OMG 308 SB Die

[H2OBUG]

So I bought some once fired brass for my sons 308
Trying to help him out. Figured I would run it through my RCBS SB die and get it squished down good.
Put plenty of lube and I get the dent!
Clean the lube up to light and I rip not one but both of my presses out of the table!
No dent thought;-)
I need a beer.
Will fix the table tomorrow.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Run it through my FL die first maybe??

 

[memilanuk]

Where's the problem - on the up stroke or the down stroke?

 

[H2OBUG]

Where's the problem - on the up stroke or the down stroke?

She gets tight going up. Even tried the half stroke thing

 

[memilanuk]

What kind of 'once-fired' brass? Mil-surp?

What kind of lube?

 

[rijndael]

Run it through my FL die first maybe??

I'd try that.

 

[762willdo]

Wrong lube

 

[H2OBUG]

Using imperial lube

 

[47WillysGuy]

Propane torch for 9 seconds at the body-neck junction or until strong dull red.

 

[bozo699]

Where’s the Dent?…. What kinda brass?… how much imperial lube?…
Wayne

 

[Eagle Six]

Maybe it's past time to take some measurements?

 

[bozo699]

Use your f/l die and see if they chamber then you won’t need the sb die. What was this brass once fired out of?…
Wayne

 

[whatsupdoc]

Using imperial lube

If it is the "Imperial Sizing Die Wax" it is the worst lube I have ever used.
People swear its is very good but in my experience it sucks.

It may work when there is minimal resizing necessary but when forming brass or using
a SB die it fails miserably.

 

[Rocketvapor]

I use Lee lube applied with my finger.
Very light up close to shoulder, more down low where Small Base sizing actually occurs.
NONE at shoulder or above.

 

[bozo699]

If it is the "Imperial Sizing Die Wax" it is the worst lube I have ever used.
People swear its is very good but in my experience it sucks.

It may work when there is minimal resizing necessary but when forming brass or using
a SB die it fails miserably.

All the wildcatters I know including myself uses Imperial, there is no lube better. I’m not sure why you had bad luck with it , I’ve never stuck a case with it and have formed many many cases with it with no dents and no issues
Wayne

 

[Rocketvapor]

Small base needs lube all the way down the body.

 

[M-61]

I’m certainly a wildcatter.
I can also say I have NOT used every lube made. In fact in 1963 I started with RCBS lube and pad. Never used anything else other than going through a few pads. So is it the best? Not a clue. Never tried anything else. I only know what I have personally used. No problems at all.

 

[Straightshooter1]

So I bought some once fired brass for my sons 308
Trying to help him out. Figured I would run it through my RCBS SB die and get it squished down good.
Put plenty of lube and I get the dent!
Clean the lube up to light and I rip not one but both of my presses out of the table!
No dent thought;-)
I need a beer.
Will fix the table tomorrow.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Run it through my FL die first maybe??

Yup, before running them through an SB die, run them through a regular FL die first.

 

[bozo699]

I’m certainly a wildcatter.
I can also say I have NOT used every lube made. In fact in 1963 I started with RCBS lube and pad. Never used anything else other than going through a few pads. So is it the best? Not a clue. Never tried anything else. I only know what I have personally used. No problems at all.

Now see I absolutely hate lube pads and rcbs lube but have used it with no issues as well, it is also what I started with. I hated it so bad went with one shot at some point then when I got into br was introduced to imperial and love it. But I think any lube will work if used properly, I have used Lee and Hornaday hand lubes and they work well too. Incidentally the only case I have ever stuck was with Hornaday one shot and it was my fault as I didn’t give it ample time to dry before sizing
Wayne

 

[whatsupdoc]

All the wildcatters I know including myself uses Imperial, there is no lube better. I’m not sure why you had bad luck with it , I’ve never stuck a case with it and have formed many many cases with it with no dents and no issues
Wayne

Seems the OP has had the same experience as I have had with that product.

The last time I used Imperial lube was to form 22 savage HP cases from 30-30
brass. A few steps and three anneals, 30-30 to 25-35 then to 22 HP. The pressure required to form the brass was at the point I thought the press was going to fail.

Tried four other lubes RCBS, Lee, Hornady wax and lanolin. Every one except the Hornady wax lube was better than the Imperial and the Lanolin was by far the best
by a long shot.

 

[RegionRat]

Yup, before running them through an SB die, run them through a regular FL die first.

+1
This^
You are essentially going to two-stage the process.

Folks should stop wasting time blaming Imperial Lube, this is obviously very blown out brass and if you can't size it in one go, you use two. Put the whole batch through the first die, then re-lube to go through the second.

Or... buy the boy some virgin brass... life is too short to waste on cheap brass that is a PIA.... This is supposed to be about spending time with him out on the range shooting, not fixing your bench or suffering in the shop with cheap blown out brass. YMMV