Need Advice. Shaving belt(sorta) off of WWB 54R brass when sizing.

[FieroCDSP]

Hey. I just started resizing my WWB 7.62x54Russian cases and to get the full throw of the lever, I need considerable force, even with a proper application of Lee lube. The force isn't the issue. The Winchester cases seem to have a thicker "belt" near the rim. It's not a true belt, but it looks like the taper starts .156" from the rim on factory cases and .126" from the rim on my full resized cases (the ones that the die made it all the way to the holder). I get a little shaving of brass on the rim when this occurs.

Is this a bad problem? Or is it something that is just a detail of the difference between factory and resized brass that I am only now encountering. I am using the Lee die set with the .308" expander.

 

[dcloco]

It can be.

Has this brass been shot from a milsurplus rifle? One rifle or more than one?

Looks like you probably have a chamber that is on the large side of life.

Can you post a picture or two?

 

[FieroCDSP]

It's a surplus M44 Mosin. No picts, but it probably wouldn't help. THe difference is barely visible and looks like Winchester chose to start the case's taper a little further out than Lee anticipated, though an oversized chamber has crossed my mind. I might have to locate a neck sizing die, if I can.

 

[stubbicatt]

FWIW, the chambers on these rifles were built long on purpose.

A custom sizing die will solve your issues.

Call C&H Tool and Die. They can make you a custom full length resizing die for the 54r for a right reasonable price.