Problems resizing .308 brass, please help

[varanidguy]

Okay! So I'm having some serious issues resizing .308 brass. I adjust the die exactly how Lee says in the directions, but it isn't sizing the brass properly and the case shoulders aren't falling into spec. This is very frustrating as I got a cartridge stuck in the chamber of my rifle and it was a real billy getting it out. Luckily there was no damage to the rifle or even the cartridge.

When resizing, the cases will not fit all the way up inside the die. The only way I can get them up inside the die is to have the decapper pin set higher than what Lee says to have it set at. Even then, not all of the cases come out sized 100% properly...some do, some don't. I'm using a Lyman .308 Case Length/Headspace Gauge to test out sized cases...factory ammo and about half of my cases fit perfectly into it, then others are off...some being way off. The ones that are sized with the decapper pin set considerably higher than factory specs that don't fit in are off by a C-hair...just barely sticking above the rim of the gauge rather than flush. Then others that are resized at this setting are perfectly flush and seem to fall into specs.

When I adjust the decapper how Lee wants me to, however, it will not resize properly no matter what I do. I adjusted the die by raising the ram, screwing in the die until it touches the shell holder, then giving it another 1/4 turn inward then locking it down. Just like the directions say. Can anyone please help? The only thing I can think of at this point would be to contact Lee for a warranty replacement...

[rsrocket1]

That decapping pin is set too low. Raise it up so that only the pin protrudes below the die body. You can probably go even higher than that. On all my Lee dies, the top of the decapping rod sticks out a few tenths of an inch.

[Yreka]

Yep. if you recheck your instructions there is even a spec for how far the pin should stick out past the die.

Good luck,

-J

[varanidguy]

I did that and the cases now fit a little better...although some I have to lightly tap with my finger, others will drop right in with ease. The ones that drop right in sit flush in the gauge whereas the ones that need a light tap are still a C-hair above the rim of the gauge... Is this cause for concern? Also, the ones that need the light tap also require me to tap the gauge for them to fall out of the gauge whereas the other ones freely drop right back out....

Here are some pictures of the ones that go in and out freely without a hitch and sit flush.





Here's a picture of one that needs a light tap (and by light tap I mean a really light tap of the finger). Please ignore my son's artwork on the wall..he found a sharpie. haha






Any suggestions?

[varanidguy]

Yep. if you recheck your instructions there is even a spec for how far the pin should stick out past the die.

Good luck,

-J

This is all that's in the directions about how to set the decapper...

"The decapper is retained by a collet. Should
it be overstressed by an obstruction; it simply
slides up without damage. To reset, loosen
the decapper clamp and position the decapper
flush with clamp end and retighten."

http://leeprecision.com/cgi-data/instruct/RM3508.pdf

Unless I'm overlooking something?

[baih777]

Adjust the die a little lower. 1/8 more turn is all you need. Lots of lube. Make sure you lube the inside of the neck.

[Sir Toast]

That decapping pin is set too low. Raise it up so that only the pin protrudes below the die body. You can probably go even higher than that. On all my Lee dies, the top of the decapping rod sticks out a few tenths of an inch.

+1. Are you having issues with seating primers? Looks like it is hitting the bottom of the case hard.

That should fix the problem.

[varanidguy]

Adjust the die a little lower. 1/8 more turn is all you need. Lots of lube. Make sure you lube the inside of the neck.

I'll try adjusting it a little lower...my concern is with the cases that still won't seat 100% flush in the gauge...

[varanidguy]

+1. Are you having issues with seating primers? Looks like it is hitting the bottom of the case hard.

That should fix the problem.

Yeah, I moved the rod back up and now it will touch, but I'm still having problems with some of the cases not sitting 100% flush in the gauge... Do you think moving the pin up even more would be necessary?

Oh, and to answer your question, not I'm not having problems seating primers. What actually had happened was I reloaded about 30 cartridges with varying loads with the bullets I want to use. I received a new bolt for my rifle from the manufacturer because the ejector plunger in the last one broke, so I installed the new bolt and cycled some cartridges. Factory ammo cycled fine, but when I went to cycle 5 reloads, the third one got stuck pretty bad. I had to actually remove the barrel to get the stuck cartridge out of the rifle. Which prompted me to get the Lyman gauge...low and behold, every one of my reloads was off. I measured them with calipers but I guess my measurements were off. Factory ammo seats perfectly in the gauge...so I pulled all the bullets, salvaged the powder and bullets, and I'm resizing the out-of-spec reloads and ran into this issue.

[baih777]

I use the Lee die. If that pin is too low, it is designed that if it hits bottom, the pin will push up. Lower the die a little more.

[Yreka]

If the pin in clearing try turning the die in 1/8 (closer to the shellholder) as mentioned..

[09cs]

Any suggestions?

Hide the sharpies better

Try raising the decapping pin a little, that pic posted earlier looks way to low.

[74c5]

You could always try to grind off .010 to .050 inch of the shell holder on the topside. That will force the sizing die to work a touch lower on the case. I did that and now that is my standard .308 shell holder (once fired Mil brass......probably all machine gun brass).
Won't help much if the sizing die is too big though.

[someoneeasy]

From your second picture, the brass isn't being resized fully. Turn the die in more until it makes contact with the shell plate.

And like others have said, your decapping pin is too low.

[varanidguy]

I figured it out, guys. I had to raise the decapping pin (by a lot, actually) and screw the die significantly lower than the directions had indicated....but everything is all good. They are sitting perfectly in the gauge and everything went smoothly...reloaded about 50 cartridges tonight.

Thank you everyone for your input!