Last 1/4" for sizing brass- tight

Dom08

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Hey guys
I was looking to see if I could get some input for this. I run into issues with the last 1/4" for resizing/depriming brass. The amount of force I need to put on the press is quite high. All cases are lubed and cleaned before this stage.
Using lee turret press
 
Well, the level of force required does normally increase as you approach the last bit, because the brass is thicker there, and you are approaching the web. Are you talking rifle brass?
 
Are you talking the last 1/4" of ram travel or handle travel? I think what you are feeling is just the press camming over. But I'm not familiar with the Lee turret press. If it is camming over that hard just back your die off a bit.
 
When I run my 8mm through my press I don't get much resistance throughout but when I switch to 30-06 I find the same thing, the last bit is quite stiff going through the dies. The only thing that I can think of is maybe the chamber on the barrel is slightly oversized or the headspace may be a little loose causing the case to expand more then normal
 
Don't make it complicated, just withdraw the brass and relube lightly, .....it's most likely a bit oversize case and the lube is being pushed with the resizing. Common enough if you're using brass from other rifles.
 
I use to get that when cases were too long to begin with.Now I trim and anneal necks of the cases before resizng and it goes so much smoother.

I avoid FL sizing as a rule.Neck sizing rocks and make cases last forever.

Well,some brands.Some are garbage no matter what i do due to alloy composition and/or heat treatment.I had a batch of S&B 303 brass that was really hard to FL size and head separated after 2 shots in no4 LB with minimal headspace.
 
It's with .223 and I just started .338. My table pretty much moves/tips when trying to resize the area closer to the head of the case. I shoot a tavor and the 338 brass is lapua.
With the .223 I can get the die over the area so the holder and die make contact but with some of the brass When I go that far and try to pull the case out of the die the rim by the extractor groove will actually break away causing the case to get stuck in the die


I just trimmed all the brass also
 
What type case lube are you using and how do you apply it?

Has anything change since you reloaded last or is this the first time for these two calibers?

Some new dies have a dry film corrosion protection applied to them and "MUST" be cleaned as per the directions or the cases can bind.

I just finished full length resizing 300 once fired 7.62 machine gun fired cases with a small base die and proper lubing was a must.
 
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It's with .223 and I just started .338. My table pretty much moves/tips when trying to resize the area closer to the head of the case. I shoot a tavor and the 338 brass is lapua.
With the .223 I can get the die over the area so the holder and die make contact but with some of the brass When I go that far and try to pull the case out of the die the rim by the extractor groove will actually break away causing the case to get stuck in the die


I just trimmed all the brass also

Yea sounds like you aren't lubing enough, I reload for my tavor as well, I apply more spray on lube than I know is nesscessary mainly because I don't want to ever go through the hassle of removing a stuck case. You have to table the brass after anyway to remove the lube so it doesn't bother me.
 
I just picked up some Rcbs case lube-2 and it seems to be much better. I put it on my finger and rub it around the case. Still tight but much better

Also picked up a rcbs case holder for the press and find it's tighter than the lee case holder which will allow for a tighter grip on the case when using the press
 
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I have found that with Bonanza case lube oil on the outside of case it really cuts down the pressure required. I still apply Lee paste lube with a Q-tip on the inside of case mouth. Don't have to lube every case, just every 3 or so. If you use too much paste case lube on the outside of case neck, you will start to get wrinkles in brass.
 
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