Sick and Tired of STUCK Cases...
- Thread starter 45/30-06OKIE
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JFrank
Member
Sounds like he’s got plenty of lube on the outside, sometimes that darn expander ball gets real sticky going through a dry neck. No real need for the expander except to Knock out a primer. I wonder if the die is grossly over sizing the brass. Mine are smooth as butter.
Soonerpesek
Member
I use a similar process, a towel instead of the box…
OP
OP
45/30-06OKIE
Member
see, it seems like sometimes the cases will be just maybe a smidge tighter than the previous one and it goes in OK, then when i try to pull it out it just instantly rips the rim off... I think that one was a RP case which kinda makes sense to me from my 45 auto loading where the 45 auto RP cases seem a bit soft compared to others like Federal and Winchester...
Soonerpesek
Member
Are you sure the shellholder is correct…?
Even different brands of the same shellholder are a tad different…
GeoDudeFlorida
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I’ll take them
I use the Lee 3-die set. They’re fine but the RCBS seating die rocks.
Edit: NM. Just occurred to me I can’t even remember the last time I loaded .223Rem. I’m still shooting loads in boxes labeled in the early 2000’s.
OP
OP
45/30-06OKIE
Member
Yeah I try to put a generous amount on the inside of the necks.... seems like i have the worst luck... ive used rcbs, hornady, reding, and lee dies and ive had stuck cases with every singe brand i think... i finally get rid of the hornady dies and tried redding and the 30-06 redding die works great 100 percent of the time.
OP
OP
45/30-06OKIE
Member
ive used a Lee #4 shell holder, but i have noticed that the Lee belted magnum shell holder kinda sucks so i got a Hornady one and it grips better... See i hate hornady dies, but their shell holders, trimmer and hand primer work great!
Soonerpesek
Member
I think you need to go back to start and try sizing a case WITHOUT the expander…
Gotta start somewhere to solve the problem…
GeoDudeFlorida
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How many have you tried with the decapping pin/expander completely removed from the die?
GeoDudeFlorida
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This is starting to remind me of the bear joke.
nettlle
Contributing Member
I just tried the Dillon Case Lubricant for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Bottle says Lanolin and Isopropyl Alcohol for the contents. Sizing is much easier than using Imperial which was the best thing I had tried before the Dillon. Small base sizing 308 takes a little more effort than regular sizing and the Dillon case lube made a big difference. I also use the Redding Dry Neck Lube which reduces sizing effort. I dip a Q-Tip in the Redding neck lube and swipe the inside of every fifth case neck.
OP
OP
45/30-06OKIE
Member
Uhh I don't recall but I think I tried this when I was fed up with the 7.62 brass and it didn't seem to make much difference with the actual sizing itself? I'm starting to think I need to stick with just loading for bolt action rifles (with brass that I know where it came from) and semi auto handguns..... Sigh....
Soonerpesek
Member
But, in order for you to understand why this problem arises, you gotta stay with it to figure it out.
Problem solving for 1 issue tends to make future processes go better.
GeoDudeFlorida
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Try it again. Make a deliberate effort out of it. Take notes. Try different techniques of pushing the brass into the die. Think about what’s happening inside the steel.
Quitting when the task requires an effort tends to become a lifelong habit. It’s the kind of habit that ruins your quality of life.
That would be my guess.
I used to start my batch if cases by spraying some lanolin/iso into my die as i was setting up. Give it a good shake and spin it in then prep the rest of the stuff.
That usually gets enough lube everywhere that you wont stick the first few cases.
As for lubing cases ive sprayed it on and been happy, but the easiest way ive found is pour some in a zip lock and shake the heck out of them.
Then use a nylon brush to lube the inside of the necks, making sure to catch the neck shoulder junction which is where your expander first hits.
If you start smashing shoulders back off on the lube somewhere in the process.... Most folks don't start off by lubing to die.
Oh, another thing to check is rust. I've only ever had that issue with dies I borrowed, as I generally take mine apart and clean them after using them since I do get so much crap in there.
AJC1
Member
Or just pony up for a roll sizer
nettlle
Contributing Member
If the dies being used are quality dies that are set up properly it has to be the lube. I went through the stuck case scenario decades ago and fixed it by using a different case lube method. Case lubes are like gun lubes. There are thousands of brands and home brews out there.
GeoDudeFlorida
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JohnMc
Member
What is halfway tumbled?
To be perfectly frank, resizing brass from a myriad of autoloading rifles without stuck cases is something people do on the regular, with a wide variety of dies.
Something is clearly wrong and troubleshooting it may well positively impact the rest of the process.
bbqncigars
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I use either the Dillon lanolin spray or the Hornady One Shot Case Lube because the sprays are easy to apply but you have to let them dry before using. For real sizing fun, try some .50BMG that was run through a generously headspaced M2. Those are now handled by sizing in a Corbin swage press.
Blue68f100
Member
Is the rim ripping off? if so try a RCBS or Redding shell holder.
It's pretty hard to rip the rim off a 45acp if your using a carbide die or TiNi (Hornady). I've switched all my straight wall sizing dies to Honrady since the TiNi coating makes it slicker than carbide.
Now if your working with MG brass sizing can be very difficult. What I've started doing is annealing before I even try to size. Annealing makes the brass soft and it will size much easier. I actually anneal all of my bottle neck rifle cartridges prior to sizing. Part of my brass prep routine, keeps the neck tension the same start to finish life of the brass. Getting of 10 firings out of LC brass.
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JFrank
Member
If you must use the expander ball , try using a nylon brush in the necks before running them through the die. Especially if you hear squeaking while sizing
I thought roll sizing only sized the bottom 1/3 of the case and never touches the mouth or neck of the case? I didn't think roll sizing eliminated the need for sizing with a sizing die?
41 Mag
Member
It appears that you are having issues with 308 and possibly 30-06 cases. You mentioned using the Lee #4 shell holder but switching to Hornady and also mentioned the magnum shell holder sucked?
Just a quick look over some of my data shows the following for shellholders for the '06 case size...
Lee - #2
Lyman - #2
Hornady- #1
RCBS - #3
Redding- #1
In my experience, there are some that are close and will work, but when sizing oversized cases you should always use the one that fits the tightest around the rim.
I've run several thousands of 308 and '06 cases through a small base die based upon them being fired in unknown firearms and wanting no issues once loaded up again. I also used walnut for my initial cleaning followed up by corn cob doused with NuFinish. I've primarily used Hornady or now Redding case lubes. Yes I even managed to stick a couple in the process but overall while being a tight fit, they all went through with minor effort.
I would try using the proper shellholder and see if things improve.
Just a quick look over some of my data shows the following for shellholders for the '06 case size...
Lee - #2
Lyman - #2
Hornady- #1
RCBS - #3
Redding- #1
In my experience, there are some that are close and will work, but when sizing oversized cases you should always use the one that fits the tightest around the rim.
I've run several thousands of 308 and '06 cases through a small base die based upon them being fired in unknown firearms and wanting no issues once loaded up again. I also used walnut for my initial cleaning followed up by corn cob doused with NuFinish. I've primarily used Hornady or now Redding case lubes. Yes I even managed to stick a couple in the process but overall while being a tight fit, they all went through with minor effort.
I would try using the proper shellholder and see if things improve.
