About case lube. I just go get the grease gun that I have for greasing farm machinery and squirt a couple of pumps into a small dish. Then when sizing get a bit on the finger of the left hand and pick up a brass and rub a little of the lube on it then in the press it goes. This has worked very well for me. It doesn't take much lube. Do not over do it or the excess lube will make dents in the brass.
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How hard is it?
- Thread starter hbhobby
- Start date
. I just go get the grease gun that I have for greasing farm machinery and squirt a couple of pumps into a small dish
That would be low temp grease, in the old days it would be sold as long fiber, when it got hot it got thin.
F. Guffey
Looks like an RCBS Jr press and it does not have compound leverage. I had one, sold it for $35.00, that was a long time ago. The thing was only good for pistol cartridges. I kept my Lyman Spar-T, it does not have compound leverage but I could mount a bunch of pistol dies on top of the turret. I had a friend make a longer lever arm, to see if I could small base size 30-06 cases, and that was impossible. I actually bent the lever arm. I used my Rock Chucker for rifle cases after that. Now I have a Lyman T-Mag and a Redding T-7.
While that RCBS Jr is an cast iron and well built press, if you want to size rifle ammunition, find a more modern press.
Sorry.
While that RCBS Jr is an cast iron and well built press, if you want to size rifle ammunition, find a more modern press.
Sorry.
Picture sure looks like an RCBS junior press. All cast iron but no compound linkage. Mine works fine for anything up to 30-06 and it is also bolted to a 1/4 inch steel plate on the bench. When I got into reloading the 45-70, I opted for one of the Lee classic presses which does have compound linkage: https://leeprecision.com/classic-cast-press.html
I can't believe the current price per Lee! Seems like I paid around $89 for mine not too many years ago. They say this thing can reload the .50 BMG if you want to play with a really big case. Very easy handle pull for 45-70 cases.
Check prices at other places. Midway @ $117 -- others may be better.
I can't believe the current price per Lee! Seems like I paid around $89 for mine not too many years ago. They say this thing can reload the .50 BMG if you want to play with a really big case. Very easy handle pull for 45-70 cases.
Check prices at other places. Midway @ $117 -- others may be better.
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Partial size in the first step...about half way.
Next stage adjust die down and completely full length size.
If it's still too hard try sizing completely in three stages...1/3 , 1/3 , and then the final 1/3 .
RCBS makes good press but that one doesn't have compound linkage which helps .
Another advantage to sizing in two or three steps is you reduce the risk of pulling off the rim and having a stuck case. I have discovered if the case goes into the die hard...it will be hard to pull out....that's when the rim might pull off.
Try to avoid that little faux pas', a stuck case is no fun.
Gary
Next stage adjust die down and completely full length size.
If it's still too hard try sizing completely in three stages...1/3 , 1/3 , and then the final 1/3 .
RCBS makes good press but that one doesn't have compound linkage which helps .
Another advantage to sizing in two or three steps is you reduce the risk of pulling off the rim and having a stuck case. I have discovered if the case goes into the die hard...it will be hard to pull out....that's when the rim might pull off.
Try to avoid that little faux pas', a stuck case is no fun.
Gary
hbhobby wrote:
I mean REALLY hard like the wood on my bench crackles. Is this normal?
7mm Mag and 30-06 are large cases that do require considerable pressure to resize and the sound of the wood "crackling" could just be normal flexure of the joints in the bench. But then it could be there is something wrong and you're tearing up your press and bench.
To provide you a really meaningful answer, it would help to have pictures of your bench and your press.