hornady 308 die problem?

DeadNoise

Legend
Full Member
Minuteman
Supporter
Apr 25, 2008
882
59
40
Nevada
hey all, just starting reloading, got my hornady lock n load press, cleaned up my hornady 308 match brass and preped my dies, lubed the expander with dry lube as instructed, lubed my case. now when i go to decap and expand the case the case runs about half way up and its so tough to finish it off and that it feels likes its about to break something, anybody have this issue? am i doin something wrong?
 
Re: hornady 308 die problem?

this one is hard as heck to get into the die and near impossible to get back out, i literally have to use both arms to get it in and use almost all my weight to get it back down...
 
Re: hornady 308 die problem?

I think the Hornady .308 dies may be closer to minimum spec, I borrowed a set of Reddings before I bought my dies and they're stiff, but nothing compared to the Hornadys. Doesn't help I think my rifle's chamber is on the large size, sized some brass from a different rifle and it was effortless. The expander may be large too, without considerable lube in the neck I have to slam the press down, broke my bench, now I lube the hell out of the brass and inside the neck it helps. If my .223 dies weren't so nice I'd swear off Hornady dies.