Case won't size properly?

[b.faust]

Anyone here ever had a stubborn case or two?

I was resizing about 600 LC brass cases last night and one felt "off" when I resized it.

I dropped it into my L.E. Wilson and viola. It was out of spec.



So I put it back in the die and it still came out bad.
I then got paranoid and went through about 400 I already had done and found 2 others. (I then went through every single case in the house...I found none, but it was a long night...)

Anyway, I've never had this happen before. Now I have the Wilson gauge next to my press and after each one I drop it in there quick.

On a side note, when I was through my batch I went back and lowered the die a bit more and it still stayed out of spec. I also cleaned the die really good before I did this.

Is this common? What would cause this on three cases out of 600+?

[waawaaweenie]

I have had that happen too

I always lube it up real good (I use Imperial wax) and run it thru again

sometimes it comes out good and sometimes it gets tossed

may have something to do with the brass getting too hot and losing its temper

but I am no metallurgist so I have no real clue, only my guess

[bruceflinch]

Were these new or once fired?

[Californio]

Look it the case Rim, sometimes when ejected the rim has a cut, snag, and needs a file swipe to drop in the gauge. I get that with .45 acp that don't like the shell holder and need a zip of the file. I have seen it on semi rifle brass also.

[b.faust]

Look it the case Rim, sometimes when ejected the rim has a cut, snag, and needs a file swipe to drop in the gauge. I get that with .45 acp that don't like the shell holder and need a zip of the file. I have seen it on semi rifle brass also.

That was totally it. Thanks man!

All three had a little 'dimple' on the rim. I wouldn't have noticed unless someone told me to look.

Problem solved!
Thanks again!
B

[fguffey]

You are using a two ended gage, meaning the case is measured from the shoulder/datum back to the head of the case, and, from the shoulder/datum to the mouth of the case.

Point? you have the gage standing on the closed end of the gage, the case could be sized correctly from the head of the case to the shoulder but the case length could be too long from the shoulder to the mouth of the case.

So, with the case mouth setting on the table with the gage there is no way to get an accurate reading.

F. Guffey

[bruceflinch]

So, with the case mouth setting on the table with the gage there is no way to get an accurate reading.



^ IIRC, that is how you're supposed to do it.

[Noonanda]

If the case needs To be trimmed, the way he is using the gauge will/could give an inaccurate reading. I hold me gauge in my hand and check the brass

[b.faust]

Already thought of that guys. it's sitting on an a surface that has a large hole drilled in it so the shell will pass through ok.
I dropped it in and realized right away that'd be a problem so I made a 'stand' for it.

See, I pay attention in Calguns class.

[fguffey]

[b.faust]

Not boring stuff at all. Good info. That's why I haunt the reloading section these days. Picking up a lot of tips and great info I don't find in the books.

Thanks for taking the time!
B.