okay I sized a once fired R-P case that was fired from my gun and was factory loaded prior to that. it sized just fine. also a brand new R-P case that was never fired went in just fine. I'm wondering if the yugo stuff has the larger base than the domestic stuff.. could lee dies be based on the domestic 6.5 not the European? I know there are two different base sizes? the pmc also sizes just fine.
brass won't go into die?
- Thread starter suzukisam
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If there is "air" visible between the ram and die base when sizing a case the die isn`t deep enough in the press. Just because it touches the ram when no case is present doesn`t mean it is deep enough to make up for press "flex" when sizing tough brass.
The 6.5x55 has a odd base size, the European stuff is .480" at the web while USA manufactured brass runs .473". you are probably seeing the difference is effort required to size the larger brass compared to the smaller "American".
If the decapping pin isn`t hitting the case web and stopping it from fully entering the die and you can see a gap between the ram and die add a 1/8 turn to the die and try again until no gap is present. This added die depth is needed in some instances to take up the springing of the press and is normal.
The 6.5x55 has a odd base size, the European stuff is .480" at the web while USA manufactured brass runs .473". you are probably seeing the difference is effort required to size the larger brass compared to the smaller "American".
If the decapping pin isn`t hitting the case web and stopping it from fully entering the die and you can see a gap between the ram and die add a 1/8 turn to the die and try again until no gap is present. This added die depth is needed in some instances to take up the springing of the press and is normal.
243winxb
Member
Be sure to let us know if you find out.
LiveLife
Member
suzukisam, I think we are getting somewhere with this curious issue.suzukisam said:
well what I have determined is that the brass coming out of the lee dies is correct, it chambers well, also it measure correct for what my books say it should. or at least very very close. as far as adjusting the die I am very clear on this. I could lower the die another 3/4" and I think my press would rip off the table before the brass sized the first time the lee dies. It is secured with lag bolts so I don't have a cheesy set up or anything. I think theses are large base European brass that have been fired in a large chamber and they are just not going into the lee die.
The rcbs dies I have look like they are from the 70's if not before the are in an old paper box. They came from an estate, and the old man may have tried to make a wild cat, or they may have seen 200,000 rounds, but in any even they are very loose dies. Too loose to put neck tension on the bullet. so being as they are so loos I may just keep them around for any of this brass that gives me trouble..
The rcbs dies I have look like they are from the 70's if not before the are in an old paper box. They came from an estate, and the old man may have tried to make a wild cat, or they may have seen 200,000 rounds, but in any even they are very loose dies. Too loose to put neck tension on the bullet. so being as they are so loos I may just keep them around for any of this brass that gives me trouble..
LiveLife
Member
Ha, thinking worn dies are a bad thing ... a nice silver lining to your "worn" die cloudy thought ...
Do we have the right cartridge for caliber/die verified for sure? Just in case ...
Marsiantourist
Member
''the die is set plenty low in the press it makes full contact with the ram''.
With the single stage presses I'm using the ram must not contact the die under any circumstance because equipment will get damaged. But most importantly, the ram cannot complete its full travel because of being stopped by the die. Unscrew the die a little, you will notice that it now feels different when the case is pushed in the die, it does not stop cold but finishes its way with a different sound. Watching the gap between ram and die, readjust the die so that it will not touch the ram at all with the gap being as small as possible. If the ram is stopped by the die the cases will all be sized differently, depending on the rifle they were fired in they perhaps are larger or smaller, leading to the problem you describe.
With the single stage presses I'm using the ram must not contact the die under any circumstance because equipment will get damaged. But most importantly, the ram cannot complete its full travel because of being stopped by the die. Unscrew the die a little, you will notice that it now feels different when the case is pushed in the die, it does not stop cold but finishes its way with a different sound. Watching the gap between ram and die, readjust the die so that it will not touch the ram at all with the gap being as small as possible. If the ram is stopped by the die the cases will all be sized differently, depending on the rifle they were fired in they perhaps are larger or smaller, leading to the problem you describe.
bds- yeah i triple checked all my dies and brass. see I'm aware of the fact that I'm stupid, so I usually go back and play the game "see what obvious thing I missed this time".But I can't find anything out of spec.
heres the thing.. some of the brass I got(none involved in this conversation) appeared to have been fired in a fairly loose chamber. I just tossed them off to the side. The guy I got all the once fired from has three different milsurp rifles chambered in this. what I'm wondering is if the large base brass(assuming it is) was fired in one of the looser guns maybe it wasn't so noticeable. and with a loose European chamber spec and larger brass if MY lee is set for domestic brass then this could just be why it is soo tough to get it to size.
As far as setting the dies, I appreciate the input but I have tried them every which way but loose. one guy said it wasn't making contact and I was just trying let you guys know that the dies have plenty of clearance. the problem persists no matter how the dies are set
heres the thing.. some of the brass I got(none involved in this conversation) appeared to have been fired in a fairly loose chamber. I just tossed them off to the side. The guy I got all the once fired from has three different milsurp rifles chambered in this. what I'm wondering is if the large base brass(assuming it is) was fired in one of the looser guns maybe it wasn't so noticeable. and with a loose European chamber spec and larger brass if MY lee is set for domestic brass then this could just be why it is soo tough to get it to size.
As far as setting the dies, I appreciate the input but I have tried them every which way but loose. one guy said it wasn't making contact and I was just trying let you guys know that the dies have plenty of clearance. the problem persists no matter how the dies are set
JimKirk
Member
For a negative(-) dimension effect ... you will either have to take material off the top of shell holder or off the bottom of the die.
I was NOT recommending Redding Competition Shellholders ... they are the opposite of what you need.
Jimmy K
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