Sizing Die Issue

[liberalwithagun]

I am new to reloading. I recently just set up a Lee turret press w/ a Lyman die set. I have not gone past the deprime/priming stage. However, I am having some major problems after the prime has been removed. When trying to take the bullet down it takes quite alot of power to get the ram to move down. It is as if the case is getting stuck on the way back down. When the case finally comes out it is so violent it will dislodge the primer arm and primer.

It should not be a lube issue. The cases have been very well lubed.

Is it an adjustment issue?

 

[Walkalong]

What caliber? Bottle necked rifle?

When you say take the "bullet" down, I am assuming you mean the case.

 

[liberalwithagun]

Whoops, I did mean case.

I am reloading .223

 

[ROCKFISH]

Are you lubing the inside of the case neck?

 

[cfullgraf]

Besides inside of the neck, what are you using for case lube.

If you are using a spray on lubricant, you have to let it dry before sizing a case. This can be 5 minutes or more.

I prefer Imperial Sizing wax or RCBS case lubricant on a lube pad for my rifle cases.

 

[greyling22]

I can almost guarantee you it's a lube issue. either the part that goes inside the case mouth is hanging up (ala rockfish) or you're just not using enough case lube. I've found that with a spray on, it takes a lot for my 223's. Imagine that the spray is black spray paint. My cases need to be mostly black from case mouth to rim. Others say they can lightly dust their cases, or dump them in a bag and hit them with a quick blast and mush the bag around, but for me, it takes a lot of lube.

The lee wipe on lube works well, but takes a while to apply.

 

[LiveLife]

Ooops

 

[gamestalker]

"When the case finally comes out it is so violent it will dislodge the primer arm and the primer"

 

[gamestalker]

"When the case finally comes out it, is so violent it will dislodge the primer arm and the primer"

When your are resizing you are pushing the old primer out any way. So how exactly is this happening. I'm understanding in that you are very new to the process, and may have some difficulty describing what is happening, so please see if you can desribe the probelm again.

And in the mean time, I'll see if I can help you with any adjustment or set up difficulties you may not know are present.

Adjusting the resizing / depriming die:
With the shell holder in the ram, and the press fully extended as if you are resizing a case, thread the resizing die down until it contacts the shell holder and then give it 1/8 to 1/4 additional turn, or until you can feel the linkage pop over slightly without a case in it yet. With the inside and out side of the neck and the entire body of the case lubed, fully run the case into and out of the die. It should have some pretty good resistence but so much that you are struggling with it. And the deprime pin should extend about 3/8" out of the die mouth. To much and it will contact the web area and possibly break the depriming pin or expand the flash hole, or both.

FYI: If you are using a spray on lube make certain you are allowing it to completely dry before resizing or you will be certain to get a case stuck.

 

[liberalwithagun]

Wow do I feel like a dummy. I was not lubing the inside of the neck. I went and did 25-30 cases and it went like clockwork.

I am using RCBS lube + pad.

Is it ok to use the RCBS lube and q tip to do the inside of the neck?

 

[788Ham]

I bought a neck lubing device, holds 3 or 4 brushes, holds a small area to put mica { a form of powder for lubing inside the case neck}, dip the case mouth into the mica and then run brush inside the case mouth, which puts lube inside the case mouth and neck. This solved the tightness when resizing brass.

 

[cfullgraf]

Is it ok to use the RCBS lube and q tip to do the inside of the neck?

A brush is better but a Q-tip will work.

Don't get too much on the outside of the case neck as a build up of lubricant on the shoulder will cause dents in the shoulder during resizing.

With time you will get a feel, but I don't put lubricant in the neck of every case, every other or every third case. There is usually enough residual lubricant left on the seater plug for another case or so to slide out easily.

 

[ROCKFISH]

Q-TIP works for me

 

[liberalwithagun]

Many thanks! Have the sizing/decapping running like a dream now. The case neck brush is SOOO much easier.