Thread: Die problem

So depriming some 308 cases today that I have been given, I decided to use full length die, I had run half a dozen through with no problem.

Then I had a really tight case (see picture). Turns out the 7.62 case had a much tighter priming hole and not realising I inadvertently over tightened the collet holding the recapping pin and I have stripped the thread on the Lee die.

Next I will read the case first.



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You've invented a new wildcat.

Ribbed.

Bugger......at least its not some weird /obscure cartridge and you will be able to get replacement quickly enough.

A "tight priming hole" per se won't cause that. I suspect the depriming stem was too low and bottomed out of the web.

Originally Posted by 6x47

A "tight priming hole" per se won't cause that. I suspect the depriming stem was too low and bottomed out of the web.

What I suspected. Alsi, that case looks as if it might have been forced too far into the die. The bottom edge of the shoulder looks "rounded". Is this definitely a .308W case ?

Originally Posted by 30.06king

What I suspected. Alsi, that case looks as if it might have been forced too far into the die. The bottom edge of the shoulder looks "rounded". Is this definitely a .308W case ?

Has 7.62 on the head stamp.

Sadly it has damaged the internal thread too it seems as I tried a cap from another die set and it won't screw in. Guess I will have to dig deep for a new set unless anyone knows of a single full length die for .308W anywhere.

Originally Posted by Happy Jack

Has 7.62 on the head stamp.

Sadly it has damaged the internal thread too it seems as I tried a cap from another die set and it won't screw in. Guess I will have to dig deep for a new set unless anyone knows of a single full length die for .308W anywhere.

7.62 headstamp possibly suggests military brass, meaning some possibility also of Berdan primed ( I think some older European military ammo still in circulation is Berdan primed ). I hope that was checked ...? Seeing the pic better on my PC ( rather than phone ) something weird happened to your brass in the die. There should not be a doughnut at the base of the neck, and, as I mentioned the lower shoulder edge is rounded rather than sharply angled. To me it appears you've attempted to FL size a case longer than a standard .308W Any possibility it might be a 30.06 case ... ?
I agree that it looks like a new die is required.

wingman has one...have tagged you on it.

Carefull when you load those up as well. I had a modest uncompressed load and they have heavy bolt lift and had flattened primers. Tbf I won't bother with ex-mil 7.62 brass in future.

Can't be 30.06. The difference in length is too obvious.

But does look like it was too long for the die.

Could it be 7.65×53mm Mauser?

Originally Posted by Oldbloke

Can't be 30.06. The difference in length is too obvious.

But does look like it was too long for the die.

Could it be 7.65×53mm Mauser?

@Oldbloke Agreed, too short to be 30.06 brass. I also think this case was too long for the die. I'm guessing the case neck is too long ... ?? Looks to me as if the case mouth hit a stop inside the die and when the OP forced the press handle down all the way it has pushed the neck down onto the shoulder, forming that doughnut / ridge and also pushed the shoulder back as well, rounding off the normal sharp angle. Would be interesting if the OP could measure a fired case and compare that to max length in a Reloading Book.
What do you think @Oldbloke @grandpamac , would my theory hold water ?

Originally Posted by 30.06king

@Oldbloke Agreed, too short to be 30.06 brass. I also think this case was too long for the die. I'm guessing the case neck is too long ... ?? Looks to me as if the case mouth hit a stop inside the die and when the OP forced the press handle down all the way it has pushed the neck down onto the shoulder, forming that doughnut / ridge and also pushed the shoulder back as well, rounding off the normal sharp angle. Would be interesting if the OP could measure a fired case and compare that to max length in a Reloading Book.
What do you think @Oldbloke @grandpamac , would my theory hold water ?

Greetings,
I went out to the shed and pulled apart the only set of Lee dies here. I could see no evidence of any stop within the die that would cause a problem, the bit that sizes the neck opens up to a larger dia above and into the recess for the locknut. The locknut seemed to be well clear of the case even an overlength case. I think it was just a problem of thick and hard brass of the military case. The ridge that we can see is just where the sizing stopped due to the resistance. Perhaps the sizing lube was not up to the job or there was not enough of it. As far as the stripping of the threads goes consistent over tightening to stop the expander assembly riding up may have aided its final demise. Making sure that both the outside and inside of the necks are clean and well lubricated plus annealed after each third load go a long way to avoiding problems. As mentioned earlier sorting any brass to get rid of rogue cases would help as well.
Regard Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings,
I went out to the shed and pulled apart the only set of Lee dies here. I could see no evidence of any stop within the die that would cause a problem, the bit that sizes the neck opens up to a larger dia above and into the recess for the locknut. The locknut seemed to be well clear of the case even an overlength case. I think it was just a problem of thick and hard brass of the military case. The ridge that we can see is just where the sizing stopped due to the resistance. Perhaps the sizing lube was not up to the job or there was not enough of it. As far as the stripping of the threads goes consistent over tightening to stop the expander assembly riding up may have aided its final demise. Making sure that both the outside and inside of the necks are clean and well lubricated plus annealed after each third load go a long way to avoiding problems. As mentioned earlier sorting any brass to get rid of rogue cases would help as well.
Regard Grandpamac.

Yep, I think you're dead right. Thanks for going to the trouble of internally checking a disassembled die. Good to know for sure.
Cheers

Greetings,
The case is marked 7.62 and it appears to be the right length (or thereabouts) but it is also likely military. Additional to the possibility of a Berdan primer the military cases are much heavier (and thicker) than most commercial cases and can be quite hard. The Lee dies are prone to the decapper/ expander being driven back when sizing and consequently are overtightened. I can't tell from the photo if it is a ridge from a collapse of the neck or just a step from incomplete sizing of the thick neck. The cases need to be checked and sorted by head stamp and if possible lot and any odd balls culled. The heavy case may just be the last straw that broke the camels back.
Regard Grandpamac.