Size & Lube Case Archives - Forster ProductsForster Products

Case Sizing & Lubricating

Case sizing involves using the Co-Ax® Press to insert a cartridge case into the interior of a resizing die; the die’s interior is slightly larger than a new cartridge case. This re-sizing process returns the fired case to a size that will always allow it to fit back into a minimum-sized SAAMI chamber.

Select a Reloading Die – Choose the correct die that will help you achieve the best results. Forster Products manufactures three types of Bench Rest® sizing dies:
- Full Length Sizing Die – Sizes the case neck, shoulder and body, deprimes and expands the case neck
- Bushing Bump Neck Sizing Die – Sizes case neck for desired bullet tension, deprimes and sizes shoulder to set headspace (length)
- Neck Sizing Die – Sizes and expands the case neck and deprimes
Lube the Brass – This crucial step prevents cases from getting stuck in the reloading die. The best method is to lube each case with an oil-based lubricant, with your fingers. Too much lube is as troublesome as inadequate lube.
Resize and Deprime the Brass – Squeezes the cartridge case down to a smaller dimension, deprimes (remove the spent primer) and may expand the internal dimension of the case neck.

Safety - Please follow all pertinent safety procedures such as wearing safety glasses; being in a well-lit and well-ventilated workspace without flames, sparks or static electricity; and having all reloading tools in top working condition.

As you become more proficient in reloading, you will fine-tune your own process based on your tools/equipment, the type of shooting you do, the guns you reload for and the goals you have for your handloaded ammunition. We suggest that you continue to read, learn and understand various methods so that you can find the system that works best for your needs.

Tip - To keep the inside of your Dies scratch-free, ensure that the outside and inside of your cases are free of powder residue and other debris, case necks are deburred, and the Die itself is kept clean. Chips that result from trimming and deburring, or a case that has not been deburred, are especially damaging to Die interiors. These chips can become embedded in the Die interior. The resulting brass against brass effect “galls,” or wears away, minute pieces of brass on the case and gets worse with each use of the Die.