308 dies

[hankpac]

I picked up a used set of RCBS 308 dies, and decided to run up some of the brass that came with the purchase.
The brass is IVI, (whomever that is) and looked fairly clean. Single flash hole in the center like it should have. I cleaned and polished the brass, sprayed RCBS case lube on everything, cleaned the dies, and lightly oiled them, set them up according to the instructions and slipped a case in the case holder, and ran the press ram up wow. This was like trying to size a case that was NOT the right size. I visually checked the case and others against a few known loaded 308 rounds.
A couple of rounds passed easily, but all the others (58 cases) would simply NOT feed.
I don't know if the die could be that far out of spec, or if the cases are deformed from being shot in a loose chamber, or what. The guy I bought from has used the cases and this die for a long time.
I tossed all the cases, and will seek commercial brass.
Any thoughts

 

[tlen]

IVI= Industries Valcartier Inc., Valcartier, Quebec, Canada
If the "other" guy was able to reload and chamber the cases it might be a slight set up problem. You might want to make sure the sizing die is almost hard up on your shell holder at full stroke. It doesn't take much to be off enough for rounds not to chamber. I've had this happen to me.

 

[rcmodel]

Unscrew the decapping stem a turn or two and try it again.

The only thing that could possibly completely lock up a clean & lubed case in the die before sizing is complete is the decapping stem screwed in so far it is hitting the bottom of the case before full stroke is reached.

rcmodel

 

[MarshallDodge]

What are you used to sizing?

Sizing 308 takes some muscle if they have been shot out of an autoloader, especially a machine gun.

 

[dmftoy1]

Sounds VERY similiar to the LC .308 once fired I picked up from Midway. Have you tried to drop a "sized" case into a case gauge? I'd bet it won't drop flush until you resize with a SB die.

Just my .02

PS - While trying to size that LC brass I felt like I was gonna rip my press off of the bench. It caused me to mount a piece of 3 inch wide 1/4" angle iron under my bench as reinforcement.

 

[Sunray]

IVI is Canadian milsurp. It's very good brass, but as milsurp it's also a bit thicker than commercial. Lots of shooters, up here, have used it for eons. When they can get it.
If you don't have a full length sizer die, that would explain why it wouldn't chamber. Using brass fired in any other rifle, but yours requires FL resizing. However, pitching it isn't a terrible thing. You have no idea what the guy has been doing with it.
If you oiled the inside of the die, take that out, it's not needed. Case lube is enough.