Lee breech lock hand press kit

[rsrocket1]

For 7.62x54R I use a Franken-hodgepodge method of reloading. Most 91/30's have very generous chambers to ensure shooting of any bullet that is close to spec. Full length resizing with the Lee FL die is a chore on a bench mount press much less than a hand press. On top of that, it is needlessly overworking the brass. The stock FL die sizes the neck way below .308, then the expanding plug opens it up to around .308". 7.62x54R bullets are .310" - 0.312" so you need to expand the case mouth just to start the bullet unless it's a boat tail. I use 0.315" bullets because my bore is 0.314". You can see that you will work harden the case neck a lot with the FL sizer.

I use the Lee Loader kit (the "whack-a-mole") to decap and neck size the case. Unfortunately there is no neck size only die from Lee in 7.62x54R.
I then use my bench mounted single stage press to prime, seat and close the bell for my lead bullets.

I've heard some use a British .303 neck sizing die. That would be ideal for a hand press. The force needed to neck size only is very low.

[morthrane]

Maybe I will FL resize a .223 and see how hard it really is. MAYBE those that said to not FL resize were a bunch of candy asses and had no business being near a press in the first place. The world will never know because it was about 4 years ago when I looked it all up and talked with a couple of folks...

Wow, and to think I've been using a hand press to resize 5.56 cases! Why didn't anyone tell me this before I gone dun resized a hundred cases...

(For the record, apparently its worked that much, with Lee FS die, handpress, PPU 5.56 decrimped cases, and imperial case wax lube. Guess I'll have to try some more)