Need some help

Wally

Wally

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I'm trying to reload some .308 with my new setup.

I'm trying to neck size some once fired brass.

I'm attempting to use the nickle trick to neck size except the shell holder runs up into the threads on the top of the press and the nickle won't fit. I set the die depth, set the lock ring, unscrewed the die until the nickle fit in under the lock ring and then I screwed the lock ring down tight to the top of the press.

I lubed up my brass on the outside, no lube inside the neck. I rolled it across a piece of high density foam with some Lee resizing lubricant on it.

It seems like it take a lot of pressure to run this brass through the die though I don't know how much pressure is normal....?

The brass comes out and it looks like the neck has be sized down and stops about 1/8" from the shoulder. I don't thing the shoulder is being touched though I get the feeling that the body of the brass is being sized.... is this normal? Should it be getting sized when I'm neck sizing?

I've done 6 pieces of brass but I'm not don't any more until I find out I'm doing things right.

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Could this be a problem with my press?

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I'm fairly noobish to rifle cartridge reloading so take my thoughts for what they're worth. I've so far full length sized the first time, and then neck sized the rest of the time with full length dies. If you use a black marker and put a vertical line on the neck only you easily see where the die ends up.

From what I've heard, always use lube inside the neck, otherwise the expander can stretch your case upwards again and throw things out of whack. I think I've heard of the nickle trick, but in my case I touch the die to the ram, back it out a half turn, and it's perfect for my rifle.

I'm dealing with an old Husky, so you might need a quarter turn out or less......the marker is a good visual. There's resistance on the press, but not a heck of a lot.
 
saskgunowner101 said:
I'm fairly noobish to rifle cartridge reloading so take my thoughts for what they're worth. I've so far full length sized the first time, and then neck sized the rest of the time with full length dies. If you use a black marker and put a vertical line on the neck only you easily see where the die ends up.

From what I've heard, always use lube inside the neck, otherwise the expander can stretch your case upwards again and throw things out of whack. I think I've heard of the nickle trick, but in my case I touch the die to the ram, back it out a half turn, and it's perfect for my rifle.

I'm dealing with an old Husky, so you might need a quarter turn out or less......the marker is a good visual. There's resistance on the press, but not a heck of a lot.
Click to expand...
Well I have to muscle this thing down and then back off again.... Marker trick sounds good.
 
ok, even without the expander ball it takes my whole upper body weight to run the neck into the die... then, I have to hold down the table when I pull up on the handle to pull the brass out.

I just noticed that this is an SB die:

# Small base sizer dies are usually required for reloading ammunition to be used in automatic, semi-automatic, pump, slide and some lever-action rifles.
# These dies size the case somewhat smaller in diamter and also set the shoulder back slightly more than a Full-Length sizer die to ensure poper functioning in the actions of these rifles.
# NOT RECOMMENDED FOR AMMUNITION IN BOLT-ACTION RIFLES.

Awesome, so I have the wrong die set for my bolt action.... so lets say I wanna use it for my M14... what does this say about force required to size these things?
 
If you are going to use the foam to lube then I would suggest you use RCBS lube. I had issues using the Lee Lube even with .223 and found that using the RCBS lube smoothed things out considerably. It's messy stuff but does a good job on the lubing....or go one better and get Imperial Sizing Wax. You put it on very thin with your fingers and you'll never have a stuck case.

It should not take that much force to remove the case from the die. Try letting the Lee lube dry on the case before running it into the die, this may help a bit.

If you get the RCBS lube you can put about 75 cases in a Large Ziploc Freezer bag, put a small amount of the lube in the bag (about a 1" strip) and then seal the bag with plenty of air, then shake and roll the bag around until all the cases are all lubed. I do this when I want to lube a lot of cases in a short time. I usually rub the bag together at the point where I put the lube to avoid getting a glob inside any of the case necks when I first start rolling it.
 
CyaN1de is right, even with small base dies you shouldn't be having that much trouble. Some bolt actions will require SB dies as well, especially if they have tight chambers. I have a CZ in 308 that has a tight chamber and use a Bonanza small base die set for it. One thing I notice, I have to anneal the cases after each 3 reloadings and trim as well.

Lubrication is most likely your culprit in this case, not your dies. You may actually be sizing the body below the neck but not nearly as much as if your die was set all the way down. I personally use a roll pad soaked with RCBS lube or a paste lube that I apply by fingertip. Always lube the inside of the neck. It just makes life easier.
 
I assume that the LEE lube works, but I've never tried it, so to be sure, I'd go down to the local store and spend $5 on a tube of RCBS sizing lube

You can lube them en masse later, but for now, take one case and smear a bit of lube on it, and use a q tip or neck brush to apply a little inside the case mouth.

Take a jiffy marker and colour the neck, shoulder and top of the body of the case

Take your press and raise the ram all the way up.

Screw the die down until it hits your shellholder, then screw it back up a few turns

Lower ram, insert case into shellholder

Raise ram slowly. It shoudl enter with no problem

Keep removing the case form the die, checking how far you are sizing it. You can't neck size with a FL sizer die, btu you can partial size it. Keep lowering the die and checking the case.

When it looks liek you have got most (but not all) of the neck, remove case and see if it chambers fairly easily in your rifle.

No? Keep lowering sizing die. Yes? Great, you are done. lock die down in the proper position and lube and size away.

Forget abotu the nickel. Set the die up to fit your rifle.
 
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