Re Sizing cases 308 lapua vs starline

[Straightshooter1]

Update: got some mink oil...its "fellove"...amazon
Works great with .223 cases ...

kinda ok with 6.5 CM... lapua cases...but doing a double press to get them right too...

For 308...with the Lapua case, using mink oil, it is was getting stuck in the die! and in the first die I use...not the FL. Good thing i have the heavy redding pressing....the lee press would have not gotten the case out of the die.

Got it out, then used the RCBS lube 2...then went ok...did the FL size on it...was good.

So, lapua 308 cases are a bit of a problem sizing for me anyways, unless doing a first pass with the simple die that isn't as agressive, and then using the RCBS FL die...then its all good, and fits nicely in the 308 test gauge.

waiting for the "shoe gear mink oil" to give that a try, and the redding wax... i will be back with another update...

Sounds like it's time for some Imperial Sizing Die Wax and doing a single press with a little dwell time.

 

[bks22345]

Try Imperial case lube next time. I use bushing die with mandrel die and neck turn Lapua Palma brass. RCBS standard die will over size the neck in my experience.

This.

Imperial on the base. You don’t need anything on the necks.

 

[brccd]

This.

Imperial on the base. You don’t need anything on the necks.

I will try the imperial once it arrives. I dip the neck into the graphite to really coat the inside of the neck so it doesn't get stuck in the die. I initially was using a Q-tip to coat the inside of the neck with the rcbs lube, but dipping into the graphite seemed easyer and seemed to work well.

 

[Barman54]

Hi All,

Just checking what others observe....

I had purchased a bunch of lapua brass in 308, also some starline, to compare things.
I already had a bunch of lake city cases too...

I use a two pass technique...one with a LEE die, then a pass with an RCBS full length die.

I found that with the starline brass, resizing goes pretty smoothly, and not too much force required.

The lapua on the other hand seems to need a lot more force.

I am using a Redding Big Boss 2 press.

The two pass came about, since if I tried the lapua right off the bat, it seems to really take a lot of force...was worried about it getting stuck in the die!

Yes, I use rcbs casing grease on the pad, and also dip the neck in graphite powder...then press.

No problems if I use lapua cases in 6.5 creedmoore...but 308 lapua are tougher...kind of expected since they are supposed to last much longer, more consistant.

Any words of wisdom?
Thanks.

Hey,

What is your 1st Die, a .308?
Try using a 30.06 Die 1st.
Keep your Brass lubed up, resize using your .308 Die.

Just TOO much for a .308 to do, 30.06 does the 1st step better.

Taught by a M1A Shooter, when I 1st started Highpower.

Trust me, it works.

Barman54
Out

 

[brccd]

Hey,

What is your 1st Die, a .308?
Try using a 30.06 Die 1st.
Keep your Brass lubed up, resize using your .308 Die.

Just TOO much for a .308 to do, 30.06 does the 1st step better.

Taught by a M1A Shooter, when I 1st started Highpower.

Trust me, it works.

Barman54
Out

Nice! That is interesting...yes, using a regular LEE .308 to start, RCBS Full Length 2nd pass, but will need to get 30.06 die and try that. This is really an issue with the Lapua\ Lake City cases (Lapua especially!) . If I use starline brass, these go pretty easy.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

There is no reason that your new Lapua 308 brass would be harder to size than the same brass in the 6.5 Creedmoor, you have some other problem going on.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Does the brass have scratches on the neck after sizing?
Sometimes Lapua can oxidize some after a long shelf life and it helps to run them through you dry media tumbler first.
You could be getting too much graphite up in your die to cause unnecessary drag. You might try cleaning the die and after dipping the neck on each case, wipe the outside off before sizing.

 

[Barman54]

Nice! That is interesting...yes, using a regular LEE .308 to start, RCBS Full Length 2nd pass, but will need to get 30.06 die and try that. This is really an issue with the Lapua\ Lake City cases (Lapua especially!) . If I use starline brass, these go pretty easy.

Use this procedure on MG Brass in my M1A's.
30.06, then a Sml Base RCBS .308, drops right in my Case Gauge.

Good Lick.

Barman54
Out

 

[brccd]

Does the brass have scratches on the neck after sizing?
Sometimes Lapua can oxidize some after a long shelf life and it helps to run them through you dry media tumbler first.
You could be getting too much graphite up in your die to cause unnecessary drag. You might try cleaning the die and after dipping the neck on each case, wipe the outside off before sizing.

no scratches. Like i mentioned, starlines after 1 fire go through fairly easily. New lapua after 1 fire, and definately harder. If I try to go right to the FL die on the 1x fired lapua, it gets very hard at 3/4 of the way down the case. when its removed, you can see the edge where it was trying to roll it out. Are you saying you have used lapua cases, and don't have any issue after a 1x fire?

 

[brccd]

Does the brass have scratches on the neck after sizing?
Sometimes Lapua can oxidize some after a long shelf life and it helps to run them through you dry media tumbler first.
You could be getting too much graphite up in your die to cause unnecessary drag. You might try cleaning the die and after dipping the neck on each case, wipe the outside off before sizing.

re lapua case: just a small amount of graphite at top of neck...not on case.

 

[brccd]

There is no reason that your new Lapua 308 brass would be harder to size than the same brass in the 6.5 Creedmoor, you have some other problem going on.

like i mentioned, no issue with starline. definately different with lapua. in both cases, fired from the same rifle.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

no scratches. Like i mentioned, starlines after 1 fire go through fairly easily. New lapua after 1 fire, and definately harder. If I try to go right to the FL die on the 1x fired lapua, it gets very hard at 3/4 of the way down the case. when its removed, you can see the edge where it was trying to roll it out. Are you saying you have used lapua cases, and don't have any issue after a 1x fire?

Yes a little more resistance after firing but not anything like you mentioned. Maybe your new lube will help, but it also may take a different die that fits your brass better.

 

[brccd]

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...

 

[AlNyhus]

I have both Starline and Lapua that are used in the same 308 rifle. The resizing effort is  slightly ...and I mean slightly....more for the Lapua cases. This is with a small Partner press...not exactly a big leverage unit. The die is a Redding Type S.

The Lapua LRP brass I have measures about .0004 bigger @ .200 ahead of the extractor groove than the Starline. If you haven't measured your cases using a good .0001 micrometer, this is likely one reason you may feel some extra effort.

IME, using a case lube not designed for sizing cases is counter productive. If you're only moving the brass a small amount, you might get away with it. If not, the result is going to be a lot of gas. Imperial has always given me good results.

Good shootin' -Al

 

[brccd]

I have both Starline and Lapua that are used in the same 308 rifle. The resizing effort is  slightly ...and I mean slightly....more for the Lapua cases. This is with a small Partner press...not exactly a big leverage unit. The die is a Redding Type S.

The Lapua LRP brass I have measures about .0004 bigger @ .200 ahead of the extractor groove than the Starline. If you haven't measured your cases using a good .0001 micrometer, this is likely one reason you may feel some extra effort.

IME, using a case lube not designed for sizing cases is counter productive. If you're only moving the brass a small amount, you might get away with it. If not, the result is going to be a lot of gas. Imperial has always given me good results.

Good shootin' -Al

Yes, I will give the Imperial a try..should arrive today and can give it a try. The RCBS FL die I use is the small base die. It just seems going straight to that is a problem. The lapua cases are the LRP type. Using in Mossberg patriot LR.

 

[charlie b]

Is the RCBS die an X die?

 

[AlNyhus]

The RCBS FL die I use is the small base die.

The SB die will give you quite a bit more effort than a standard die. That brings up another question...why the small base die?

 

[brccd]

The SB die will give you quite a bit more effort than a standard die. That brings up another question...why the small base die?

I believe its the small base die. got that so it would end up fitting the gauge, and being sure it would have no problem loading...which they also work!

 

[charlie b]

Ok, so yeah, they take a lot more effort. I've never had a use for them, but, I don't reload for more than one barrel at a time either.

 

[LCazador]

I will try the imperial once it arrives. I dip the neck into the graphite to really coat the inside of the neck so it doesn't get stuck in the die. I initially was using a Q-tip to coat the inside of the neck with the rcbs lube, but dipping into the graphite seemed easyer and seemed to work well.

If dipping the neck into graphite helps with sizing force you are over sizing the neck. Measure a fired case neck before you size. Remove the expander and size case. The difference in neck diameter is the amount of neck sizing taking place. You should not have more than .004"-.006".