cases keep getting stuck

[red95gtcoupe]

I am trying to run .308 brass through my lee full length resizing die and they keep getting stuck when they get about 1/4-1/2'' from the base. I set the die height according to Lee, the brass has been cleaned and I have even tried to wipe each case individually. I use One Shot lube and have tried everything from just spraying it on to rubbing it around with my fingers making sure the whole case is lubed. Ive let it sit like the instructions say and even tried when a little wetter and even waited a little longer. The brass is RP and the press is a Lee turret. Any ideas? I am new to reloading but have gone through the Lee and Lyman manuals, plus read a ton before starting. I have reloaded .223 with the 2 die RCBS sets and it went perfectly smooth. The Lee was part of the pacesetter die set.

thanks
Brian

 

[rcmodel]

Any chance the decapper stem is set so far down it is hitting the inside base of the case?

Someone will be along to quickly point out that One-Shot is slightly less useful then goat urine for case lube. And you need to use Imperial Sizing Die Wax to cure your reloading problem, acne, and obeseness.

I have used One-Shot for years without a problem, although I do prefer Midway or RCBS lube.

Could it be that .308 cases are harder & thicker then anything else you have reloaded before?

Unless the case gets completely stuck in the die, and tears the rim off, you might not be pushing hard enough.

rc

 

[red95gtcoupe]

Thanks for the reply. I have broken 2 bases so far trying to remove them so they appear to be pretty stuck. I did notice it takes more force than .223. I have removed the decapping pin and they still get stuck.

Thanks
Brian

 

[~z]

use goat urine and you will not have this problem, sheesh everyone knopws that.
Have you tried taking the die apart and giving it a good cleaning? Decap stem was my first thought too but if you have removed it and still stuck...well thats prolly not the problem.
When you say broken 2 bases so far, what are you refering to? Torn the heads off of two shell cases, ripped the lips off of 2 shell holders? Please clarify.
~z

 

[red95gtcoupe]

ive cleaned the die out several times. The rim on the case is what has broken off a couple times. Ive looked down the die with alight and do not see anything that might be stuck inside.

brian

 

[matrem]

I've used One Shot for several years as my "main" lube.One thing I've experienced with it,and "fault" Hornady with(on their instructions),is not recommending near enough "drying" time.To work it's best, it needs to turn completely "waxy"...Far longer than the instructions recommend.

 

[45ACPUSER]

First off where did the brass come from? Perhaps some once fired from a questionable source? Is this military brass that was fired out of a sloppy chambered MG? You may need to run the brass through a SMALL BASE DIE first......

Screw the HOS, get some Imperial Die Wax never look back!

 

[buck460XVR]

Someone will be along to quickly point out that One-Shot is slightly less useful then goat urine for case lube.

now that's FUNNY !!.......................

 

[SteveW-II]

Are you getting the lube all over the lower part of the case ?

Sometimes if you use spray lube on cases that are still sitting in their reloading trays you don't get the last quarter of an inch covered. Then you get problems like you are describing. I know that in the original post you said that you put it on by hand, but just wondering..

 

[red95gtcoupe]

I lube the entire case. I will try to let it get waxy to the touch next time. The brass was from Remington ammo I bought and shot out of my FAL. I mainly just want to reload it for plinking.

 

[bobotech]

I have had the same issue with certain types of 308.

I use the RCBS case lube or One Shot spray.

When I get new to me random-fired brass from the range or wherever, I will use the RCBS case lube and pad. I just finshed up loading 50 pieces of brass that were a real challenge. I really didn't need the brass, I just felt like seeing if it can be done and I want to see how many loads they can handle.

What they were were crappy 86 date code Indian 308 M80 headstamped brass fired out of a HK 21 belt fed gun. So what does that mean? You have military brass of questionable quality shot out of a very loose fluted chamber. Basically the only thing that could have been worse in this situtaion would have been if the brass was berdan primed but it wasn't.

So I ended up with 54 pieces of miltary 308 with heavy flutes on the side of the brass. I used both my RCBS standard FL sizing die and the RCBS Small Base die. Some of the brass had flutes so heavy that they ended up being non-usable. Overloaded I would imagine and thats not surprising considering that they were Indian.

I tried to use my One Shot spray and only succeeded in getting 2 pieces of brass stuck in the dies. Ended up bending one of the decapping rods. RCBS sent me a new one free of charge. (thanks!!)

So I then used the RCBS case lube and pad. I rolled them out and slowly resized them. If I felt the press getting hard like it was going to stick, I released it and relubed the brass and tried again. I ended up losing 5 or so of the brass due to either cracked necks or such bad flutes that the brass was unsizable.

I ran them though my standard sizing die first then the small base die.

Once I loaded them all up, they chamber fine in my Saiga 308 so I'm anxious to see how many times the cases will hold up to repeated firings.

I'm doing this only because I have heard that reloading fluted brass shot out of HK chambers is futile and you will only get one or two reloads before the brass self-destructs. We shall see.

 

[ants]

One Shot and it's brethren work, if you let them.

The lubricant is suspended in alcohol. If you don't shake the can/bottle continuously while spraying, the lube begins to separate to the bottom while you're spraying. Pretty soon the pickup tube sprays a mixture that's 80% lube and 20% alcohol, which works GREAT, until most of the lube is gone. The remaining mixture is 80% alcohol with insufficient lubricant to do the job. That's when the cases get stuck.

How do I know this? From years of removing cases stuck in a die.

 

[ants]

An alternative...

My neighbor has a goat. Bring your cases over. I'll give the billy a couple beers while you hold the brass underneath him, until the 'lube' comes out. Take them back home and test to see which one is better: One Shot or goat lube.

 

[red95gtcoupe]

Thanks guys. I let a couple sit for awhile until they pretty much appeard dry and they sized a lot easier. It still required some force, but not near the amount it took before. I'll make sure to keep shaking the One shot bottle before spraying too. Ill try to resize a few more then put the decapping pin back in the die.

Brian

 

[red95gtcoupe]

Just primed about 40 cases of .308. Once the case gets tacky, they size very easily. I wonder how much easier the .223 would have been if I let it get this tacky. So apparently that was the problem. The One Shot needs a long time to set up. I put the pin back in that everything went smoothly.

Thanks for all the help.
Brian

 

[FROGO207]

I don't use a loading block. I use a dish recycled from the local deli that I got some cole slaw in. Stand the cases up (308 about 2/3 the way up side) while holding the container at about a 45 degree angle fill it about half full. Keeping the container tilted start spraying the one shot in and rotate the container so that the brass tumbles/rolls down. After 1.5 revolutions stop spraying and roll for about 4 revolutions. Dump out on to an old plastic plate (yard sale)and let dry about 5 minutes. Uses less lube, I can lube 1200 308 brass with some to spare. Remember to shake can as spraying.

 

[Gizmo]

I found the lee die full length sizer isn't perfect. If i screw mine in like the directions say, i believe it undersizes my case. I can see a slight ring around the web above the head. I had to back off and turn my Lee fls die out 1/2 turn. To me theses dies don't have the greatest tolerances.I have noticed that when lowering the ram the case feels like it wants to stick. I use imperial sizing wax which works very well. I am going to try a set of RCBS .308 dies and see what happens

 

[Randall]

stuck case

use a little dish soap or LEE case lube or RCBS case lube,mink oil works well too

 

[LeverGunJunkie]

red95gtcoupe: I had the same exact problem. On the upstroke, the expander would get ripped out of the die. :banghead: I was using Lee case lube, and figured all the gunk formed in the die caused almost a suction. Funny thing is the same die worked fine on my .307 cases.

Lee sent me a new die, but never tried it. I use a RCBS FL sizer now, or a Lee neck sizer.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Sure buck460SVR...I can do that.

Red95gtcoupe...STOP using Hornady One Shot!! Go to a lube pad similar to RCBS or go to one of the hand applied waxes that are highly recommended.

I've tried One Shot and had nothing but stuck cases. The only case it seemed to work on were .30-30 and my wife's squeeky rocking chair...

Are ya happy now, buck460SVR?

For the record...I've been using RCBS pad and lube for 24 years and the only stuck cases I have ever had were when using One Shot...

 

[MissouriCrowinMass]

For my large rifle cases, I use plain old Castor Oil you buy in the drug store. I got the tip from the Swiss Rifle Forum re 7.5x55's.

I rub the CO on with my finger careful not to get any on the case shoulder. I hit the case mouths with a slightly covered Q-tip. Works great. Cheap.

I'm in no rush.....after I Size & CLean the primer pockets, I wash the cases in a mesh bag in a washing machine. I let them dry for a couple of days before priming & loading.

 

[jimmertoons]

I have been using a mixture of pure lanolin and 100% acetone for lube. I haven't had a stuck case since switching, even korean 30-06. I mix the componets at a 5:1 ratio, mix well and spray. Dillon sells the same stuff for a whole lot more. One 12oz bottle will treat several thousand 308 cases.

 

[alanjtc73n]

Is the breather hole at the top of the die clear? I had a suction problem on mine once making it hard to remove the case.

 

[cruft]

just last night tried for the first time to use oneshot instead of imperial. what crap. won't make that mistake again.

 

[Mags]

Shoot a liitle bit of that One Shot up inside of the die be careful not to over lube as you can get lube dimples also adjust your decapping pin where it is flush with the adjustment bolt. tighten the adjustment bolt down but don't make it gorilla tight. The Lee dies are designed to push the decapping pin up before the case gets stuck.