Hard sizing 308

[Greg Curci]

I'm having issues FL sizing 308 brass. This is my first batch of 308 I'm reloading so maybe I'm doing something wrong. I'm using custom grade Hornady die installed per Hornady specs (put in until die touches shell holder).Hornady one shot lube, on a single stage RCBS press. I set up the cases in a tray and sprayed them with one shot at an angle to get some in the case mouth and all sides. I waited about a minute per Hornady instructions before sizing. The first case was real hard to get all the way into the die, I used a lot of force. Getting it out was a little easier. The second case I couldn't get all the way into the die and the 3rd case took a lot of force to get into die and ripped the case head off when trying to get out. Once I get this stuck case out I'm going to give it another try, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[jsanch03]

Prior to setting up your die did you take it apart and clean off any of the packaging lubricants/preservatives? Some companies apply it heavier than others. Clean the die, lube the cases and try sizing again

[baih777]

Try one case with more lube.
Inside the neck also

[Flyron]

Hard sizing 308

Prior to setting up your die did you take it apart and clean off any of the packaging lubricants/preservatives? Some companies apply it heavier than others. Clean the die, lube the cases and try sizing again

If your doing a full length sizing of the brass. Clean up, dry all new dies and make sure to lite lube inside the case mouth.

https://youtu.be/6mgIJinR1qI?si=tQPXfpYD0cb65Fmc

[Greg Curci]

Yes, cleaned everything before I started.

[baih777]

Is the brass your own once fired or did you buy it online ?

[Greg Curci]

This set of brass was bought at OC reloading

[CamW]

I had a hard sizing problem with 7.62 military brass that was fired through a machine gun.

[baih777]

What's the headstamp ?

[FLIGHT762]

Try a different lube. One shot, if used properly will work, but a lot of people don't read the instructions, don't use enough and let the solvent flash off before using.

If you have some synthetic motor oil in the house, try a few cases with a light coat and see if they will size.

[smoothy8500]

Never had an issue using this spray lube in the last 10 years....

[ar15barrels]

I'm having issues FL sizing 308 brass. This is my first batch of 308 I'm reloading so maybe I'm doing something wrong. I'm using custom grade Hornady die installed per Hornady specs (put in until die touches shell holder).Hornady one shot lube, on a single stage RCBS press. I set up the cases in a tray and sprayed them with one shot at an angle to get some in the case mouth and all sides. I waited about a minute per Hornady instructions before sizing. The first case was real hard to get all the way into the die, I used a lot of force. Getting it out was a little easier. The second case I couldn't get all the way into the die and the 3rd case took a lot of force to get into die and ripped the case head off when trying to get out. Once I get this stuck case out I'm going to give it another try, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Save the one-shot lube for pistol brass.
Get some Imperial sizing wax or make up some Lanolin/Alcohol lube for resizing rifle brass.
I can get that stuck case out if you don't figure it out on your own.

[divingin]

I'm having issues FL sizing 308 brass. This is my first batch of 308 I'm reloading so maybe I'm doing something wrong. I'm using custom grade Hornady die installed per Hornady specs (put in until die touches shell holder).

Yeah; don't do that. Invariably, those instructions will oversize the brass to the point where a couple more firings will yield separated cases (potentially dangerous - Google "incipient case head separation" or variants thereof for more info.)

Take a couple of fired 308 cases, and either reseat or remove the primer (it will back out when fired, and will interfere with measurements.) If you have no other Case-Base-to-Datum measurement tools (i.e. Hornady Headspace tool), take an empty 9mm case and invert it over the 308 case mouth. Measure the 308 head to 9mm head length. Write that number down. Run the 308 case through your sizing die, and remeasure. You're aiming for 1-3 thousandths shorter after sizing for a bolt rifle, 2-5 thousandths for a semi-auto rifle. Adjust the die and resize until you get there. If the stroke ends up taking a lot of effort, I find that going in small increments, shoving the case in a bit and backing it out, then going a bit further, helps to not jam the case in the die.

For the effort, try waiting longer with One-Shot. Spray it on (don't drench it - just an even coating - I lay cases out, spray, roll the cases, and spray again) and let them air dry for 15 minutes. Make sure you get some inside the case mouths - it'll ease the expander ball part of the sizing process. If you spray One-Shot into the sizing die (I think Hornady recommended that, if not them, I've seen it suggested by someone) make sure you allow it to dry there, too, before sizing brass.

One-Shot doesn't like playing with other lubes. As stated above, make sure the die has been cleaned of other oils/greases/waxes/lubes.

Lastly, there are a lot of other case lubes that are less finicky than One Shot. They do tend to be a little messier though. I use the Royal that someone suggested when I do large loads of brass. Smaller batches I use One Shot. For precision rifle brass I use Imperial or Hornady wax (small batches on a single stage or arbor press.)

it's all about getting a system down that works for you.

[bigbossman]

It has to be a lube problem, I'm thinking.

I use the Lanolin/alcohol mix with no issues, and I size military brass on a SB die.

Stuck case removal is easy, and thre are several instructional videos on YouTube.

[bigbossman]

It has to be a lube problem, I'm thinking.

I use the Lanolin/alcohol mix with no issues, and I size military brass on a SB die.

Stuck case removal is easy, and thre are several instructional videos on YouTube.