Cases snagging on exit

[Andrewslater]

i have a 6.5x55 rcbs full length die set and the resizing die seems to snag a little when removing the case and requires more pressure to be applied than my other dies.

Have tried more lube on cases etc but doesnt seem to resolve the issue.

Cases appear to look okay with no signs of wear on the case.

Is this anything to be concerned about?

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

Probably not,

I'd bet you have a batch of cases with slightly thicker neck brass. It will be the mandrel in the dies expanding the neck for you.

Could always put a little lube in the case neck on a cotton bud every few cases see If that makes a difference

 

[Andrewslater]

I’ll give that a try tomorrow and see if it helps at all. No major issue just not as smooth an operation as with other cases.

It’s hornady brass im resizing which i haven't used with other calibres. Thanks

 

[paul o']

Clean inside and re set the die , Hornady brass work hardens very quick its not the best for the home loader imo

 

[NP435]

Clean inside and re set the die , Hornady brass work hardens very quick its not the best for the home loader imo

I must ask why? Hornady brass has given me good service in 3 cartridges loaded 7 or more times.

 

[NP435]

I’ll give that a try tomorrow and see if it helps at all. No major issue just not as smooth an operation as with other cases.

It’s hornady brass im resizing which i haven't used with other calibres. Thanks

If you chose to lube inside case necks, remember to get ALL of the lube out before adding powder. Redding makes a product Imperial case neck lube that can remain and works well for the "stick" as the expander ball exits the case neck.

 

[Steff]

If you chose to lube inside case necks, remember to get ALL of the lube out before adding powder. Redding makes a product Imperial case neck lube that can remain and works well for the "stick" as the expander ball exits the case neck.

= garphite powder

Works a breeze!

 

[Steff]

i have a 6.5x55 rcbs full length die set and the resizing die seems to snag a little when removing the case and requires more pressure to be applied than my other dies.

Have tried more lube on cases etc but doesnt seem to resolve the issue.

Cases appear to look okay with no signs of wear on the case.

Is this anything to be concerned about?

How often has the brass been fired and resized? I may well be that the case necks have work hardened and/or that the cases have developed a doughnut in the shoulder/neck junction.
In the latter case you will experience case head separation very soon, because this is where the material of the doughnut comes from.

 

[Ronin]

Expander ball ,,,

 

[Utectok]

Anneal?

 

[Andrewslater]

How often has the brass been fired and resized? I may well be that the case necks have work hardened and/or that the cases have developed a doughnut in the shoulder/neck junction.
In the latter case you will experience case head separation very soon, because this is where the material of the doughnut comes from.

Brass has only been fired once and this is the first resize and the first time j have used this particular die. Set the die a few times to make sure it was not something silly i had done.

 

[Andrewslater]

If you chose to lube inside case necks, remember to get ALL of the lube out before adding powder. Redding makes a product Imperial case neck lube that can remain and works well for the "stick" as the expander ball exits the case neck.

I assume that cleaning in an ultrasonic in a good cleaning solution (again i use rcbs) would remove all the lube?

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Borrow another resizing die and see if that makes a difference.
Regards
JCS

 

[Steff]

Brass has only been fired once and this is the first resize and the first time j have used this particular die. Set the die a few times to make sure it was not something silly i had done.

Good. Then the potential issues I mentioned are not relevant.
Now my approach would be to remove the expander ball and see how the sizing goes without it. If this removes the issue polish the expander ball and use some graphite powder inside the necks on resizing. No need to remove the remainders of it.

The most practical and least messy way to work with graphite powder is to fill a small pot (at best with a lid for storage and reuse) with fine lead shot and add the graphite. Dip in the case necks and turn them once or twice. Then knock off on the rim of the pot and again on the table with a sheet of paper underneath. Wipe the outside of the case neck clean as you don‘t want this to mess up your die and press. Then size as normal. The tiny bit of graphite residue inside the neck is of no concern.

 

[Ronin]

Remove the useless and unnecessary expander ball from the die and try again

 

[paul o']

What you push down the ball if tight will pull back up , I remove mine and use a mandrel to ID the neck lube of choice is Dr strangeloves eel juice .

 

[jcampbellsmith]

I assume that cleaning in an ultrasonic in a good cleaning solution (again i use rcbs) would remove all the lube?

This will remove the finish from the outside of your die. Clean the die by hand with white spirit or similar.
Regards
JCS

 

[NP435]

I assume that cleaning in an ultrasonic in a good cleaning solution (again i use rcbs) would remove all the lube?

I assume so, I have no experience with ultrasonic cleaners.

 

[Cooter]

Just a thought but did you clean the die before you started using it?
Putting the sized cases in a us cleaner or tumbler after working on them should remove all the lube, swarf and anything else that you don't want in there.
After researching the same issue I polished the expander ball in my dies. It reduced the force required to extract the case from the die, and the case necks looked very tidy, but it still required more force than I thought it should.
I tried bushing dies but found the correct bushing was the same as the standard die without the expander ball, and the variation in case neck thickness became more apparent when seating fb bullets.
I then went down the route of neck turning which solved the extraction issue completely.
In truth it made minimal difference to the finished rounds, but it was interesting trying different solutions.