having a problem with Lee 6.5x55mm sizing die...help

[saskgunowner101]

I was bored last night, so I figured I'd size/prep/prime some 6.5 Swede brass. I'm under the impression Santa is bringing me some 6.5 mm bullets so figured I'd get some cases ready. Anyways, I wiped down the cases and gave them a lube, and a swirl of lube with a cotton swab inside the neck(fuzzy ripped off so it fits).

I'm using a set of Lee R.G.B. dies, nothing fancy and I set the die as per instructions, touching + 1/4 turn. The first attempt sizes on the down stroke(ram up) and when I move the handle up(ram down) I got a weird scraping sound.

From looking at the brass, almost the whole neck has been sized basically as far as you could go before bumping the shoulder. There's a shiny patch just below the shoulder, and near the bottom there's another shiny patch about 1/4 inch wide.

I'm not sure if that's normal, but the grating sound continued for another 4 or 5 casings. Then I lost my decapping pin in a case. Needless to say, not so happy here.

The brass is 1x fired factory Privi that went through my M-96 Swedish Mauser. I was not being ham fisted as I believe abusing equipment rarely makes it work better. What's a guy to do?? Order another decapping pin? Say a small prayer, throw some salt over my shoulder and try again?

I've heard or read of using a small finishing nail in a pinch for decapping, is this a good enough fix for now? Just don't understand the scraping sound.

Any and all thoughts appreciated.

*Edit to add* I might have been mistaken on the brass, possibly Igman as it's been awhile since it was fired. I've been reading of small flash holes on the stuff. Also, my decap pin rod was set flush with the top of the nut on top (as the instructions mention). So dunno....

 

[glycerin]

A year ago, it was common for igman to have undersize flashholes. I turned a .223 manual Lee decapper in a drill, grinding, sanding down the pin until it would fit. This allows decapping, then use a proper size drillbit, or flashhole uniforming tool to ream hole to std size. I also found some brass had crimped primers, requiring a chamfer, and/or swaging operation. I would only do this for european brass like 7.62X39 and X54. It seemed to feel odd in sizing, and I wondered if brass(necks) were very hard, and might benefit from annealing. Re: scraping, this happened near base on my lee .223 dies, and disappeared when i turned die in lathe chuck, polishing inside with 320, 400, and 600 grit emery paper. Lee, buy them new, fix them, then they give good service.

 

[saskgunowner101]

Turns out the decapping pin is fine....it was just pulled out of the end and stuck in the flash hole of the case. I popped some primers out with a long nail I ground down on the bench grinder, and that worked for about 10 cases. I then used the sizing die and they no longer had the goofy scrapping sound. Flash holes are the problem I guess.

GLYCERIN: How precise does one need to be drilling out the flash holes? If I find a good match for the flash hole in another rifle cartridge, will that bit size be okay? All I have besides 6.5 is 9.3x62mm brass.