Case not getting in the FL die (solved)

[garyngwind]

i just got a set of Lee dies, and tried a small batch of ten 308s to see if it works. It did originally, the case went in the FL die with the usual amount of resistance; Lee's case lube were used, and maybe a bit too much so there was a bit of built up on the deprimer/mandrel that i wiped off after.
So after the first ten, and about 10 miuntes later, i tried a few more, but the case won't go in the die. It's like it hit a wall. Took the die off, clean it, and relube with either Ballisto, Hoppe oil, or One Shot spray, and none of them works, the case still won't go in.
If I take the mandrel off, the old case wont go in the FL; but, with the mandrel off, the one of those resized brass from the first ten would go in. so what gives?

edit: okay, i was a royal idiot. As some has mentioned, i lubed the die and also the casing, BUT, only the neck (outer & inner), and completely ignored the body. Once i lube the whole case, it went right in.
Another thing to note: One Shot did not work at all with Lee die (it supposed to be carbide), but with my friend's Hornady die, One Shot worked flawlessly. The only lube I have is the Lee's "toothpaste" and that did the job.
For rifle rounds, i only had experience reloading 223 and 300win mag, and for both One Shot was sufficient (both used with Lee dies).

[baih777]

Did you lube the inside of the necks.

[garyngwind]

let me try again, i been taking it apart, clean, try one lube, rinse and repeat too many times that i could have lost track. I know for sure i did lube the inside with One Shot.

[baih777]

read the directions. I think your suppose to let the one shot dry for a few minutes

[pdq_wizzard]

where did you get the brass you are trying to size?

how are you setting up the die?

also, the one shot should be renamed "one stuck" get some imperial sizing wax.

[Divernhunter]

^^^ You got that right about one stuck. I use RCBS SPRAY(pump) lube or Dillon and do not have any problems even with 50BMG which has been fired full-auto.

OP---If you are near me contact me and I may be able to help you.

[ironhorse1]

A case of not enough lubrication. Believe it or not before all these fancy case lubes came out all that was used was gun oil or 3 in 1 oil.

Placing a drop on your finger it was wiped on below the shoulder. If done right smooth as glass. Too little the case would get stuck.

Recommend brushing the case mouth with Motor Mica as well. The dust left on the neck will help with the resizing and the Mica inside helps the ball slide smoothly in and out.

irh

[chromatica]

I have run into this problem. I had the expander ball mounted too high up in the die so the case mouth didn't have enough clearance to fit between the expander ball and the walls of the die. Try adjusting the die so that more of the decapping pin protrudes from the base.

If the fit was too tight, you might have scored the expander ball. Try polishing the expander ball. Chuck the whole thing in a drill and apply a drop of Flitz metal polish using a shop rag. The expander ball should shine like the sun after that.

Powdered micah is used to lubricate the inside of the case mouth. You can buy it online.

If you have trimmed the cases, make sure you have removed the burr on both the inside and outside edges of the case mouth.

[noylj]

There is always the chance that the case you have problems with were NOT fired in your gun and may have been fired in a gun with excessive chamber dimensions, making it hard to size,
but:
1) are you lubing the case body before running it in the sizing die? Reads almost like you are lubing the DIE instead of the bullet.
2) You only need dry lube for the inside IF you are having problems smoothly removing the case from the die due to the expander ball. I have never had this issue, but so many say they do.
3) Spray lubes MUST be allowed time to dry. I still prefer my RCBS Lube Pad on case lube. Just roll the case along the pad and its ready to go.
4) Trim cases AFTER sizing. Always lightly chamfer the case mouth inside and out the first time you use it and every time you trim it.

[someoneeasy]

How about a picture OP?

[Divernhunter]

noylj---Not ALL SPRAY lubes must dry. The old RCBS pad and lube is a big pain and messy. I know I used one for many years. The RCBS pump SPRAY lube is used by placing brass into an old baking pan. A couple of squirts the shake and a couple more squirts and start sizing. I do not get stuck cases. I try to get some spray into some of the case mouths. Then I do not need to use mica or anything else for the expander ball to be lubed. After sizing I toss the brass into the tumbler for a few min and then check flash holes and hand prime. Unless I trim and chamfer 1st.

[noylj]

>The old RCBS pad and lube is a big pain and messy

In 45 years of using it, it has never been either a pain or messy and I have never had a stuck case. Of course, if you don't use it correctly, I have no idea what problems one could have.
I have never needed anything lube in the case neck while reloading .223, 7mm T/CU, .30-30, or .30-06, so never saw first hand what issues one can have with not lubing the neck internally or problems with the expander ball. I don't say there aren't any, just that I haven't seen them in my reloading.
Sorry, guess I should say that all the sprays I have USED (Hornady One-Shot, Dillon, Frankfort Arsenal, and Lee case lube dissolved in water) have needed to dry for a few minutes. I have used these, as needed, on those days when 9x19 cases fight being resized.

[AGGRO]

It is possible to get some brass that is so blown out it's just not worth even trying. I had 40 out of 100 I ordered that were fired in some seriously loose chamber. After using every lube known to man kind and a cheater bar on the rock chucker I got one stuck and had to drill/tap and pull. No thanks.

[tonyjr]

You don't say what press you are using - does not matter .
Anyway I deprime 1st with the Lee universal . [ I am on a load master ]
Anyway , the Lee ball stuck out to far from tool head and got bent . Every case cause it to bend a little more .
Look in primer pocket for scratches .
Lube wise , I use mica dust on 45 ACP thru 50 AE . Bottle necks get RCBS spray . I tried one shot , home mixtures - imperial wax - did not like them .
I have found a lot of different things on range brass [ pistol ] . Light loads and heavy crimps I think .
One thing no one has mentioned is there are 308s out the that use small rifle primers .
Your die may have seated in .
1st polish ball and inside of die . Try a different lube . People have their own likes from3 in one to auto tranny fluid - but if you go off beaten path - make sure you clean cases afterward

[LynnJr]

Completely remove the stem and depriming rod and see if your situation improves.
If yes post back.