I just set up my press and am setting the FL die to resize and deprime and i am getting a small dent in my cases just below the shoulder. I have removed the die and inspected for excess lube and cleaned. Using Lyman Spray Lube on cases.

Chambered one of the dented cases and there was no problem. What am I doing wrong?

Harold, usually there is a piece of trash in your die when what you described occurs. Having said that, I had a die that did what you described, and it had a defect, the die had a small 'bump' in it, it was a Redding, and the eventually replaced it, but frankly, they were a pain to deal with. I prefer other dies than Redding, probably in large part due to that experience. I also don't like that their dies don't have vent holes.

I'm a Forster or RCBS guy mostly.

Sorry to ramble on about manufacturers....I would look inside the die with a flashlight and see if you can detect anything, and really clean that bugger, maybe with some brushes and stuff you would clean your barrel with as an example.

Your probably not doing anything wrong, just a ghost in the machine so to speak.

It is very possible there was trash in the die. Rule 1 with any new equipment, especially new dies, is to CLEAN them with a degreaser before use. You might have had some protective shipping grease shoved up there, hence (too much lube). Use a good degreaser to spray in there, then a good lint free rag of some sort to run up there and wipe out.

But, in my experience, you just described a classic "too much lube" dent.

I've personally never had a problem with Redding, it is all I use. I used to use RCBS, still have some, but I got some deals on the Reddings. Dillon makes good dies too.

I removed and cleaned the die then re-set them and except for a little scrath on the shoulder I got them working. I will get some Fitz and do alittle polishing on the die tommorow.

Are the brass with the little indention ruined? They chamber all right in my gun.

Heck NO!! They're fine! Shoot 'em and they'll blow right out to your chamber wall like they're supposed to, no worries.

Just be sure to use enough lube, but not too much. You'll know as you run the case up in the die...should have a smooth but resisted feel, not too easy.

I think I was putting to much lube on. After about three or four cases I had to wipe out the inside of my die.
Anyway the at least they chamber.

Now on to primming and getting ready to throw powder charge then set bullet.

Harold the first few cases need a tad more lube than the remainder. Clean the dies after each use, and learn the feel that each one possesses. Aftera while you will know when to add a bit more, or back off. We all go through this! And yes the cases are safe to re-expand by shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by Harold R. Stephens:
I just set up my press and am setting the FL die to resize and deprime and i am getting a small dent in my cases just below the shoulder. I have removed the die and inspected for excess lube and cleaned. Using Lyman Spray Lube on cases.

Chambered one of the dented cases and there was no problem. What am I doing wrong?

Some FL sizing dies have a small hole to keep the air from compressing (RCBS) The hole is located in the thread area of the die. Use a fine wire to make sure its open. Or to much lube as others have said.

Harold,
If you can, scrounge up a hand full of extra brass for each sizing die you put into service. Take the extras and practice with them. It might take 5 to 20 to get the hang of the new die. You may scrap or dent a number of them. Once you have the lube technique, switch over to your shooting brass and everything should be fine.

I have sized and primed 40 cases of 270 and 40 cases of 257 Roberts and will start working up my loads. Fixing to set the bullet seating depth on both calibers. Used Federal 210 primers on the 270 and Remington 9 1/2 primers on the 257 Roberts.

Will be using Hornady 130grn SST for the 270 and Sierra Game King 100grn Spitzer BT for the 257 Roberts. I have H-4831SC for my powder choice.

My plan is to work up five round loads up to maximum and head to the shooting range. (Hope I do not blow myself up)

Here is to the wonderful world of reloading.

Good luck! You'll have fun. Wait till you kill your first game animal with your own load!

I am trying to get a load ready to go pig eliminating next weekend. it will be even better if I could eliminte some with my own loads.

Harold, you will be able to use your own loads, have confidence! If you don't like the 4831 in the Roberts, try 4350 and the 100 grain bullet as per manuals. The accuracy will scare you (in a nice sort of way.) Good luck and good shooting.

Got back from the range and was not impressed with my 270 results:
59 grns of H4831SC 130 grn Horandy sst about 3" at 100 yrds
59.5 grns of H-4831SC 130 grn Horandy sst about 3" at 100 yrds (two were .75" at aiming point, three were 3" low and touching each other?)
60 grns of H-4831SC 130 grn Horandy sst about 3" at 100 yrds.
No signs of pressure from any of these rounds. I may work the 60 grns up a little and also work on the bullet seating depth with the 59.5 grn group.

Temperature was about 58 degrees wind out of the NNW at 10-15 MPH. Shooting range had 20 foot dirt berms on three sides that should have reduced wind effect across the range.

257 Roberts had a great group at 49.5 grns of H-4831SC and 100 grn Sierra Spitzere BT. Three rounds touching and two that were offset about 3/8" and 3/8" apart. Will start to tweak this load, but for now I will shoot this load next weekend at some piggies.

I am going to work around the 59.5 and see if AI can figure out why I had two seperate groups on five shot round.

I have got to bed this rifle it is driving me crazy

I've got boxes of SST bullets that I will gladly give away. I've never had a "superb" load with them, in my rifles. I did get a reasonable group once with some VV powder but I'd have to double check my notebook.

The only thing I use them for is barrel break in and general shooting.

Harold,
Your results with the 100 grain Sierra bullet mirror my experience with the same bullet in a 25/06.
You might try the Sierra 130 grn flat base bullet in the .270 for similar results. Seat them out very close to the lands and work up.

I tried the 59.5 with the bulet seating depth closue to the lands. With a five shot group three were .75" then one 3" low and 2" right and another 4" low.

Will a no bedded rifle give me this result on the 2 shots so far out? This is a 1959-60 Remington model 721 withy the original stock. I have shot more rounds through it the last 14 months than it had its whole life. I have recently cleaned and scubbed the barrel so its not copper or lead fouled.

I am going to try a standard cor-loc type bullet. maybe I can get it to group better.

Harold, the short answer is, yes it can. Another thing I would ask, is how quickly in succession did you fire the shots, if your barrel heats up, it can change POI, quicker than I would have figured, quite often, so you have to watch that.

It sounds like you are approaching your loads for this rifle in a thoughtful manner, and if you continue to work systematically, you will get to your accuracy goal.

Good luck--Don

I would wait between 5 to 10 minutes between shots. Sometime as long as 15 t0 20 minutes. The first shot was the 3" low, 2" right. Next shot near POA tnen 4" low then grouped the next 2 at POA.

I do notice that I can still slip a dollar up to the flare right in front of the action. when I shoot several shots close together. When I bed this rifle after the hunt, I will float this spot out some more.

Check your scope rings and mounts!

As you've had this rifle for quite some time, that's probably not the issue, but, you never know.

Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by Harold R. Stephens:
I would wait between 5 to 10 minutes between shots. Sometime as long as 15 t0 20 minutes. The first shot was the 3" low, 2" right. Next shot near POA tnen 4" low then grouped the next 2 at POA.

Harold, that tells me that it's not a hot barrel issue. I think you're on the right track with planning to bed this rig. As Charlie mentioned double check the scope, mounts themselves and the scope. I've seen a lot of bad scopes, even had a couple......