Newbie here - Expander die question

CheeseBurger

CheeseBurger

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So just getting going here.

I decided to do a trial run on a couple cases today and get setup out of the way. Took a look at my dies - 6.5x55 and they looked a bit gunked up from the previous owner, so I cleaned the deprimer/expander die up a bit, used a bit of alchohol and a case mouth brush. Dried it. Reassembled, following instructions. Seems fine. Proceeded to follow the setup as per Lyman die instructions. Die is in press with a 1/8 turn after contact with the shellholder.

Lube up a case with Imperial sizing die, seemed like enough. Did the neck and body, but not the shoulder.

So my question is how much pressure is required to work the press? I had to push pretty hard to get the case to go all the way into the die and and pull pretty hard to get the expander die out of the case, in between it seemed normal.

I'm using Lyman FL dies, and an RCBS press.

Sorry about being long winded but want to make sure I got everything.

Cheers.

Tyler
 
A little lube inside the neck will help get it out. If your 6.5 has a big chamber then you may have to push hard to size it properly. Look at neck sizers next.
 
How hard should it be to work the press handle up and down?
Some where between very easy and very hard!
For a case that has quite a sharp ahoulder, has been sized a few times, thus will have somewhat hardened brass, it can take considerable power to push the handle down.
For a sloping shouldered, lighter case, like a 30-30 and newer brass, it can be quite effortless.
It is something you just have to get the feel of, with experience.
Those sizing waxes require an extremely small amount to be used. When I first tried them I didn't like it, because it took a lot of pressure to get them through the die. I kept using less and less and the cases went through the die easier and easier.
You normally don't lubricate the neck externally. The old, universal way of lubricating by means of rolling the cases on a lubricated pad, lubricated the body of the case, only, and that is all that is required.
If the case is hard to start out of the die, the downward stroke, it is a sign the lubrication was not good.
The case coming hard out of the die at the last, is because there is resistance to the plunger opening up the neck.
The inside of the neck should be cleaned/lubricated. If a cleaning rod brass brush is pushed in and out of the neck, this is often all that is required.
Brushing on a small, almost microscopic amount of lubricant on the brush every ten or so shells will make it really easy.
Putting a bit of motor mica on the brush works even better and precludes the chance of getting lubricant inside the case.
 
H4831 said:
How hard should it be to work the press handle up and down?
Some where between very easy and very hard!
For a case that has quite a sharp ahoulder, has been sized a few times, thus will have somewhat hardened brass, it can take considerable power to push the handle down.
For a sloping shouldered, lighter case, like a 30-30 and newer brass, it can be quite effortless.
It is something you just have to get the feel of, with experience.
Those sizing waxes require an extremely small amount to be used. When I first tried them I didn't like it, because it took a lot of pressure to get them through the die. I kept using less and less and the cases went through the die easier and easier.
You normally don't lubricate the neck externally. The old, universal way of lubricating by means of rolling the cases on a lubricated pad, lubricated the body of the case, only, and that is all that is required.
If the case is hard to start out of the die, the downward stroke, it is a sign the lubrication was not good.
The case coming hard out of the die at the last, is because there is resistance to the plunger opening up the neck.
The inside of the neck should be cleaned/lubricated. If a cleaning rod brass brush is pushed in and out of the neck, this is often all that is required.
Brushing on a small, almost microscopic amount of lubricant on the brush every ten or so shells will make it really easy.
Putting a bit of motor mica on the brush works even better and precludes the chance of getting lubricant inside the case.
Click to expand...

Thanks H, I was hoping you would chime in.

These are once fired 6.5x55 cases. So they shouldn't be case hardend but they of course have a sharper shoulder, as you are aware.

I will try and use less wax. I did clean the neck of the case with a case mouth brass.

I had to google what you meant by motor mica, I only know it as powdered graphite and I do have some so I will try that.

I will report back.

Thanks again.

Tyler
 
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