Re Sizing cases 308 lapua vs starline

[brccd]

I am starting to think, its all due to using the rcbs small base die. Starting with the LEE full length die, which trues up the neck also, not much trouble. Then switching to the small base die, it works, but somewhat harder. If I go straight to use a small base die, its rediculous, and almost gets locked up in the die. Again, no issue using starline cases...again points to some difficulty with the lapua cases, and backed up from the info I saw on line. Others experience this as well. I can double check the neck diameters as you mentioned,.

 

[AlNyhus]

It's important to grasp that the rifles chamber is the ultimate 'gauge'. Making cases fit a gauge that is likely far from what the chamber measures is pretty meaningless.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[searcher]

did a little bit of searching on line...found the following: my question to AI google was..." are lapua cases harder to resize than other cases?" response it:


Yes, many reloaders find Lapua .308 brass to be more difficult to resize than other brands like Winchester or Hornady. The extra resistance is a direct result of Lapua's manufacturing process, which produces very strong and uniform brass for high-end precision reloading.
Reasons for increased resizing difficulty

• Thicker and harder brass: Lapua brass is intentionally thicker and harder than many other brands, especially around the web and case head. This makes the brass more durable and able to withstand more firings, but it requires more force to resize and reshape.
• Tighter tolerances: The exceptionally tight dimensional tolerances and uniform case-wall thickness of Lapua brass mean that the case is worked more aggressively by a standard full-length sizing die.
• Small inside neck diameter: The combination of thicker neck walls and tighter tolerances results in a smaller inside neck diameter after firing. This means the expander ball on the decapping rod must work harder to open up the neck on the sizing stroke.

So I don't think its just me...

It is not just you. The third item above is likely the culprit. A lot of folks try sizing intermixed brass and/or lots of different makes without realizing that they might have to adjust the expanding button. When the button is optimally adjusted - then one goes to thicker brass - the button must "iron out" that extra .001" or .003". Adjusting the button will usually eliminate that problem - usually screwing it out just a tad more. You can identify this by pulling the de-cap assembly out altogether and see if it still sizes difficult. If so - then it will show whether it might be a simple lube problem, etc.

 

[64Rambler]

I reload .308 for two Sig 716's, one my son's and the other my soon to be SIL. One has Starline brass, the other has Peterson. I use the same Forster FL die for both and have to adjust the die +/- a couple thousandths to get each to the correct bump. This has held true for both Imperial die wax and Hornady OneShot. To me it boils down to the specific chamber dimensions and the difference in spring back between the two brass companies. Either way, I can end up with what I want in a couple of pieces of brass which become foulers or sighters.

 

[brccd]

Quick update....

Got a Redding Full length die, and the Redding sizing wax..
Had Lake city cases only at the moment to try. These previously showed some issues too...

Well now, this die and wax combo seems to work pretty well on the Lake City stuff....

I need to go to the range and use some of my Lapua rounds and then give those a retry in this configuration!

Or buy some more new Lapua cases. Will get an update on that when I give those a test with this configuration.

Thanks.

 

[6MMsteve]

Make sure your shell holder is correct and use the exact same shell holder every time do not change, they are different and can cause a bad day

 

[William Vogel]

did a little bit of searching on line...found the following: my question to AI google was..." are lapua cases harder to resize than other cases?" response it:


Yes, many reloaders find Lapua .308 brass to be more difficult to resize than other brands like Winchester or Hornady. The extra resistance is a direct result of Lapua's manufacturing process, which produces very strong and uniform brass for high-end precision reloading.
Reasons for increased resizing difficulty

• Thicker and harder brass: Lapua brass is intentionally thicker and harder than many other brands, especially around the web and case head. This makes the brass more durable and able to withstand more firings, but it requires more force to resize and reshape.
• Tighter tolerances: The exceptionally tight dimensional tolerances and uniform case-wall thickness of Lapua brass mean that the case is worked more aggressively by a standard full-length sizing die.
• Small inside neck diameter: The combination of thicker neck walls and tighter tolerances results in a smaller inside neck diameter after firing. This means the expander ball on the decapping rod must work harder to open up the neck on the sizing stroke.

So I don't think its just me...

Are you using a bushing full length resizing die or just a standard fl die? A standard die under sizes the neck too much and then draws the ball back through. This is terrible for the brass and will cause split necks quickly. Also annealing the brass softens it and makes it last longer. I don’t have any of the sizing issues you describe with 308 Lapua brass and I anneal and use a Redding full length bushing die with RCBS lube. Nothing goes inside the neck except the powder and the bullet.

 

[CF Junkie]

I have been reloading with Lapua brass for more than 13 years, mostly .223, 6.5mm CM and .308, and have never found that they are particularly hard to resize.
I have been using Frankford Arsenal Spray Lube for years.
A couple of spritzes into a plastic bag of 100 cleaned cases, maybe 5 shakes of the bag to make sure the lube gets to all the brass, and then into the full sizing dies.
I have Forster dies for the .223 and .308, but Redding dies for the 6.5mm CMs. (Forster dies weren't available for 6.5mm CMs when I started loading 6.5s.)

The first or second cases are a bit harder to resize because the lube hasn't gotten into the die, but by the third case, all the rest are easy to size.

I recently (maybe 3,000 rounds ago) was forced to switch to Starline brass because Lapua .223 brass was unobtanium. Starline don't seem to be significantly easier to resize but does exhibit the same characteristics for the first one or two cases until the lube is in the die.

 

[Oldbloke]

You might have a batch that are harder than usual out of the factory

Try annealing them before you FLS.