308 reloading... #$^&@#&* (sizing and depriming)

[electric7]

I just started 308. I use the RCBS 308 AR die set #15507. The 308 and 7mm mags cases are tough to resize without breaking the table. I make sure they are lubed up good, but it always feels like something is going to break. I've reloaded CBC/Magtech, PMC, and PPU.

Easiest to hardest was:
1) PMC
2) CBC
3) PPU

[downrange67]

A little imperial wax on a q tip should fix you problem

[bigbossman]

Processing .308 or 30-06 (even LC cases) should not be giving you the fits you are having., and it is not the Lee die set, either. Something is wrong with your process.

I've shot a ton of LC ball, and have been reloading the cases for years with a Lee die set for Highpower competition...... literally thousands upon thousands of cases, without issue.

When I get home from a shoot, I toss the fired brass in a pie plate, spray with Midway lube, and then de-prime/re-size using the Lee die with expander ball. That's it. No special tools, no special die, no special multi-part process.

After the de-prime/re-size, I then trim, chamfer the neck, and ream the primer pocket if needed, and then tumble the brass clean. Then I re-prime and add it to the Tupperware container for prepped and ready to load brass.

Your experience is not normal - you're doing something wrong. If by chance you are near the SF East Bay area, I can take a look if you like.

[J-cat]

U don't clean the cases before resizing?

[baffomet]

Pretty much. But I have used the lee for thousands of .308 or 7.62 lake city with no problem. Of course it takes more effort, but something is wrong with your process.

Make sure you have clean brass
Proper lube on case & Mouth (To much lube is just as bad as to little)
Proper die adjustment
Hit the gym

I second this! I've reloaded thousands of .308 or 7.62, and 30-06 LC cases with my single stage Lee press using Lee dies and have not had any problems.

My process consists of using the Universal Decapping die to pop all the primers out. I then tumbled my brass with a walnut media, lube, resize, tumble again (I like really shiny brass), and then off to trimming, etc...

The only reason why I use the Universal decapping die is because I sort my larger caliber brass after it's been clean once. This also allows me to crank through depriming and makes resizing easier.

[delta 1/7]

I have done a few hundred with my RCBS dies and never any major problems ... If I feel it getting tight. I just throw a little case lube and its usally good to go....

A lot of good answers on this thread ... Hope it helps

[gunboat]

grind or polish a taper on the upper side of the expander button --
this lets the button return smoothly though the sized neck --