303 FL Sizing

[Mike357]

I am in the process of sizing some brass before reloading it for tomorrow.

I am FL sizing using a Lee doe, dry sizing media. It is the first time I have done this and I am only just managing to get the primers popped out and there is a little bit of effort required to get the round back out of the die. Also, the shoulders look to be ever so slightly different in profile to the milsurp I have and the brass that has been through the rifle before.

I have I done something wrong or is that just the way it is?

[ovenpaa]

What are you using to lubricate the cases? Imperial sizing was is my choice.

[Mike357]

It is the Redding Dry Sizing media, the one with the Graphite balls coated with dry wax.

[ovenpaa]

Ah yes, I saw that afterwards ... never used it.

FLS does need some effort the problem is knowing just how hard it is right now. The shoulder profile could well be different after resizing as military .303 chambers can vary quite a bit.

[dromia]

Its meant to look different from fired brass. FL sizing is supposed to take the case back to SAAMi spec.

Personally I don't like dry lubes for sizing, Imperial is very good and I've used it for years and still do but have found Hornady Unique to be as good and a lot cheaper.

If its hard to extract at the start of the down stroke then I'd be worried about my lube and an impending stuck case.

If it starts out OK and then gets hard to pull out its probably the expander ball, awful things in my book and don't have them on any of my sizing dies.

On the primers just coming out is the die set up as the instructions that come with it especially in relation to the shellholder.

If it is then you might need to drop the decapping pin a tad.

[Mike357]

Thanks, there is also very little neck tension as the bullet I've seated wont come out but can go into the case. I have a crimp die though.

[Mike357]

The case goes in ok with appropriate force but is a little stiff to come out. Dies were set up ok using the Lee videos online.

[ovenpaa]

Does your die have a sizing ball on the decapper pin?

[Mike357]

http://leeprecision.com/xcart/EZ-X-EXP-303-B.html

That is the spare part guide for the die so I guess it does have an expander ball???

[DaveT]

I would keep the dry sizing media for inside the necks when neck sizing with an expander ball NS die.... The merest hint of Imperial sizing wax for everything else and its slick as a whistle!