Sizing die chatter problem.

[Lofty]

I've been using RCBS dies for reloading my 243. The problem I've been having is when I resize my brass the expander ball gets snagged in the case. It becomes very tough to remove the decaping ball and expander as I lift the handle up. The handle chatters and sometimes I have to bang the presses handle up to pull the expander ball out of the neck case.

How can I stop that chatter. I have to use the expander cause if I dont the neck tension is way too tight.

Anyone have any suggestions,,,,,,,thanks.

 

[Captain Kirk]

Re: Sizing die chatter problem.

sometimes you need to lube inside the case neck, a Q-tip with some lube on it works well. Your brass may be getting thicker around the necks depending on how many firings, the outside neck is getting sized down in the die and the expander ball has to excessively size it out when it passes back through the neck.

 

[gimpy]

Re: Sizing die chatter problem.

Use a loading block and Hornady One Shot. I found that helped remedy the problem for me

 

[korykhunter]

Re: Sizing die chatter problem.

Try some dry neck lube. Imperial Dry Neck Lube. Don't have to worry about powder contamination. Imperial Application Media. I get mine from Sinclair.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Sizing die chatter problem.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: korykhunter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Try some dry neck lube. Imperial Dry Neck Lube. Don't have to worry about powder contamination. </div></div>

+1

 

[Lofty]

Re: Sizing die chatter problem.

Thanks guys....resized 50 pieces last night and it made a huge difference. I thought I was gonna break my die getting that expander ball out of some of those necks.

 

[zuke]

Re: Sizing die chatter problem.

I was gonna say if you kept your die's warmer they wouldn't chatter so much.

 

[fish30114]

Re: Sizing die chatter problem.

It sounds like you've got a satisfactory answer, but I would add that it's often helpful to remove your whole expander assembly, chuck the stem up in a cordless drill and spin the expander against your belt sander and then some emory cloth. Turning the expander down a bit can make a big difference, and help things run smoother.

 

[turbo54]

Re: Sizing die chatter problem.

And still another thought is to either:

Get a bushing die and forget the expander altogether

Or

Have RCBS hone out your die to .003" less than the neck diameter of your loaded rounds (take an average of 10), and forget the expander ball.

 

[Juma]

Anneal your brass. Lube inside of your neck or expander. Resize. Chuck your resized brass into your SSM tumbler.Bet your brass is hardened.

 

[rpk762]

This also helps. Polish your expander ball then with lube it is better than butter

 

[bigedp51]

Measure your expander ball, normally it should be .001 smaller than bullet diameter, but it can be made .002 to .003 smaller to increase neck tension.

Inspect your expander ball, if it is rough and has brass sticking to it you will need to polish and smooth up the expander.

If the expander ball needs to be "lightly" sanded only use very fine wet and dry sandpaper and some oil, it will get smaller in diameter so go carefully. Then polish with Flitz, automotive rubbing compound, etc.

And as stated above lube the inside of your necks after polishing your expander ball and make it slicker than snot on a door knob.

 

[former naval person]

Lee collet for the neck then a body die to bump the shoulder if needed. More accurate (less run-out) JMHO

 

[mtang45]

OR, toss that expander ball and get a Neck Sizing Mandrel die. It's a separate operation from the full length resize but much easier on the neck and your brass will thank you for it.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[BuzzBoss915]

I have not seen this in the replies so far.

When you screw your sizing die into the press, loosen the locking nut on the decapping pin and expander ball and gently feel around until you get the pin in the flash hole. Then tighten the locking nut.

The point being, a decapping pin may, or may not be centered on the upstroke and this can easily be a source of chatter, in both directions. Lube and polish and other solutions can minimize the problem but proper alignment is the key to prevent this problem, as well as causing misalignment of the neck. BB

 

[bigedp51]

I have not seen this in the replies so far.

When you screw your sizing die into the press, loosen the locking nut on the decapping pin and expander ball and gently feel around until you get the pin in the flash hole. Then tighten the locking nut.

The point being, a decapping pin may, or may not be centered on the upstroke and this can easily be a source of chatter, in both directions. Lube and polish and other solutions can minimize the problem but proper alignment is the key to prevent this problem, as well as causing misalignment of the neck. BB

Who said the the flash hole was always centered, the most accurate method is to leave the lock nut on the expander loose, and on the downstroke of the ram just as the expander is entering the neck you tighten the lock nut.

BUT any dings you get inside the lip in the extractor groove can cause the case to tilt in the shell holder and induce runout. So placing a small rubber o-ring under the lock nut will allow the expander to float and be self centering.

Therefore the flash hole might not always be centered.

And the extractor groove may have dings and defects that hold the case tilted, and the base of the case may not be totally flat and a expander die can induce runout with a tilted case.

This is why they have runout gauges for you to inspect your cases, if you do not have good quality undamaged brass you can have runout problems.

And sometimes with average well used brass you are forced to bend the neck to reduce runout, the Hornady Concentricity Gauge in the upper left will reduce runout by bending the neck of the case.

 

[BuzzBoss915]

Guess I've been lucky? I have never had an off center flash hole. Thanks for the "info". BB

 

[delixe]

Use a loading block and Hornady One Shot. I found that helped remedy the problem for me

Agreed. One Shot is fast to apply, and lubes evenly including inside the neck when applied with a little tact. Rotate the loading block 45 degrees and hold the can 30 degrees from vertical so the lube coats the entire length of all the cases plus the inside of the neck, then turn the block and apply a coat at 135, 225, and 315 degrees. Give it a few minutes to for the carrier to evaporate and go to town. It takes a little experimentation to figure out how much to use without wasting it.

I get around 600 .308 family cases out of an $8 can so it is well worth it for me.