It appears I have a problem of some sort. I have a new set of RCBS X-dies for .270 WSM. Today I started running some new unprimed Win brass through the sizer die to straighten out the case mouths etc. Then I decided to resize a fired case (factory load Win. ballistic silvertip, nickel brass) and thats when &#$^% hit the fan. The once fired factory cases will only go into the sizer die a little over half way before seizing up (tried about 10 differant ones and all the same result). I put alot of pressure on the press handle and they still aint about to go (cases were lubed). I had to beat the press handle to get the case back out of the die, so I know if I go further they will stick. The new Win unprimed brass goes in the sizer die just fine. I measured the new unfired cases at the case head at 0.550 and the once fired cases measure 0.555 at the same point. The Lyman load manual shows the .270 WSM case to measure 0.555 at this point. So what the heck is going on here???? I also jammed another fired case into the size die as far as it would go and marked the case at the bottom of the size die.The measurement of the case protruding from the size die to the base of the case was 0.737 I took 10 of the fired factory cases and chambered them in the rifle(Win. Mod. 70 Super Shadow) and they fit fine, a little snug but that can be expected from fired unsized brass. Doesanybody have any idea what the problem is and what to do to fix it?? Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks.
Did you clean the once fired cases first? Any chance of grit on them? Shoot some of the new brass and see if it does the same thing. Does the inside of the die feel well polished?
Factory Win ammo is somewhat notorious for being on the warm side. That alone could add to the fun. Try cleaning the dies as well as the cases and see if anything changes.
Posts: 1780 | Location: South Texas, U. S. A. | Registered: 22 January 2004
As CDH reommended, try a new case and see what happens, I'm curious. Call RCBS and let them know what troubles you're having. They may well send you new dies and want to inspect the one you have.
the brass was clean and lubed. the die is also clean, but as far as polished goes, i'm not sure how slick they are supposed to be, but it does'nt seem rough. As you suggested, I guess I'll go ahead and load a few of the new brass and see what happens with them. Does anyone have a differant load manual that shows measurement of the case head for a 270 wsm?
1st i would shoot a couple of the new brass loads and see how they resize. Nikle brass can be apain in the ass sometimes. What brand is your rifle? ...tj3006
What about the neck of the fired cases? Could they be fouling on the neck sizing part of the die instead of squeezing down and going in? Just a thought!
Is it a dead stop or more of a progressive resistance?
Posts: 231 | Location: West Virginia | Registered: 22 December 2003
There are several things to check that may cause this problem. As stated before I would make sure the die has a very smooth finish on it. I mean mirror finish, something at least in the 600 grit range and 800 would be better with a crocus cloth final polish.
The RCBS dies are very hard but will polish if you take them to someone with a lathe they can easily polish them up like I do in my shop.
THe problem with the WSM rounds is that there is very little case taper combined with a large baring surface of the case to the die. Any roughness in the die or on the case transfered to it from a rough chamber from firing will create more resistance when sizing.
A few other things to check, measure the shoulder diameter of your fired cases. It is obviously this area that is tight and not your case head as it is not even in the die yet.
Another thing that may seem obvious but sometimes happens is that the expander ball is adjusted to high in the die and can pinch the case neck between the ball and the wall of the die.
Finally, lube the hell out of the cases. These modern minimum taper cases require alot of lube to size smoothly. Just keep it on the body of the case and not on the shoulder or the neck.
Nickel cases are much harder then plain brass cases, if you have a loose chamber, it will be harder to size nickel cases down again.
Hope this helps,
Good Shooting!!!
50
Posts: 701 | Location: Fort Shaw, MT | Registered: 09 April 2002
If there is any hydro-carbon based oil (factory preservative) in the die you can get just that problem. Clean the die with some solvent like naptha, lacquer thinner ect. For a case lube there is nothing better than Imperial Die Wax, nothing. Good luck1
Posts: 217 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 20 December 2002
Well, I don't have access to a lathe or any emery cloth that fine to polish the dies with, but; I will measure the shoulder diameter, remove the expander ball/stem and try sizing a case without it, add more lube (don't have imperial die wax-YET)to the case body, and clean the inside of the die with laquer thinner. Once I get these results, I'll report back. Thanks to all for the ideas and help, please keep'em coming till I get this fixed.
What fiftydriver said. Try more lube. I've run cases over a well-dressed lube pad and still had sticky sizing. If the shoulder dents but case sizes easily you know it's a lube problem and there's a happy median to be found.
I started loading 35yrs ago lubing with beeswax in a tin. Anybody remember that stuff? You could smear it on as thin as possible and sizing was easy.
Posts: 612 | Location: Atlanta, GA USA | Registered: 19 June 2000
The best lube I've found (i've tried many) is Bardhal. Saturate a shop rag and keep it in a sealable plastic bag .When you want to use it ,take it out of the bag and put it flat on a board and roll your cases.Since I started using this I have not stuck a case in a die. I do remember that tin of lube. Started with it in 1957. Didn't know it was bees wax. roger
Posts: 10226 | Location: Temple City CA | Registered: 29 April 2003
Well not that it matters now, but I measured a case at the shoulder 0.541 I cleaned the dies in Laquer thinner, backed out the expaner stem, Lubed the hell out of a case, then lubed it again, then sprayed it with "one-shot", then full length sized it-went in the die just like it should have. I never would have believed it but I guess it was lack of lube, or that whatyamacallit stuff in the die or a combination of the two. I'm an idiot and everybody else here is a genius. Thanks again for all the replies and help. The creator of this site should be commended because it is truly the most valuable tool a reloader can have. Thanks again-problem solved.
Try running a new case into the die and see if it sticks up like the fired ones do. Could be you got the wrong die. Hell I get confused about the "Short Mags" and the "Super Short Mags". Something is out of kilter and thats for sure.Godsdog.
roger
