.223 sizing issues

[BIZERKO]

I have a fairly new build AR15. Aero Precision upper/lower...BCA 18" .223 Wylde barrel, blah,blah,blah. The only rounds I've put through it have been Federal and some Frontier from L.A.X. All new and all with no problems.
So I recently started reloading for this cartridge (25 years loading pistol rounds) First thing I noticed was that my sized (Lee F/L sizer)rounds would not chamber in my gun. I tried shell holder contact with no turn, 1/8 turn, 1/4 turn and up to 1 full turn. It almost seems that I'm not 'bumping the shoulder enough. I also aquired a crap load of misc brass from a friend. Tried it before and after sizing with no luck.WTF can it be?

[highpower790]

Op you need a gauge to check brass and consider the use of a small base sizing die.

[BIZERKO]

Picking up a case gauge tomorrow and from research I've been doing the small base die may be the answer. We'll see what happens

[hundy]

I feel your pain and understand. I went through this years ago after reloading pistol for years. This link below helped me a lot. Hopefully, it helps or gives you some ideas. Good luck.

Jay

https://youtu.be/XkjIx4CPCfk

[racinjason233]

Try Small base dies is my first thought.

[BIZERKO]

I feel your pain and understand. I went through this years ago after reloading pistol for years. This link below helped me a lot. Hopefully, it helps or gives you some ideas. Good luck.

Jay

https://youtu.be/XkjIx4CPCfk

Great video, thanks.

[Divernhunter]

Small base dies should solve the problem.

[BIZERKO]

Another question, I've always adjusted my dies on my Dillon 750 a 1/4 to 1/2 turn after base contact. I'm using a little Lee single stage press for these .223's. How much of a turn would be considered excessive? I played with a full turn and a 1/4 and the results are better. Is that too much? doesn't seem like I should have to go that extreme.

[baih777]

Which Lee press are you using ?

The Frontier and Federal shot out of your gun should not require the small base die.
For me. Only the brass I bought on Gunbroker . I had to use the small base die. But it was military brass. I bought 6000 cases same headstamp.
After I shot it from my gun. I just use me Lee dies.
But 1 full turn is quite a bit..

[BIZERKO]

Which Lee press are you using ?

The Frontier and Federal shot out of your gun should not require the small base die.
For me. Only the brass I bought on Gunbroker . I had to use the small base die. But it was military brass. I bought 6000 cases same headstamp.
After I shot it from my gun. I just use me Lee dies.
But 1 full turn is quite a bit..

Using the Lee Precision Reloader Press, the basic one. (it was given to me)
I don't like the idea of a full turn but it seems to help.

['ol shooter]

Small base dies are the ticket, I use my standard .223/5.56 dies set on my bolt gun and Contender the small base RCBS dies on the AR. Gotta have that case gage, otherwise you are just guessing, same for a good primer pocket and neck tension gage.

[pacrat]

OP:

I also aquired a crap load of misc brass from a friend.

That brass will likely require a SB Sizing die. Especially if it is of military origin.

If curious as to what and where your resized cases are binding, and failing to chamber. Take a black Marks-A-Lot pen. AKA PoBoy Dykem. Coat a couple of the problem cases and cycle through the rifle by hand. Any area binding will show as "shiny spots" on the cases.

CASE GAGES..................NOT ALL HOLES ARE CREATED EQUAL. Many folks buy them only to find they are useless.

[Metal God]

CASE GAGES..................NOT ALL HOLES ARE CREATED EQUAL. Many folks buy them only to find they are useless.

I believe it's less that they are useless and more a misunderstanding of how to use them . Those gauges are cut to max SAAMI spec so a fired case "should" fit in them .

Here is L.E. Wilson explaining how to use there gauges to properly bump your shoulder back .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuJYpm-qplQ

How many turns ? well that depends .

I'm going to try to make this short but it's hard to do so because of what needs to be said .

All presses have flex/deflection as you start to put a load on them as one does as you size a case . Sometimes it's in the press frame , other times it's in the ram linkage and often is a combination of both .

Example

Here are two photos with the exact same die setting and the ram fully up . The first is with no case in the die and the second is actually sizing a case





As you can see the die and shell holder are making contact in the first photo but when sizing a case ( putting a load on the press ) it causes the press to deflect leaving that gap you see in the second photo . This flex/deflection can cause inconsistent sized cases from head to datum point on the shoulder .

To correct this ( as you've been doing ) is to screw the die down until it makes firm contact with the shell holder at the top of the stroke while sizing a case .

For now I won't get into more advanced ways to get a consistent case headspace measurement and just ask you to look and see if there is a gap between the die and shell holder at the top of the stroke when sizing a case . If so you can screw the die down more . If not and your die and shell holder are in fact making firm contact at the top of the stroke when sizing a case . You very likely will need to use a small base die which sizes the diameter down a little more . This would also mean you will likely be able to back your die back out a tad but we'll leave that alone for now until the chambering issue is resolved .

[baih777]

Using the Lee Precision Reloader Press, the basic one. (it was given to me)
I don't like the idea of a full turn but it seems to help.

Is this the press your using ?

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1013020665?pid=807734

[sigstroker]

I use non-small base RCBS dies and I never had a problem, they fit in the case gauge after sizing. No way they'll fit before sizing.

What kind of crimp? I use Lee factory crimp.