I fired a few rounds from my new (to me) 450 3 /14 NE. Went to reload them and then...I cannot size the first case! When I lubed it more, I started to get some case dents, at least that is what I assume they are as I have never had them before. Am I doing something wrong? Die (RCBS) problem? Chamber problem? How do I tell? I am using a Rockchucker press but do NOT want to get a stuck case.
Thanks, Peter.
PS. I have not had this problem with my 500/416

lube a case, then wipe it all off by hand. Use paper towels and swap out the die and then remove the expander/decapper.

jeffe

you might also add a little lube to the inside of the case neck w/ a Q-tip.

NewGuy. I looked at the sizer die, the inside of the case neck does not touch the mandrel at all. Interesting. The inside of the neck is not supported at all.
peter.

Peter-What does the fired case diameter
measure about 1/4 inch above the base.Maybe
an oversize chamber.Or maybe a sizing die that is built too small. I have had that problem
with dies before, with one that shrunk cases
.008 below specs.What does die mouth measure?..Ed.

Peter,

As mentioned above, it could be:

A. Oversized chamber
B. Undersized die
C. Combination of the two
D. Sizer die chamber not polished smooth enough/corrosion/scratched
E. Wrong caliber/marked die or rifle
F. Die warped during heat treating and no longer concentric

Over the years, I have had all these problems while reloading. One that stands out the most was a set of RCBS 22 Jet dies that I ordered that were actually 221 Fireball dies marked as 22 Jet. Go figure that one... I also got a new set of custom dies that had the whole side collapsed flat because somebody knocking it over during the heat treating process. I guess they figured that I might not notice… RIGHT!!!

I think that I'd go through all the potential problem areas first and eliminate each, one by one. Maybe start with a chamber cast to identify the (true?) caliber/chamber dimensions, then compare that with the dies measurements, while checking for roundness... If the dies are more then about .008†under chamber size, you may be having trouble there… If the dies are too tight for the chamber, either send them back (if out of spec.) or sell them to somebody who has a tight chambered rifle, like me…

Good luck.

This gets more interesting. I fired 8 rounds from my double, 4 from each barrel. Last night I decided to try another case. It resized just fine! I went through all 8. 4 resized fine and 4 did not. I use a Rock Chucker press. Now, I have no proof that I have mismatched chambers, but it is beginning to look like it. When I go out next time, I will mark the cases as to which barrel they were fired in.
Peter.

hubel458. Just reread your post. The resistance to the sizing process starts way up the case, not just close to the base. I measured sized and unsized close to the base and both were the same. The resistance starts probably one inch from the case mouth and gets progressively harder.That is why I decided not to push it!
peter.

Maybe something wrong with front of one
chamber. You have to compare fired cases,
for diameter at mouth or front also, from
each chamber as you think that one is ok due to it resizing fine.Also compare cases for scratches in brass indicating chamber
problems,Ed

Before you do anything you need to take a chamber cast and slug both barrels, then you will know where you stand...You may need two sets of dies to shoot that gun...not a good deal but something you can live with.

Ray, I was hoping to avoid all that! If I have mismatched chambers, can't I have the smaller one reamed out to match the other, and then have the sizer die reamed to match the new chamber?
Peter.