Case neck separating/resizing.

[Howard Shadix]

I reload a lot as a PRS competitor. I have never seen anything like that. Case head separations are normally below the shoulder and are a product of multiple firing/stretching cycles. Do not think that is a full length sizing issue as those are neck failures.

1) Cases are defective?
2) Cases were originally fired in a rifle with a serious chamber issue?
3) Something wrong with sizing die?

I would get another completely different sample of brass and try again. I would discard the suspect brass.

Thanks L8, I had decided to toss the cases, hate it with current prices. Haven’t had any prior symptoms prompting me to need to slug the chamber and measure it but there are no obvious signs of chamber issues. But I understand we’re talking about specs in the thousandths of an inch.
I did order another expander unit just in case the other has issues I can’t feel but cause more friction than necessary.
If it continues, I will just get new dies.

 

[Lightning8]

Unfortunately, 25-06 not popular enough for many premium stand-alone brass offerings. I suggest buying a box of 20 of basic 2506 factory ammo and shooting then using that brass. If you want to try other dies, good old Lee dies work just fine.

 

[rOmiLaYu]

First time using Unique Case lube. Always used the old RCBS lube and pad without trouble, just a little messier.

My guess is that this ^ is the culprit. Probably under lubed. The .25-06 is a pretty small and steep necked caliber. I would bet you didn't have enough lube on the shoulder and neck of the case and the die grabbed it and pulled it apart.

 

[Howard Shadix]

My guess is that this ^ is the culprit. Probably under lubed. The .25-06 is a pretty small and steep necked caliber. I would bet you didn't have enough lube on the shoulder and neck of the case and the die grabbed it and pulled it apart.

Not an unreasonable assumption, that’s why I tried to mention anything I did differently. Appreciate the feedback. This was my first batch of .25-06, loaded many .223, .308, .30-06 and several pistol calibers, all using the old greasy pad or carbide dies. Maybe need more lube or better cleaning. See the following:

Maybe of interest to y’all, I did just measure them. 2.494 is max length. About 30 measured barely above 2.484 trim length. 2.484-2.489. 5 others measured 2.496-2.2498, all after 1 firing in same rifle. I sat down with a magnifying glass and found each of those have a darker powder stain around the case mouth and inside than all the others. So I looked at the damaged ones, and while a little harder to see, they appear the same. So maybe for some reason they are “dirtier” than the rest and a combination of that and a lower lube amount are the cause. When I say dirty though, it’s a very subtle difference, without magnifying glass you may not see it.
Will continue working on it. Thanks for the input.

 

[Howard Shadix]

Unfortunately, 25-06 not popular enough for many premium stand-alone brass offerings. I suggest buying a box of 20 of basic 2506 factory ammo and shooting then using that brass. If you want to try other dies, good old Lee dies work just fine.

You are right about that! They are available but you can buy loaded “mid-level” ammo for just slightly LESS than the brass from Norma or others.
As far as the dies, I certainly ain’t a reloading snob, I only look at the benchrest stuff 😉

 

[Howard Shadix]

To add on about the cases and how clean/dirty they are. All were decapped and cleaned in one batch. No processing difference between them. I’ve certainly seen others load cases with more staining than these.

 

[Howard Shadix]

My guess is that this ^ is the culprit. Probably under lubed. The .25-06 is a pretty small and steep necked caliber. I would bet you didn't have enough lube on the shoulder and neck of the case and the die grabbed it and pulled it apart.

Having never used the Hornady Unique lube, I applied till they felt “greasy” enough and used the brush inside case neck, pretty much just like the RCBS video I watched today shows.
Hate to throw that lube out but I’m certainly not against going back to the old pad.
Do you know a better process for the paste lube? The internet is all over the place.😵‍💫

 

[BHPSteel]

I've resized some really gnarly 308 and the only lube that really worked was Imperial Wax.

Nothing else came close. I was extracting stuck cases all the time before I started using it.

I'd only use graphite dust *inside* the neck.

 

[rOmiLaYu]

Do you know a better process for the paste lube? The internet is all over the place.😵‍💫

I use wax. Have been using it now for 30 some odd years. Imperial, Redding, any number of them. One Shot, I think, is another brand. I just dab between my thumb and index finger, run my thumb across the case opening and then twist is around in my fingers until it's slimy, then run it through the die. Never once and a separation.

 

[Lightning8]

I use the spray lanolin (Dillon brand but others too) and alcohol type stuff or Hornady One Shot. I load way too much volume to seal with wax or any kind of manual case lubing.

Spread out on a card tray and spray, then shake around. Just did 400 Dasher like that this week.