Another rookie reloader question

[jerrya]

I just started reloading with a Lee Anniversary kit and Lee pacesetter 3 piece die sets for my win 300 mag and 270 Winchester. My first attempt was for the 300 and everything seemed to go pretty smooth. I used the Federal brass from my rifle.
I started on my 270 and this is where I have run into a problem. My brass is Federal and Winchester, once shot from my rifle. I cleaned before depriming and sizing the same way I did the 300 brass. My problem lies when I resize the brass. The upward stroke of the ram is snugger than the 300 and when the brass is withdrawn from the die there is a definite sticky point where it takes substantially more force about half way out. I tried with more lube, less lube and even cleaned the dies thoroughly. Both the Winchester and federal brass act the same. I made a few dummy rounds with the resized brass and tried them in the rifle. They start to chamber fine but they do fit snugger than any store bought round I have ever used. There is no evidence to me anyway that the brass is deformed or any obvious problems.

Any suggestions?

 

[yomomma]

Does your die go all the way down and touch the shell holder on the down stroke

 

[OldDude]

The resistance when you are withdrawing the case is the inside of the neck being pulled over the expander section of the decapping rod. Unless you are experiencing an unusually high bit of resistance, it's fairly normal.
BTW, some folks lube the inside of the necks to reduce this. I use a dry lube (motor mica) sometimes.

The resistance when closing the bolt on a dummy round could be a bullet seated too long, and jamming into the lands, or a case that is not sufficiently sized.
Have you tried a resized case with no bullet?

 

[legi0n]

have you lubed the inside of the case necks?

 

[jethunter]

use a cotton swab and lube inside the necks, just need a quick rub on every 2nd or third case to keep the expander button lubed.

 

[jerrya]

I lubed the inside of the case neck using a cotton swab on them. I also just tried a bit of lube on the rim of the neck as shown on Lees site. Results the same.

I just tried a few resized cases with no bullet in my rifle and they are fine. I measured a Federal factory round that I have been using and found they are 3.180". The rounds I have loaded are 3.320" as per the Nosler manual, so that might explain why these reloads are snug in the chamber. I should have checked that before.

 

[cosmic]

Try chambering a sized case only... As you get more experience you will make this SOP.

 

[coreyd]

Size a case without the neck expander in. Check to see if there are machine marks inside the die. Maybe it needs buffing/polishing. Maybe you have an oversized chamber in the gun. Do you know anyone else with a 270 or that has 1f 270 brass?

 

[Moosifer1]

Sounds like the sizing button may need polishing.
As far as the sticky chambering goes...:
The problem with the Nosler's reloading manual is that, the 3.340" cartridge overall length (for .270 Win) should only be used for the heaviest bullets listed for that caliber. ie; 160 grain Partition
Each type of bullet has a different shape (Ogive), therefore require a specific maximum length. (Chamber one you have at 3.320", pull it out & check for land markings on the jacket of the bullet)=maybe too long.
You may also want to try loading them a little shorter. Most manuals list different COAL for each bullet type & weight. Are your loaded rounds straight? Roll them on a flat surface or a mirror, if you don't have a concentricity gauge, to make sure they're not off kilter.
On another note, is the chamber of the .270 free of dirt or rust? Or beer caps heh-heh! Good luck!