.223 not sizing right

[Greg Curci]

I'm having an issue sizing my brass. First of I'm using RCBS small base die in a Hornady Lock n load AP. I run the die until it touches the shellplate and turn another 1/4 turn. All my brass is mix headstamp. While I'm sizing about 75% will size correctly and fit into my cartridge gauge (hornady .223 gauge). I size and check each case before I set primers. The cases that haven't sized properly I put to the side and when I try to resize them by turning the die another 1/2 turn they still won't fit into the cartridge gauge. Has anyone come across this? Am I doing something wrong with my set up?

[jsanch03]

[JagerDog]

Where is it hanging up in the case gauge?

[ar15barrels]

I'm having an issue sizing my brass. First of I'm using RCBS small base die in a Hornady Lock n load AP. I run the die until it touches the shellplate and turn another 1/4 turn. All my brass is mix headstamp. While I'm sizing about 75% will size correctly and fit into my cartridge gauge (hornady .223 gauge). I size and check each case before I set primers. The cases that haven't sized properly I put to the side and when I try to resize them by turning the die another 1/2 turn they still won't fit into the cartridge gauge. Has anyone come across this? Am I doing something wrong with my set up?

From your description of what you are doing, it sounds like you don't have a method to actually MEASURE the effect of the sizing.
A gauge is a go/no-go check but it does not show you where you actually ARE on shoulder length.
If you had an actual measurement to work from, you would know which way you need to adjust the die.

1/4 turn and 1/2 turn are MASSIVE adjustments.

You should be adjusting around 0.002" at a time when adjusting the die.
0.002" is 1/28 of a turn.

The easiest way to have a SCALE is to make 1mm spaced hash marks on some masking tape and wrap the tape around the 7/8" threaded portion of the die.
Each 1mm hash mark will give you 0.001" of adjustment.
1/4 turn is 0.018".

[ar15barrels]

Where is it hanging up in the case gauge?

My money is on the gauge not being relieved to clear dinged up rims so cases with pull marks on the rim hang up and people that don't realize it's happening think the case is not fitting some other part of the gauge.

[JagerDog]

From your description of what you are doing, it sounds like you don't have a method to actually MEASURE the effect of the sizing.
A gauge is a go/no-go check but it does not show you where you actually ARE on shoulder length.
If you had an actual measurement to work from, you would know which way you need to adjust the die.

1/4 turn and 1/2 turn are MASSIVE adjustments.

You should be adjusting around 0.002" at a time when adjusting the die.
0.002" is 1/28 of a turn.

The easiest way to have a SCALE is to make 1mm spaced hash marks on some masking tape and wrap the tape around the 7/8" threaded portion of the die.
Each 1mm hash mark will give you 0.001" of adjustment.
1/4 turn is 0.018".

[sigstroker]

I do all my full length resizing on a Rock Chucker.

[Greg Curci]

Thank you for all the responses, it's my first batch of rifle reloads, please forgive me if I'm a little ignorant with my set up.

[pacrat]

Thank you for all the responses, it's my first batch of rifle reloads, please forgive me if I'm a little ignorant with my set up.

Have you "chamber checked" a few of those pesky cases that were case gage rejects?

If not. Do so before screwing around with anything else. Since you are already using a SB-FL sizer. And hard bumping the shell plate to the die base. Most likely outcome, is that they fit your rifle just fine.

In which case, drop the case gage in a drawer and immediately forget where you lost it.

In extremely rare circumstances. Manufacturer will cut a die overly deep. By extremely rare, I'm guestamating one in every couple hundred thousand.

If that's the situation. The cases won't fit the rifle either.

[Greg Curci]

Have you "chamber checked" a few of those pesky cases that were case gage rejects?

If not. Do so before screwing around with anything else. Since you are already using a SB-FL sizer. And hard bumping the shell plate to the die base. Most likely outcome, is that they fit your rifle just fine.

In which case, drop the case gage in a drawer and immediately forget where you lost it.

In extremely rare circumstances. Manufacturer will cut a die overly deep. By extremely rare, I'm guestamating one in every couple hundred thousand.

If that's the situation. The cases won't fit the rifle either.

I put together a few dummy rounds with the cases that wouldn't fit the gauge, the bolt wouldn't get all the way into battery and took quite a bit of force to get the charging handle and bold back to get it to eject the round.

[tabascoz28]

I'm learning the hard way myself but it seems that a progressive press lacks the camming action of rock chucker. Once all the other dies are putting resistance on the system it takes even more force to get that extra .002 inches down. I'm sure the Hornady is built better than my Lee Breach Lock Pro.

[cocorador]

Check out the precision mic from RCBS. I have one for every rifle caliber I own. It helps me set up my dies for sizing as well as bullet seating. Maybe there is a video on youtube.

[baih777]

Why are you using a small base die ?
its only needed if your brass was military or police range brass shot out of fully auto rifle. use a regular 223 die if its your own once fired brass.

all the brass that does not size correctly. is it all the same head stamp ?

when using that Hornady guage. the brass that does not fit the guage. look at the other end of the guage and see if the brass is bottoming out in the guage. since the brass has not been trimmed yet. it may be too long. the Hornady guage also guages the length of the brass at the same time.
if this is the problem. then drill out the guage so that it will let the long untrimmed brass seat to check the headspace.

Midway has free shipping offer right now.
buy a Lyman or Dillon 223 guage.
do you have the Lee decapper die ? buy a couple of spare decapping shafts at the same time.
if you need to buy another regular die. just buy the Lee 223 FL die. it has holes drilled into the neck to let the excess lube push out and you wont dent any brass. buy a spare decapping shaft at the same time.
on your Hornady shellplate. keep a extra spring on hand.

there is nothing wrong with your press. i do 2 gallon buckets of 223 at a time with my Hornady.

[rsrocket1]

Take a resized case that won't fit in the case gauge and color it completely with a magic marker or Sharpie including the rim. Then try to fit it into the case gauge again. Use a rod to push it back out if it's stuck. Look for where the ink rubbed off and you'll know where it's out of spec.

As Randall said, many times, the rims are banged up and are the only parts that won't fit in the gauge but if your bolt won't close then it might be that the very bottom of the head is still expanded too much and your dies aren't able to size them completely. A single stage press might help. I have a LnL AP also but I resize and prime on a single stage press or SS press and hand primer. I only use the LnL to drop powder and seat the bullet.

The LnL AP will cam over slightly but don't adjust it to do so, you are only asking for trouble with 5 stations.

[tabascoz28]

I like that the AP will cam, why not set it up for rifles? All the other dies would just float above and adjust as needed befire mass producing.