Reloading Issue

Posted on December 24, 2007 by Yuri Orlov.
Categories: 7.62x54R, Lee Pacesetter Dies, reloading.

I finally got around to installing my .311 decapping/expander into my brand new Lee sizing die today and started to run my brand new Prvi Partizan brass through it. I’ve put four cases through it so far and each one of them has the same issue. It seems the opening in the sizing die is either too small or the brass is too big around at the base. I’m ending up with a slightly shaved ring about an 1/8th of an inch from the case rim where the brass is too big around to fit into the die. As a result, I cannot completely insert the case fully into the die. I’m using Hornady One Shot case lube, btw, not that I think it matters.

I tried a sample case in my Mosin Nagant M91/30 and it chambers and extracts fine. Is this something I should be worried about or is it just a cosmetic issue?

Here’s a photo:

UPDATE: Reading the reviews on MidwayUSA, it appears I’m not the only one having the brass ring shaving problem. *sigh* As stated earlier, I can’t even fully seat the case. Looks like Prvi Partizan, Sellier & Bellot and Winchester cases all seem to have issues with the die. Of course I tried calling Lee Precision but no one picked up the phone. More than likely because of this being Christmas Eve, but still it’s frustrating.

UPDATE II: After doing more reading on the internet, I’ve decided this behavior is normal for this die and seems to have no impact on case integrity.

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4 comments.

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Anonymous
Comment on December 26th, 2007.

i am just starting to reload and need to know what primers would be best for my 9mm luger and 380 pistol rounds and my 25wssm rifle rounds

Yuri Orlov
Comment on December 26th, 2007.

I’ve used CCI, Federal and Winchester primers with good results. Ranking them from hardest to softest, it would be:

CCI
Winchester
Federal

I have a revolver which won’t reliably ignite rounds made with CCI or Winchester primers because the cup is harder and the reduced hammer spring in it won’t hit the primer hard enough to set it off.

Harder primers can be an asset in a firearm like an SKS or Garand or any firearm with a floating firing pin, which can make them prone to slam fires. Most primer makers make extra hard primers specially for this purpose.

I’d like to try some Wolf primers, but I can’t find a retailer locally who carries them and I don’t want to pay a hazmat fee to have them shipped.

Seriously, just use a good name brand primer like I listed above and seat it slightly recessed for the semi-auto’s. The bolt guns aren’t as fussy but it’s a good idea to seat them flush to slightly recessed as well.

Anonymous
Comment on December 26th, 2007.

i would like to use cci. would the 9 mm and 380 be small pistol primers and the 25 wssm be large rifle magnum. midway usa couldn’t tell me…

Yuri Orlov
Comment on December 26th, 2007.

9mm and .380 Auto both use small pistol primers. 25 WSSM takes large rifle primers. Consult your reloading manual to see which loads require magnum primers.

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