So I decide to retreat to the loading cave today to get to that pile of 30,06 I have been ignoring for the last month. I deprimed the case & let them tumble while I deprimed my 303 brit cases & set up my new 30,06 lee dies. After sizing 100 cases I decide to make up some dummy loads to see if these old cil rnd nose bullets feed in my garand. I tried 4 rnds & every one of them was loose in the case. I got my mike out & the bullet is .308 exactly & the expander is .307. I ran a case through the die without an expander & seated a bullet to see if the brass was the problem & it was gripping the bullet tight. I tried polishing the expander to reduce its diameter a touch & it now measures.3062 but the bullets are still loose. WTF?
Bullet loose in case WTF
- Thread starter desporterizer
- Start date
Is the sizing die screwed all the way down? Is the expander ball far enough back that the case will slide all the way into the die?
The problem isn't the expander, it's that the die body isn't squeezing the neck down far enough undersize.
-M
The problem isn't the expander, it's that the die body isn't squeezing the neck down far enough undersize.
-M
Can you feel the expander as it pulls out of the case after you resize it? I just measured up 3 of my expander buttons in 30-06 dies I have here, and they all measure in at .3058 to .3060" [Vernier micrometer] If the bullet is held when you size without the expander button in, then the cases are being sized sufficiently, and it is the expander button at fault. Are you dry lubing the insides of those necks? I use motor mica or powdered graphite. This helps the expanding operation. Regards, Eagleye.
What kind of sizing dies are you using.
if you are using a redding bushing die, then maybe you dont have a bushing in it or the bushing you are using is too big
Its also possible that your cases have thin necks.
can you measure the thickness of the brass at the neck?
it should be at least .014" thick (ballpark)
if you are using a redding bushing die, then maybe you dont have a bushing in it or the bushing you are using is too big
Its also possible that your cases have thin necks.
can you measure the thickness of the brass at the neck?
it should be at least .014" thick (ballpark)
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
A dry neck lube is better for inside the case necks than a wet lube. I use Imperial Dry Neck Lube, and powder doesn't stick to it.
If the die is not resizing the full length of the neck to the junction with the shoulder, and if the bullet you are using has a short bearing surface, although this wouldn't be the case with a heavy round nose, there could be a problem with getting sufficient bullet pull weight depending on how far out you seated the bullet. Adjust the die so that the full length of the neck is being resized and so the shoulder is bumped back slightly. Be sure that you use the correct number shell holder. Shell holders are of different heights, so using the wrong number that fits the rim of the cartridge might not allow you to fully resize the case. Marking the entire neck and shoulder with a permanent marker will make it easy to see what portion of the neck and shoulder is resized.
If the brass is old, the necks might be work hardened and springy so annealing the necks might help. Nickeled brass is also springy and sometimes allows the bullet to turn in a resized neck. I avoid the stuff like the plague.
If the expander ball is not pulled out of the neck straight, that could result in an oversized neck, although being off center enough to make the neck loose enough to allow the bullet to turn under finger power would be extreme. Placing a rubber "O" ring between the lock ring and the press will allow the die to center itself. I took the spring off my ram and hold the shell holder in place with an "O" ring which allows it to float and find its own center.
As an after thought, measure your bullets and make sure they are the correct diameter. I have "fond" memories of undersized CIL bullets.
If the die is not resizing the full length of the neck to the junction with the shoulder, and if the bullet you are using has a short bearing surface, although this wouldn't be the case with a heavy round nose, there could be a problem with getting sufficient bullet pull weight depending on how far out you seated the bullet. Adjust the die so that the full length of the neck is being resized and so the shoulder is bumped back slightly. Be sure that you use the correct number shell holder. Shell holders are of different heights, so using the wrong number that fits the rim of the cartridge might not allow you to fully resize the case. Marking the entire neck and shoulder with a permanent marker will make it easy to see what portion of the neck and shoulder is resized.
If the brass is old, the necks might be work hardened and springy so annealing the necks might help. Nickeled brass is also springy and sometimes allows the bullet to turn in a resized neck. I avoid the stuff like the plague.
If the expander ball is not pulled out of the neck straight, that could result in an oversized neck, although being off center enough to make the neck loose enough to allow the bullet to turn under finger power would be extreme. Placing a rubber "O" ring between the lock ring and the press will allow the die to center itself. I took the spring off my ram and hold the shell holder in place with an "O" ring which allows it to float and find its own center.
As an after thought, measure your bullets and make sure they are the correct diameter. I have "fond" memories of undersized CIL bullets.
The dies are lee as is the shell holder. I thought it might be the brass as some of it is a bag of range brass I bought at a gun show but it also happened with one of the hornady brass I fired previously. I did measure the bullet, .308 exactly. I am going to reduce the diameter of the expander to .305 & see what happens.
I measured my RCBS 308 expander with my micrometer and it measured .3057". It sounds like your expander is a little big. Could there be some residue in the case neck that is causing them to expand too much like powder residue or some corrosion? Maybe try cleaning the inside of the neck with some steel wool on an old cleaning brush and see what happens.
