8x56R Problems, Problems, Problems

[Locoweed]

A friend wanted me to load up some 8x56R Hungarian ammo for him and he gave me an extra Steyr rifle to help me out with the project.  Ordered new brass from Graf & Sons and it took about a year to get here.  Turns out the batch of 200 was four short.  They are sending me more brass.  The Lee resizing die has a very rough neck, like it was never polished.  I made do with the dies without returning them.  I tried priming them on my press but all the large rifle primer plugs I have have a little teat on them so put a little dent in the primer.  Tried to file off the teat and ended up with a domed primer punch which makes the seated primer concave.  Didn't have a Lee priming tool shell holder that would fit the rim (I have them all) so ordered an RCBS hand priming tool so I could use a full-size shellholder which I had (a Lee).  They only accept RCBS brand shell holders and I didn't have the right size so bought a new one (I've got Lee and Lyman but no RCBS in that size).  The black plastic primer tray/shell holder was all buggered up so I contacted RCBS and they quickly sent me a replacement.  Now with the new one, the priming rod (ram) won't move up and down freely so I have to push it down with a drift punch and the inside of the black plastic shell holder is so rough that primers won't feed.  I contacted RCBS and they are sending me an entire new handpiece and shellholder assembly.  Yes, I have everything assembled and lined up correctly.  While waiting, I freed up the punch assembly by running a drill bit through there but have to get primers to feed into it by banging it on the side).  I have a Lee mould in .329 which seems to be working okay so far (I cast some test bullets in it over a year ago).  Back when I was waiting for the brass to arrive I bought some loaded ammo (non Nazi marked) from SOG.  That stuff wouldn't feed through the feed rails and I ended up with a heck of jam requiring me to take the stock off and go after the errant round with vise grips.  (I haven't tried cycling the Graf brass but may need to file the feed rails).  I still have to cast, lube, and size the bullets.  What else can possibly go wrong???  These are just the highlights so far.  I've never had so many things go wrong with a simple reloading job.   RCBS and Graf customer service are excellent as always.

[victorcharlie]

8 X 56R Hungarian?  I must have missed that one somehow......sounds like a lot of time and expense.....is there something special about that Steyr rifle that makes you want to do this?

[Locoweed]

Well, my friend bought two of the carbines cheap at Big 5 out in Arizona and ammo was pretty scarce at the time.  He was aware that I was a big-time reloader and asked me if I could load up some ammo for him if he paid for all the reloading componenents.  Heck yes, says I, so I started tracking down brass, dies, moulds, etc.  He loaned me one of his carbines as a test bed to make up his loads.  Before anything comes to fruition, I am medically retired and move to Alabama; he says hold on to the rifle and send him the ammo when it's done.  Due to my relocation and the delays in getting my brass, a year and a half have gone by.  The only cost I have so far is for the RCBS priming tool.  My interest in this project is only that it is a new caliber that I haven't worked on as a project.  Since I'm more of a reloader than a shooter, the rifle is only an adjunct to the bigger project.  I feel an obligation to furnish some quality ammo to my patron.

[Robert]

Oh Man....If I were you I would invest in a single stage press...RCBS primer rods are really cheap and easy to change.  If you are making domes on the primers, you certainly are not going to supply 'quality ammo'.  A concave in the primer could damage it and/or cause misfires very similar to having headspace problems.  Sounds to me that your freind bought some 89 dollar rifles and you have 200 dollars worth of headaches.  Tell him to get a Mauser.