PROBLEM Re sizing LC brass

You need to start a process of elimination. Only change one variable at a time till you find out where the problem is. I would start by trying some different brass through those dies. Then move to other areas that could cause the problem. You can't fix a problem untill you know what's causing it.
 
HIGHRPM, have you got any other 308 brass you could try, say rem or win or anything non military. Maybe you got a bad or SB die right from Lee, it's possible. All this experience out here in CGN land saying "no problem sizing LC brass" makes me highly suspicious of your new dies. If they were older proven dies that would be another situation.
I have a large Lee press and I FL size 50 BMG in it and that has to require a lot more force than a 308 and I've not experienced the problems you're having.
 
I don't have any other 308 used brass, so I will go this week and buy some new brass and try the dies. I know it's not as good as used brass, but it seems hard to get lately, by the time I see the add they are sold.
 
I had the same issues with my LEE breach lock press. Several weeks back I actually shattered the cast part that connects the handle to the cylinder. I have since switch to a Rock Chucker.

I suspect you have the same problem I did, the aluminium press and linkages are absorbing the torque being put through the leverage.

I primarily reload LC, IVI and FC .308 that have been fired through a 7.62x51 chambered AR10.

PM in coming HIGHRPM
 
I have three Lee presses, a Lyman, a Dillon, and an RCBS. Somehow, I've managed to load good ammo on all of them without breaking them (although I have worn a couple out and had to rebuild them. I must just be exceptionally lucky, I guess. I have found dies with issues over the years (about 35 years of reloading or so), from various makers. If other brass works on your press, it's not the press. Check your dies with other brass. Make sure your press is mounted securely. Get some Imperial Sizing Wax. Let us know what happens after that. - dan
 
Sizing new brass won't really be a comparison because when new it is likely smaller than the die and won't be sized/touched by it at all. I would look for 1 or 2 pieces of used 1x fired .308 Win to compare.
 
hk33ka1 said:
Sizing new brass won't really be a comparison because when new it is likely smaller than the die and won't be sized/touched by it at all. I would look for 1 or 2 pieces of used 1x fired .308 Win to compare.
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If there is a problem with the die it will show up on any brass. He just needs a second sample, it doesn't matter whether it's once fired or new.
 
OK, FINALLY! After getting tons of replys from multiple sites, it seemed more and more that I had a die issue. I was lucky enough to borrow a used die and what do you know it works. Tried this die with several lubes to check the differences, some easier than others. Put my die back in and no, it won't go. Which would explain all the sizing marks I had mentioned. I assumed the new die was good, as I should have. Tons of replies, some never had problems, some had issues, some had stuck and or broken cases, a real good learning experience to say the least. Thanks to everyone for trying to figure this out for me, greatly appreciated !!!
 
Well, let me be the first to say......


That's what you get for buying Lee!
















J/K There's some of that red junk on my bench too.:p;)
 
Send an email off to Lee customer service and they will look after you. They may want the die back, but a photo may be all they need. Stuff happens.
 
HIGHRPM said:
OK, FINALLY! After getting tons of replys from multiple sites, it seemed more and more that I had a die issue. I was lucky enough to borrow a used die and what do you know it works. Tried this die with several lubes to check the differences, some easier than others. Put my die back in and no, it won't go. Which would explain all the sizing marks I had mentioned. I assumed the new die was good, as I should have. Tons of replies, some never had problems, some had issues, some had stuck and or broken cases, a real good learning experience to say the least. Thanks to everyone for trying to figure this out for me, greatly appreciated !!!
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Could be a mismarked die, maybe 30-30? Anyways, a rare occurence - first I've heard of.
 
It`s good that you found the problem, a die is easily replaced. A guy has to remember that all chambers and dies are cut to Min and Max specifications. I ran into this with a pair of BSA 30/06 rifles, brass from one was a pain to size the other no problem. Reamers have a set of Saami specs to follow, starting with a max dimention and being sharpened down to min dimensions. Military specs may be more generous, so a max cut chamber with a min die can be a bad combination.
 
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