bigish chamber or smallish dies ?

[misser]

I recently put a new barrel on, a 6.5 CM .put a few round through it . then when resizing the brass it took a great deal of force to resize , sometimes backing off re-lubing for more push . thinking the chamber is oversized ??. then checking sized brass against fired brass I can only find .003 difference . granted I have never measured and compared other cartridges ,never had to. the dies I have are RCBS FL SB .
have ordered a different set of dies but not SB . yes I could return the barrel for a different one , just don't want to take the barrel off after getting it on and working .

 

[K22]

Why are you using a small base (SB?) die? Presumable, given the caliber, 6.5 CM, you have a bolt action rifle. You should not have to use a small base die for a bolt rifle. This can result in excessive sizing, thus the difficulty in sizing the case.

What lube are you using?

Checking a sized case against another fired case can result in measurement variation and misleading data. Check the fired case (primer removed) first, then check the case after sizing.

I would start with zero shoulder set back and check in the rifle chamber. If it chambers without resistance, there is no need to set the shoulder back until the case fully fire forms in the rifle chamber. Even then, usually only a .001 to .002" bump is needed.

 

[coldboreshot]

Give the new dies, (non SB) a try. You'll find this should resolve your issue. I've only had to use an SB die once when I resized a set of brass for another chamber. That set runs fine in the next chamber and sizes fine in standard size die.

 

[searcher]

Good advice in above posts. I'd also remove your expanding ball and size a few rounds without it. If sizing is suddenly much easier - it was likely your expander ball was set improperly. Even with a small base die, sizing should not normally be that difficult.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

The sb die is used to fix a problem, that you probably don't have.

 

[6.5 forever]

The sb die is used to fix a problem, that you probably don't have.

Yup. Get a FL die and you shouldn't have any problem.

 

[misser]

Why are you using a small base (SB?) die? Presumable, given the caliber, 6.5 CM, you have a bolt action rifle. You should not have to use a small base die for a bolt rifle. This can result in excessive sizing, thus the difficulty in sizing the case.

What lube are you using?

Checking a sized case against another fired case can result in measurement variation and misleading data. Check the fired case (primer removed) first, then check the case after sizing.

I would start with zero shoulder set back and check in the rifle chamber. If it chambers without resistance, there is no need to set the shoulder back until the case fully fire forms in the rifle chamber. Even then, usually only a .001 to .002" bump is needed.

gun is a LR10
lube is sizing wax
Been loading my own for 50 years ,only 9 different calibers . many more different guns..
the 6.5CM is the first time were I had to lean on the handle . sometimes backing off
re-lubing for another go at it. different dies are the next thing to try.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I'd also suspect the SB die being all or at least part of the issue you're seeing. I consider them a last resort but they have their place at times. .003 difference between fired and sized AFTER springback, is pretty huge, so it might be a combination.

 

[K22]

gun is a LR10
lube is sizing wax
Been loading my own for 50 years ,only 9 different calibers . many more different guns..
the 6.5CM is the first time were I had to lean on the handle . sometimes backing off
re-lubing for another go at it. different dies are the next thing to try.

Excuse my ignorance but what is an LR 10?

Sizing wax, applied properly, is the best lube I ever used in 50+ years of reloading. So, I wouldn't suspect the lube.

No intent to insult your 50 years of experience but a SB die should not be needed on a bolt rifle chambered to SAMMI specs. I had a novice friend use a SB die because he read some nonsense on the net that it provides more reliable chambering reloads for hunting in the winter! He ended up with seriously bulged cases.

 

[misser]

results are in, received a lee 6.5 CM FL die . the push into the die was much easier . then put that empty brass into the LR/AR 10 chamber .let the BCG fall, could not remove the brass using charging handle . brass was a bit stuck . then sized that brass in the FL SB die with no problems removing from gun's chamber . I have more than one RCBS JR press .the inconvenience is minnable going from one press to another .

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

results are in, received a lee 6.5 CM FL die . the push into the die was much easier . then put that empty brass into the LR/AR 10 chamber .let the BCG fall, could not remove the brass using charging handle . brass was a bit stuck . then sized that brass in the FL SB die with no problems removing from gun's chamber . I have more than one RCBS JR press .the inconvenience is minnable going from one press to another .

I'd paint the tight case with dykem or just a magic marker, load and extract a couple of times or so and see where it's tight by where the ink gets rubbed off. It's not typical to need a sb die but is possible. Ink should tell you what's going on.

 

[misser]

I'd paint the tight case with dykem or just a magic marker, load and extract a couple of times or so and see where it's tight by where the ink gets rubbed off. It's not typical to need a sb die but is possible. Ink should tell you what's going on.

turns out I am glad I have the SB dies

 

[Steve Donlon]

turns out I am glad I have the SB dies

I had a AR10 6.5 Creedmoor and used RCBS SB dies and used RCBS lube that you squeeze drops of it on a pad. Before that I tried Hornady spray lube and got the case so stuck I had to throw the die away The shape of the brass works against the SB dies, but the RCBS lube makes it better. Still have to use more force than 223 SB dies.

 

[Bill K]

You will find you do need the SB die for resizing

results are in, received a lee 6.5 CM FL die . the push into the die was much easier . then put that empty brass into the LR/AR 10 chamber .let the BCG fall, could not remove the brass using charging handle . brass was a bit stuck . then sized that brass in the FL SB die with no problems removing from gun's chamber . I have more than one RCBS JR press .the inconvenience is minnable going from one press to another .

for any AR15 or AR10 most of the time. I would check and make sure you have the brass trimmed to proper length prior to putting it back into your rifles chamber. Could be sticking due to length being long and jamming into the throat/leads.

 

[Webster]

I recently put a new barrel on, a 6.5 CM .put a few round through it . then when resizing the brass it took a great deal of force to resize , sometimes backing off re-lubing for more push . thinking the chamber is oversized ??. then checking sized brass against fired brass I can only find .003 difference . granted I have never measured and compared other cartridges ,never had to. the dies I have are RCBS FL SB .
have ordered a different set of dies but not SB . yes I could return the barrel for a different one , just don't want to take the barrel off after getting it on and working .

Some popular calibers like the 6PPC have a large number of reamers ground to the gun owners spec. Some variations become very popular and are widley used. Did your gunmith use what might be the standard common reamer? Sometimes a gunsmith uses whatever they have without giving you details. They won't buy another reamer to save $200.
If I ever have another barrel chambered I will request that the reamer manufacturer's name, blue print i.d. and freebore be written on the recipe. Kelbly chambers my barrels, he said if I wanted a reamer he didn't have he would split the cost, $100 my cost.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

turns out I am glad I have the SB dies

That may be but it doesn't get to the root of the problem, for sure. You could talk to the smith and see if he recommends a non-standard die for his cm chamber reamer specs but as I said, it is not typically needed and the .003 of sizing yielded by your sb die, most would imo, consider that way over working of the brass. Just trying to help. Good luck to you.

 

[misser]

That may be but it doesn't get to the root of the problem, for sure. You could talk to the smith and see if he recommends a non-standard die for his cm chamber reamer specs but as I said, it is not typically needed and the .003 of sizing yielded by your sb die, most would imo, consider that way over working of the brass. Just trying to help. Good luck to you.

smith ?? with AR/LR 's the word that applies is more like technician or even mechanic

 

[misser]

Excuse my ignorance but what is an LR 10?

What is the Difference Between an AR-10 and an LR-308?

There are many misconceptions as well as misinformation out there when it comes to .308s in the AR platform. There are two primary options on the market today and most of the parts are not interchangeable between the two. This post will likely evolve over time but let's get started. Identifying...

monstrumtactical.com

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

smith ?? with AR/LR 's the word that applies is more like technician or even mechanic

Ok, with ya. I guess I was referring to whoever chambered the bbl. Makes it even less common to need a sb die for a saami/factory chamber though. I've messed with several AR's, mostly wildcats really, and yes, they're like Legos until you get into chambering them. I have most of the parts gathered to do a 6 Grendel to use up some of my spent benchrest brass. May need a sb die for that. No biggie but I prefer chambering bolt guns and not dealing with the gas system etc. They're good guns though, not knocking them in the least. They have their place, for sure. If you're happy, I'm happy. Again, good luck.

 

[misser]

Ok, with ya. I guess I was referring to whoever chambered the bbl. Makes it even less common to need a sb die for a saami/factory chamber though. I've messed with several AR's, mostly wildcats really, and yes, they're like Legos until you get into chambering them. I have most of the parts gathered to do a 6 Grendel to use up some of my spent benchrest brass. May need a sb die for that. No biggie but I prefer chambering bolt guns and not dealing with the gas system etc. They're good guns though, not knocking them in the least. They have their place, for sure. If you're happy, I'm happy. Again, good luck.

there is something I am changing . when I had gotten the barrel I put it onto a rear charging receiver . after getting used to the convenience of the side charging receiver the rear charging became a pain that I don't need. new receiver will be here soon .