It shouldn't be that bad. Recheck your process and equipment. Even a properly lubed rifle case shouldn't make you feel like you're 'about to rip the press off the bench'
Hi - I didn't think it should be like that either. I was thinking that maybe my Lee dies came on the tight end of spec. Here's what I have and what I do:
3 die Lyman non-carbide set
4 die Lee Carbide set
RCBS Rock Chucker
RCBS shell holder
Lee Shell holder
The press is firmly bolted down, I've used both shell holders interchangeably with no difference. If I use just a bit of one-shot on the cases and inside the die they run through smooth as silk, unless I run across a piece of brass that is crimped, which I generally just throw away.
I've sized about 1500 pieces between the two dies, I've run once-fired brass from my guns as well as mixed fired brass bought from the local range and cannot see a difference, which I
think eliminates my chambers being out of spec. I have tried Blazer, Win, CBC, PMC, R-P, FC. etc and see no difference in any brass, other than nickel brass running through easier.
The only thing I've found to make it a little easier is to run the decapping pin out longer, it seems that popping the primer free takes away some pressure? I tear down the dies and clean them every couple hundred rounds. If anyone has any suggestions as to how to make them run smooth without lube, I'd love to know it because I hate the film that it leaves on the cases.
By the way, I tumble all of my cases in walnut shell media before sizing and after loading. I wipe them all down before tumbling so I don't foul up my media with that case lube.