Reloading Issue

I finally got around to installing my .311 decapping/expander into my brand new Lee sizing die today and started to run my brand new Prvi Partizan brass through it. I've put four cases through it so far and each one of them has the same issue. It seems the opening in the sizing die is either too small or the brass is too big around at the base. I'm ending up with a slightly shaved ring about an 1/8th of an inch from the case rim where the brass is too big around to fit into the die. As a result, I cannot completely insert the case fully into the die. I'm using Hornady One Shot case lube, btw, not that I think it matters.

I tried a sample case in my Mosin Nagant M91/30 and it chambers and extracts fine. Is this something I should be worried about or is it just a cosmetic issue?

Here's a photo:



UPDATE: Reading the reviews on MidwayUSA, it appears I'm not the only one having the brass ring shaving problem. *sigh* As stated earlier, I can't even fully seat the case. Looks like Prvi Partizan, Sellier & Bellot and Winchester cases all seem to have issues with the die. Of course I tried calling Lee Precision but no one picked up the phone. More than likely because of this being Christmas Eve, but still it's frustrating.

UPDATE II: After doing more reading on the internet, I've decided this behavior is normal for this die and seems to have no impact on case integrity.

On The Reloading Front...

Today I received my Lee Pacesetter Dies in 7.62x54R from MidwayUSA. That's them below. Now all I need is some brass, powder and bullets. The Lapua brass looks good, but expensive. Another thing I could try, as Jeffersonian suggested, is buy some Wolf Gold ammo and reload the brass. Winchester also makes a loaded hunting round in this caliber, but it's also very expensive. Any suggestions? For powder, I think I'll be using IMR 4320, and for bullets, Sierra makes a good .311 bullet in 125 gn (ProHunter #2305). It's a softpoint hunting bullet, and while I'd prefer a FMJ, it looks to be pretty good. Not to mention Sierra's reputation for quality.


Oh, I got around to modifying my reloading setup the other day. I got a piece of scrap plywood from Home Depot and some assorted mounting hardware and this is what I came up with.



What do you think? The powder measure, reloading press and case trimmer are all mounted to the plywood with bolts from the back side, the heads mounted flush, and the whole mess can be clamped to the counter top and then removed as needed. I had been clamping just the press to the counter top before, but that has proved to be unsatisfactory. Now, with four clamps along two sides of the plywood, I have a secure enough platform I can operate the press with no worries of ripping the decorative molding off the edge of the counter. Also, under the reloading press, there is a small hole cut out of the wood that roughly matches the interior recess to aid in removing spent primers, since they collect in the body of the press.

BTW, that brass you see is .303 British rifle brass and the die currently in the press is the decapping/resizing die for the same caliber.