Processing brass in Bulk

[JF99]

OK, no brass in the shellplate at all.
Run the ram all the way up.
Snug down the two support dies against the shellplate with all the force 2 fingers will muster.
Lock the dies there.
Then pull the ram back down, add a case and start adjusting the trim die for proper headspace followed by proper trim length.

Randall, thanks again. I tightened down the shellplate bolt and the toolhead clamp bolts, then snugged down the support dies, locked them and set up and locked in the trim die headspace. Didn't even try to add the trimmer motor or vacuum line yet.

On my RCBS precision mic, the initial shells were showing shoulder bump of -.004", right where I wanted them. But when I ran 40 more through the system, the variance is about .007" (from +.001 to -.006).

Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Called Dillon and they agreed with your estimate that the system should be capable of .003" variance.

Best,
Josh

[ar15barrels]

Randall, thanks again. I tightened down the shellplate bolt and the toolhead clamp bolts, then snugged down the support dies, locked them and set up and locked in the trim die headspace. Didn't even try to add the trimmer motor or vacuum line yet.

On my RCBS precision mic, the initial shells were showing shoulder bump of -.004", right where I wanted them. But when I ran 40 more through the system, the variance is about .007" (from +.001 to -.006).

Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Called Dillon and they agreed with your estimate that the system should be capable of .003" variance.

Best,
Josh

Different brass types will react differently to sizing.
This is due to variations in brass hardness.

Sort some cases by headstamp and size 4-5 of each type at one die setting, then measure them.
See how consistent they are within the same type vs within the whole mixed batch.

If you are running mixed types like me, just size them all so that even the longest cases are getting sized enough and don't worry about the short ones.

[JF99]

Different brass types will react differently to sizing.
This is due to variations in brass hardness.

Sort some cases by headstamp and size 4-5 of each type at one die setting, then measure them.
See how consistent they are within the same type vs within the whole mixed batch.

If you are running mixed types like me, just size them all so that even the longest cases are getting sized enough and don't worry about the short ones.

Well, I've been trying to control for that, so this last batch was all LC07 with a few LC08s thrown in. Fired only in my ARs, so no surplus machine-gun brass or anything like that.

I realized I haven't been checking how much lube is on each case - pretty much just letting the lube die do its thing. Do you think an excess of lube (e.g. on the first cases after refilling the die) might build up in the size/trim die and prevent later cases from sizing fully?

The problem really seems to be that something is preventing some, but not all, of the cases from getting fully into the size/trim die. . .

[ar15barrels]

The problem really seems to be that something is preventing some, but not all, of the cases from getting fully into the size/trim die. . .

What makes you think this?

[JF99]

What makes you think this?

Well, I'm surely no expert, but I set the size die to bump the shoulders down to -.004 and many are coming out bumped to +.001 or .000, which seems like insufficient sizing.

When I had the trimmer motor mounted, I had it set for 1.750, but some shells were coming out at 1.754+. So that seems like the shell isn't getting close enough to the blade. . .

What do you think?

[ar15barrels]

When I had the trimmer motor mounted, I had it set for 1.750, but some shells were coming out at 1.754+. So that seems like the shell isn't getting close enough to the blade. . .

What do you think?

The hardness of the brass is what you are fighting.
The press frame can stretch differently based on the hardness of the brass AND the amount of lubrication.
Screw the trim die down a little more so that even the longest cases are getting sized enough to fit into your guns.

[ZakAttackMan]

How long does a RCBS Lube dies decaping stem last before bending?

The reason I'm asking is I have around 25,000 cases to do and I'm ordering the lube die soon and want to know how many decaping stems and pins I would need?

I know that I could always do it on the loading setup but I like the idea of having a prep completed round come out of my 650 with every pull (except for the swaging).

[ar15barrels]

How long does a RCBS Lube dies decaping stem last before bending?

One berdan case will do it in.
I keep a couple spares around.

Call or Email RCBS tech support and tell them the decapping stem bent on your lube die.
Ask for a couple spares so you won't be down if the next one bends too.

[joelogic]

On the high side 1 bent pin per 1k cases.

[SES50]

Great thread, thanks for the all the information.

I have a Dillon 650 but have not seen a Dillon 1050 close up. How are they swaging the primer pockets on the 1050 and is it possible to some how put it one a 650?

Thanks
SES50

[ar15barrels]

Great thread, thanks for the all the information.

I have a Dillon 650 but have not seen a Dillon 1050 close up. How are they swaging the primer pockets on the 1050 and is it possible to some how put it one a 650?

Thanks
SES50

Completely different press designs.
The 650 has fixed dies and the shellplate moves up and down.
The 1050 has a fixed shellplate and the dies move up and down.
Having the fixed shellplate also allows them to swage primer pockets and seat primers during the handle's down-stroke.

Skip to about 1 minute into this video:

[5150bronco]

thanks Randall. I am going to start reloading instead of buying cases.

[BlackRifleFan]

Wow that bullet feeder and case feeder you can really fly! But I noticed he is not checking his charges (powder check die).

Also it appears he is not trimming and swaging?

[BlackRifleFan]

I was reading how Military .308 LC Brass is really good stuff, but the first time it is really hard to work with, you have to decap and size in 2 separate steps because of the primer is crimped on super tight.

Sizing is difficult even with the old primer primer knocked out because most .308 cases were fired from machine guns with loose headspace causing the case to balloon bigger than normal and it takes extra lube and effort to get them back to size.

[Fyathyrio]

Randall,

I'm looking to do a setup similar to yours with the Dillon trimmer and RCBS lube die on my LnL press, now that nearly a year has passed since you wrote this...would you do anything different? I'll be doing both .223 and .308.

Thanks,
Mark