7.62 x 54r brass wont size

[Thumbcocker]

I have brass that was fired in a M38 Mosin. Tried to load it for my Finn M39. Nope. No way nada. Even with the sizing die screwed all the way down sized brass won't chamber in the Finn.

Took die out of press. Whacked case into die. Much use of special "get case out of die" words. Still won't chamber. Note some of this is Lapua brass. Would really Ike to get more than one loading out if it.


The M38 is gone but the Finn is a keeper.

So how do I resize the head of the brass so it will chamber?

 

[RicinYakima]

You will have to find a full length die like l.E. Wilson. These are press in with a vise and press out with a rod. Correct use of imperial sizing die wax also required.

 

[4060MAY]

if you are absolutely sure it's the base
my Model 27 Finn, did the same thing, there was broken case neck in the chamber, and a large burr on the end of the chamber

 

[RicinYakima]

If you haven't tried and shot new US factory ammo, you don't know what your problem really is.

 

[Thumbcocker]

The Finn has shot cast loads for 25 years. Nary a problem. Only when I tried to load brass shot in the M38. Brass shot in the Finn reloads and chambers fine.

 

[Michael]

The chamber on the Mosin is likely larger than the Finn. We had a friend who had a Ballard in 40-65, at one BPCR match her rifle malfunctioned so my wife offered the use of her Hi-Wall to finish out the match, her rounds chambered fine in my wife's Hi-Wall. We are talking BP pressures here, so no worry about living on edge pressure wise. The next match rolls around the following month, talk about getting raked over the coals, the brass that was fired in the Hi-Wall would no longer fit the Ballard, even after FL sizing. It doesn't take much.

 

[fiver]

felt marker the case see if it's the shoulder or the base.
if the shoulder then you need to anneal and use some dwell time in the die.
if it's the base then it's time to grind down the shell holder so you can size that last bit of case.

you pounding a case all the way into the die and it still not chambering tells me the die may not be compatible with your rifle.
i'd still try annealing, you got nuthin to lose at this point, and you may need a little bit of both to make things work.

 

[Bret4207]

What Fiver said. Have you tried basic case measurements? Work hardened brass has a lot more spring back than annealed brass.

 

[Thumbcocker]

It is the base that won't chamber

 

[Thumbcocker]

The rounds are loaded on a Dillon. That is why I pulled the sizing die out and smacked a case in with a rubber mallet. I am in the situation Michael described. I hoped there was a solution like the device I had seen that rolled cases to get rid of the "Glock bulge" back in the day.

 

[RBHarter]

Do you have maybe a 45-70 or maybe 300 to 458 WM sizer ? I'm too lazy at the moment to look for certain numbers for something close to size it deep and just the parts needed ...... It's not like you could just grab a bulge buster for 45,40, or 9mm for this one .

This might be one of those times where a SB die is the only way .

I would try the wet lube and dwell time but I suspect you've tried that .

50 BW ?

 

[Bret4207]

The rounds are loaded on a Dillon. That is why I pulled the sizing die out and smacked a case in with a rubber mallet. I am in the situation Michael described. I hoped there was a solution like the device I had seen that rolled cases to get rid of the "Glock bulge" back in the day.

I know little about Dillions. Does the press "over center" like a traditional press? If it doesn't the case may not be being forced far enough into the die. But if you drove it in with a hammer, it should be enough. That takes us back to the die not being right for that chamber or work hardened brass springing back.

 

[RicinYakima]

I don't think so Bret. Press dies are large at the mouth so there is wiggle room for the case to center, plus they know the top lip of the shell holder will never push the case head up into the die. You may be right, but looking at my dies, they would not size all the way down to the rim.

 

[Ben]

This is probably too simple, - - - But - - - What happens if you borrow a sizing die from someone and try sizing three of your cases, if those 3 cases will chamber OK in your rifle, the current sizing die doesn't match up with the sizing requirements of your rifle ? ?

 

[Thumbcocker]

Bingo. Tried a chainsaw bar gap tightening tool. Concept was good but it didn't squeeze out the bulge evenly. I have 150 new cases coming from Grafs.

 

[Thumbcocker]

This is probably too simple, but what happens if you borrow a sizing die from someone and try sizing three of your cases ? ?

Graff. Looked to see if the full sizer dies were available for 7.62 x 54r. Didn't see any. I would happily pay someone that had such a die for their trouble but I don't think the die exists.

 

[Ben]

If you're able to take your new brass you have ordered , fire it, size it and it fit back in your rifle, I hate to see it happen, but you might have to " deep 6 " all that other brass you've been trying to ( unsuccessfully ) F/L size.

 

[Thumbcocker]

I have written it off.

 

[KeithB]

Do you have a 0-1" outside micrometer? Calipers aren't good enough.

 

[Thumbcocker]

Nope