dsu96 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Hi all -- I'm currently using a multi-step full-case resizing process, and I'm concerned that I may have a problem. I'll preface this by saying I'm somewhat new to reloading. Here's my process and situation: Step 1: Dry-tumble range brass to clean Step 2: Lube cases with lanolin/alcohol mixture Step 3: Resize brass with Lee .40 pass-thru die (extra lube with Unique case sizing wax) Step 4: Lube cases with lanolin/alcohol mixture Step 5: Resize brass with Dillon .40 pass-thru die (extra lube with Unique case sizing wax) Step 6: Dry-tumble brass to remove lube residue Here's my "problem". When I push the brass through the Lee die, I use what I would consider an appropriate amount of force. While there is some resistance, for the most part, the brass passes through the die relatively smoothly. However, when I go to push the brass through the Dillon die, I have to use what I consider an extreme amount of force to push the brass through. So much force at times that I have to put a lot of my weight into the downstroke, to the point where I've broken the table the press is mounted to. It seems as though most, if not all, of the "hangups" occur at the base of the brass at the extractor ring/collar. Sometimes the brass pushes through "OK"....other times I have to really force it. And if I don't push the brass through the Lee die first, forget about pushing it through the Dillon die. I've tried using less lube, I've tried using more lube, I've tried using different types of lube. The above combo seems to be the "best", but I'm still concerned that there's something wrong b/c I have to use so much force. When I go through all these steps, all of the brass case gauges just fine and works fine in my guns....just concerned about the amount of force. Any thoughts as to what could be wrong or what I could be doing different? FWIW, my press is an old Lee turret press that I inherited a while ago. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harleyfan Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 I was not aware that Dillon made a .40 pass through die. Could you possibly be trying to push this brass through a Dillon re-sizing die? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsu96 Posted April 10, 2017 Author Share Posted April 10, 2017 Sorry for mis-speaking. Yes, it's a Dillon size/deprime die with the depriming assembly removed. https://www.dillonprecision.com/dillon-carbide-size-deprime-dies_8_4_24457.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harleyfan Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 I would not do that. Once you have passed the brass through your Lee crimp die, you don't need to do anything else to it. A re-sizing die, is not designed to be used as a pass through. That is why it is taking so much force. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thormx538 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 I forget the exact dimensions, but an actual resizing die like your Dillon will be several thou smaller than the Lee FCD. I pass my .40 and 10 brass through a Lee FCD, and then I resize like normal with a Dillon die -- don't push the brass through the Dillon die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anbrumm Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 (edited) Agreed with above. I use the Redding GRx die (similar to the Lee die). The Dillon resizing die is not made to be used as a push thru. Best bet would be to do the following. Here are the steps I do with mine. Tumble Resize using GRx die (I don't use lube as I use a carbide die, so use lube if your Lee is not carbide) Then I load it on my 650 with the first station being the normal Dillon resizing die with the de-capping pin installed. Edited April 10, 2017 by anbrumm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimm609 Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 (edited) If you want to do pass through get the GRX and a single stage press. The Lee die is not made for pass through. The bottom is sized properly but I doubt they do the level of precision on the top that they do on the bottom. It's probably not far off but I doubt it's as consistent as the sizing part of the die Edited April 10, 2017 by slimm609 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsu96 Posted April 12, 2017 Author Share Posted April 12, 2017 (edited) Does the GRX die provide any additional benefits over the Lee FCD? Trying to justify/rationalize the $85 spend on the GRX... Edited April 12, 2017 by dsu96 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titandriver Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 I've used a Casemaster Jr (Magma Eng) for a number of years to resize 40 S&W and 10mm brass. I hook up my Dillon case feeder to it and can "push through" 1200-1300 per hour using it. Big benefit of it is that the case is pushed base-first through the die versus neck first using Lee or Redding push through dies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muncie21 Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 Seems like a lot of lubing and work for a straight walled pistol case. Here's my routine on a 650- 1) Decap 2) Wet tumble with synthetic wax during rinse step 3) Resize using a Lee die on Station 1 4) Seat using a Lee die on Station 4 5) Debell/crimp using Lee FCD on Station 5 You could skip step 1 if you'd like. Some folks do this, some don't, I'm not doing commercial scale reloading so I don't mind spending the time doing this. You could just as easily decap in station 1 with either the Lee or Dillon dies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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