Brass resizing problem

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  • DarrellA

    Jacksonian Independent
    Aug 20, 2013
    1,184
    MD
    I have a batch of 2x fired brass that started life as FGMM factory rounds. And a batch of 4x fired Norma brass. I deprimed and cleaned and started on the full size resizing.

    For some reason I can't get the press to close on the brass. And I've leaned on the handle much harder than is probably advisable, I'm lucky I don't have a stuck case.

    I thought maybe I goofed up something on the press so I ran a factory fresh piece of Winchester brass through the sizer - no problem.

    All .308 brass. Tried Imperial Sizing Wax and RCBS Case Slick lubes, cleaning the die between using the different lubes. I've used all these lubes, dies, and brass previously with no problems.

    It is entirely possible I've used this brass in different AR10's. But since I size for semi-autos by doing a healthy set-back on the shoulder vs. a smaller set-back I might use on a bolt gun, I thought different rifles wouldn't matter. I don't believe I've ever been religious in segregating my brass according to which semi-auto rifle it was used in.

    What could have changed to cause this issue?
     

    K31

    "Part of that Ultra MAGA Crowd"
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 15, 2006
    35,632
    AA county
    Have you tried adjusting the expansion ball upwards? Maybe the other brass is thicker in the case head area.
     

    DarrellA

    Jacksonian Independent
    Aug 20, 2013
    1,184
    MD
    Have you tried adjusting the expansion ball upwards? Maybe the other brass is thicker in the case head area.

    I hadn't, but just did on your suggestion. Even took the expander ball out entirely. No dice. But, thanks for the idea. At least we've eliminated that issue.

    Ran another factory fresh Winchester through, just to be sure I haven't totally lost my mind. Worked fine.

    Could the brass have expanded to some unusually large % and not rebounded sufficiently? Would it have ejected if it did? I'm going to measure some things on the fired brass and compare it to fresh brass … and some other reloaded rounds I have around.
     

    K31

    "Part of that Ultra MAGA Crowd"
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 15, 2006
    35,632
    AA county
    What about beveling the mouth of one case to see if it's hanging up on the neck opening of the die?
     

    Uncle Duke

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 2, 2013
    11,667
    Not Far Enough from the City
    I have a batch of 2x fired brass that started life as FGMM factory rounds. And a batch of 4x fired Norma brass. I deprimed and cleaned and started on the full size resizing.

    For some reason I can't get the press to close on the brass. And I've leaned on the handle much harder than is probably advisable, I'm lucky I don't have a stuck case.

    I thought maybe I goofed up something on the press so I ran a factory fresh piece of Winchester brass through the sizer - no problem.

    All .308 brass. Tried Imperial Sizing Wax and RCBS Case Slick lubes, cleaning the die between using the different lubes. I've used all these lubes, dies, and brass previously with no problems.

    It is entirely possible I've used this brass in different AR10's. But since I size for semi-autos by doing a healthy set-back on the shoulder vs. a smaller set-back I might use on a bolt gun, I thought different rifles wouldn't matter. I don't believe I've ever been religious in segregating my brass according to which semi-auto rifle it was used in.

    What could have changed to cause this issue?

    Has your load changed by chance from loads you were shooting previously? Are you by chance shooting in this heat?

    Wondering if you're seeing the result of a hotter than usual (or previously used) load in a somewhat oversized chamber in one of your several rifles.
     

    Speed3

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 19, 2011
    7,816
    MD
    Is the brass going past the neck at all?


    Measure OD of the neck assuming 308? Mine once fired measure .343.
     

    erwos

    The Hebrew Hammer
    MDS Supporter
    Mar 25, 2009
    13,866
    Rockville, MD
    Which specific FL resizer are you using? I've been shooting 308 FGMMs from bolt guns and semis and have had no issues whatsoever with resizing them using my RCBS FL resizer and Hornady One-Shot.

    You COULD try trimming/chamfering one of them to see if that gets it into the resizer. I am skeptical, but I guess you never know.
     

    GuitarmanNick

    Ultimate Member
    Jan 9, 2017
    2,221
    Laurel
    I would be suspicious of an oversized chamber on one of your rifles which has allowed the cases to expand beyond allowable tolerances.
     

    DarrellA

    Jacksonian Independent
    Aug 20, 2013
    1,184
    MD
    I do have a case gauge, so I will check that. In the meantime I checked and compared some average dimensions on new brass to the 2x fired FGMM brass. 5 pieces each, selected at random.

    • Cartridge Base to Shoulder grew by 0.0054". Avg. CBTS is 1.6234" Seems about right.
    • Diameter at roughly the center of the brass grew by .0076". Avg. diameter is 0.4647" Seems suspicious.
    • Overall length is shorter by .0046". I must have trimmed the brass too short last time! The new Winchester averages 2.0080", the 2x fired brass is 2.0034"
    • Neck diameter grew by .0152". Avg. diameter is .3452" That seems like it could be a problem.


    Any thoughts?

    Thanks
     

    erwos

    The Hebrew Hammer
    MDS Supporter
    Mar 25, 2009
    13,866
    Rockville, MD
    Standard 308 Winchester neck diameter is 0.3433". You're only .002" off. When you say you can't close on the brass, what exactly does that mean? Are you getting most of the brass into the die, but just can't get it all in?
     

    DarrellA

    Jacksonian Independent
    Aug 20, 2013
    1,184
    MD
    I checked with the case gauge and it showed what (I think) I should be seeing. Fired, unsized brass is just a tad high at the head and just a tad shy at the mouth.

    After FL sizing I’d expect the shoulder to be pushed back a few thousandths dropping the head down into compliance and the mouth would mover closer and the neck may be stretched, requiring trimming to be compliant for overall length.

    Tried chamfering the case mouth … still wouldn’t run through the die. The die is “Redding 308 WIN FL 5X”.

    Thanks
     

    K31

    "Part of that Ultra MAGA Crowd"
    MDS Supporter
    Jan 15, 2006
    35,632
    AA county
    Are you sure that something hasn't dropped into your press linkage and is keeping the ram from coming all the way up? I have had this happen on a progressive in the past.

    He resized Winchester brass successfully.
     

    John from MD

    American Patriot
    MDS Supporter
    May 12, 2005
    22,734
    Socialist State of Maryland
    I don't think annealing would be the problem. When cases are work hardened, you can still push them into the sizing die. Pulling them out over the expansion ball is where the hardness works against you.

    OP, you are not using a Lee press are you?
     

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