.50 BMG difficulty

codenamepaul

I have some cases that are very difficult to decap and resize. Some work well, some are a bassturd. Is this a function of neck cleanliness or lube? After bending the crap out of the press handle I gave up on some after a while. If it was diffcult-it went into another pile. Then the part where the handle attaches to the press broke (cast piece-more like shattered)

It is LC surplus (04)and they are tumbled.

Highball

Lube is critical on these big cases...I use Hornady One Shot.

Insides of necks must also be well lubed.
What type of press did you buy ? I believe that that puppy would be going back to the mfg...at least contact them for the new what should be free part....

My RCBS press handles the cases well...

codenamepaul

It is the Lee 50 BMG kit, and they are replacing the parts for free. The case lube was the issue. Apparently spray lube is NOT the best method here.

Highball

Perhaps the brand name is the problem ?

There is Imperial Die Wax that is used for heavy case forming that may serve you better.

I have little problem using Hornady spray lube.

codenamepaul

I was using One Shot. I am using the Lee stuff out of the tube now. Applying with my fingers.

sandwarrior

codenamepaul,

I haven't loaded fifties but I have found like Highball said lubing cases is critical.

In the winter time I use Lyman spray lube because of it's viscosity. In the summer it becomes too viscuous and I switch back to RCBS case lube. I haven't been impressed with the Hornady One-shot so far. It is a dry lube and I was finding it didn't work so well.

As noted you are dealing with a much heavier case and lubing all parts is definately a must. I usually do lube inside of necks on smaller cases by leaving some residual at the top of the expander ball. It helps keep cases from stretching as much. But you need to remember to take a Q-tip and wipe them out so the powder won't stick in the case. Hope that helps.

BHAVIN

I have a good friend that builds 50 bmg's for a living. He also does custom reloading for match shooters. He uses Hornady Unique case lube. It comes in a small tub. He uses a 50 cal barrel swab on the end of his cordless drill to lube the inside of the necks and his fingers for the outside. He loads thousands a year this way and it works well. He also prefers Hornady presses as in his experience they are tougher and more economical than the RCBS.

Highball

I believe that Hornady has changed the formula for One Shot.
I bought a case of it years ago...am down to about my last can.

Have heard of several complaints about it lately...but mine has worked splendly all these years.

I started with an ink pad..never got so tired of doing something. When the spray came along, I thought I had died and gone to heaven...could spray a hundred cases in a moment and drive on. I liked the rapid drying...felt like I could load them without tumbling. However...the last act for many years before loading was to always run the cases thru the case cleaner.

sandwarrior

Highball,

The One shot stuff I used dried really quickly, as the can said it should. I just noted it took more force to run a batch through than my Lyman stuff. I don't know if it really was lubing better but by the feel of things I thought it wasn't.

Anyhow, glad to hear Lee is replacing your stuff. I certainly think they should if they built it to take .50 Cal stuff.

codenamepaul

I expected to pay myself, and rightly should have-it was my fault. I didn't remember the direction saying NOT to use spray lube. I ran about 500 cases of 223 this weekend and so far, I am not too stoked with the One Shot. About half way through a 100 case batch (deprime and FLRS) I felt them getting difficult and had to relube. I pulled about half a dozen rims off because of it. I will be ordering a can of near everything else out there from Midway today to get a good feel going. I have about a thousand each of .308 and 30-06 to go through yet too. So when all is said and done-I will have what works best for me and what get relegated to my kids bicycle chain.

codenamepaul

Spray lube sucks for .50 BMG-not recommended. Put all my Lee lube in an oil sample bottle with a 1/2 inch paint brush. 100 rounds later, not a stuck case or anything.