full length sizing die and factory new cartridge cases

[butlersrangers]

"8X57 of Course ... " - That sounds patronizing.

My question was a fair one. Many people reloading for a Mauser rifle are probably reloading 6.5X55mm, 7X57mm, 7.65X53mm, 11mm, or numerous Mauser 'sporting rounds'.

'pocketshaver', you have been given good advice and suggestions.

Photos of your problem cases might help, but, I am rather certain proper solutions have already been given.

[browningautorifle]

there is some serious deformation on the case mouths, and its annoying.

What I have done in the past with cases I wanted to save is...use a pair of needle nose pliers and run them inside the mouth, turn and that pops the cave in out. Then lube and run them into the dies to finish. I seldom have any issue after that. But again, RCBS dies so I don't run into set up problems you are describing...

[Daan Kemp]

I agree with BAR, done that with pliers or a suitable screwdriver many times. Resizing die does the rest.

[Parashooter]

Sometimes the handiest mouth-fixer is simply a loaded round, preferably one with a FMJ spitzer and a good crimp.

[pocketshaver]

What I have done in the past with cases I wanted to save is...use a pair of needle nose pliers and run them inside the mouth, turn and that pops the cave in out. Then lube and run them into the dies to finish. I seldom have any issue after that. But again, RCBS dies so I don't run into set up problems you are describing...

care to explain the RCBS die letter system? A, B, so forth? And do they have a 357 magnum ONLY carbide die set?

---------- Post added at 07:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:40 AM ----------

die set up will go a bit better. Found 10 rounds of loaded up cast bullets I still haven't tired out. I so hate the effects of working 7 days a week for 6 months at the turn of the year. Never had a chance to shoot what I had reloaded. 214 grain round nose lee karabiner does seem a feisty one.

[browningautorifle]

care to explain the RCBS die letter system? A, B, so forth

Yes sir... RCBS stamped the top of their dies with a letter beginning in "A" in 1949 and ending with "P" in 1965. There after that used the last two digits of the year, 66, 67, 67 and so forth. I have not bought any new RCBS dies lately but all I have are dated either with a letter or two digits.

do they have a 357 magnum ONLY carbide die set

Not as far as I've ever seen. Even for .357 Maximum I would expect to use a .38 Spl/.357 Mag die set. I only use Carbide for pistol calibers now of course.

[Ovidio]

I've had good luck with Lee Dies in .45 acp (carbide), 6.5X55mm Swedish Mauser, 8X50mm Lebel, 6.5X50 Arisaka, and (I use) a 7.5X55mm Swiss 'Collet-Die' to partially neck-size .30-40 Krag 'fired' cases.

I have stuff from various makers.
IMHO - No 'brand' is totally free of mistakes, with some calibers and on special order stuff.

Some military chambers have generous dimensions and were not made with Re-loading or Commercial Standards in mind. This makes Re-Loading Dies a challenge to manufacture!

Sometimes, you have to depart from the manufacturer's 'Instructions' to make ammo that will work and also give adequate cartridge-case life.

With 'bolt guns', Full Length Resizing usually 'over works' brass and 'throws away' the virtue of having 'fired' brass that is custom fitted to your rifle's chamber.

New brass usually comes F.L. Sized and ready for reloading. The case mouth will tension a projectile. Distorted case mouths are easily made right. They can be run slightly into a Die to just accept the 'expander ball'. IMHO - There is no need to run a new case fully into the F.L. Die.

Creativity and problem solving is part of the Fun!

p.s. I set the position of my 'decapping-pin, expander-ball & rod' by eye. I leave a bit of clearance to allow for variation in different makes of brass. (The decapping-pin just has to protrude enough to push out the spent primer).

BTW 'pocketshaver', what Mauser cartridge are you reloading?

I agree.
I have some LEE dies I love, like the .38/.357M, carbide ones. Best die I have. Smooth, perfect.
I don't like my couple Lees for 8x57 and 6.5x55, both collet dies. Difficult to set the collet tension in a way that is somehow constant.
RCBS is generally very good in my opinion, but I have some issues with the 7,63x53. No idea why, but that one makes me curse in ancient, forgotten languages...
7,62x54R, 7x57, 30-06...al wonderful. Still have to try the .303.
I have one Lyman for the .44 Magnum. Not sure if I like it. The direct comparison is with the Lee .38/.357 and there is no match.
More like the 9x21 Lee...
And I'm forgetting a few...
In the end, I have some good and some bad. RCBS is actually my favourite in general, but if all my dies were like the .38/.357 carbide from Lee...

[pocketshaver]

im currently using a LEE multi caliber 38/357 magnum die set. I HATE IT for 357 use. cant get to do 2 cartridges in a row the same, for magnum cases. 38 its fine but I don't shoot much 38.

those older reloads were fun. recoil wasn't that bad. guess I held the gun differently. some chambering issues on half so I think I got work to do. but hey its life. Now I only wish I knew what load data I was using.through ear muffs it sounded like I was shooting my 357 with wadcutters.

Bad day in that I managed to shoot myself with a wadcutter. heard the muzzle report, heard it thwack the target, then heard and felt it thwack my chest, then plunk into the leaves at my feet. the front edge really expanded well, good sign of rifling impressions in it. doubled in size.

[browningautorifle]

I managed to shoot myself

Took one in the inner thigh myself at a remote range in New Brunswick in about 1994. Shot a steel chicken at about 35yds and it was all pocked from high velocity FMJ .308 likely...bullet hit me mid inner thigh. Was lucky not to have gone down, I was well alone out there. Winter and heavy clothing saved me...

[pocketshaver]

Took one in the inner thigh myself at a remote range in New Brunswick in about 1994. Shot a steel chicken at about 35yds and it was all pocked from high velocity FMJ .308 likely...bullet hit me mid inner thigh. Was lucky not to have gone down, I was well alone out there. Winter and heavy clothing saved me...

got myself centered PERFECTLY in my chest about an inch above the bottom tip of sternum. woke me up a tad. loading some special cases tonight. I need the relaxing fun I guess. the weirdest thing is, when I saw my gun was FROZEN with the trigger and hammer half way back, I actually thought I blew the cyldiner