash holes small enough to stop decapping stems/pins from punching out a primer. Reports also mentioned Lee stems/pins being a bit larger than the flash holes and not decapping (pushing stem up in die). But I have been reloading with Lee dies for many years and haven't run into this yet. I have found some cheaper brass with off center flash holes but no undersize...

I have found out some of the 357 Sig brass that is plated have small flash holes. It was so small that It pulled the decapping pin out of my lee die when I removed the brass from the die. Pulled the pin out of the flash hole with pliers and reinserted it in the stem and it still works. Cant remember the brand of brass though.

 

[Dudedog]

I bent a Squirrel Daddy pin on a Norma 9mm casing.

Bending those takes a little extra effort than the Lee pins