.223 not sizing right

[ar15barrels]

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.

If you ever setup a progressive press to cam over, you need to put 2 more dies across the shellplate also against the shellplate as well to support the shellplate platform from being bent if you are camming the press over with only 1 die hard against the shellplate.

[NapalmCheese]

Are you lubing the inside of the case necks?

[divingin]

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.

Sounds like 2 issues: The actions performed by the other dies are stretching the press more, so you need more "down" on the sizing die to get to the same point when the press is doing several operations at once, vs having just a single piece of brass in the sizing station.

OP: you really need to ditch the die instructions and set up the sizing die to get the correct amount of base-shoulder reduction, rather than sizing the max amount. Your brass (and possibly your face) will thank you. Oversizing will lead to case head separations in as little as one to a few firings. "Correct amount" is generally .001-.002" for a bolt gun, and .002-.005" for a semi-auto. Much more than that is generally going to cause eventual problems.

[JagerDog]

Are you lubing the inside of the case necks?

Good thought. The internal sizing button can stretch the shoulder back out on extraction.

[ar15barrels]

Are you lubing the inside of the case necks?

Good thought. The internal sizing button can stretch the shoulder back out on extraction.

A side benefit of dry tumbling is that the walnut or corn media dust stays inside the necks and acts as a dry lube so that the neck expanding button does not stick to the case neck.

People who wet tumble run into many more problems with the cases sticking to the neck expander as the cases are TOO clean.

[MarikinaMan]

The way I adjust a sizing die is I start as u did. Then I put the sized case into a case gauge. I will keep adjusting the die until five random cases go into the gauge and pass. Then I’ll lock the die in place.

[smoothy8500]

I guess nobody checks their sizing against the chamber in question? Is the case gauge at SAAMI minimum or maximum? Are you bumping the shoulder .002" or .005"? Inquiring minds want to know....

[hambam105]

I never knew this.

If you ever setup a progressive press to cam over, you need to put 2 more dies across the shellplate also against the shellplate as well to support the shellplate platform from being bent if you are camming the press over with only 1 die hard against the shellplate.

I've been reloading off a Dilion for years.
Never had a FL resizing issue with any caliber.

I suppose if you are like me and never read the instruction manual for the press you should hang around the guys that do.

Thanks Randal.

[ar15barrels]

I've been reloading off a Dilion for years.
Never had a FL resizing issue with any caliber.

I suppose if you are like me and never read the instruction manual for the press you should hang around the guys that do.

Thanks Randal.

Supporting the shellplate on a progressive while camming over is not in the manual.
I figured that out when I was setting up my 650 for decapping, lube, trim and neck expand.
I used the lube/decap and the Lyman M die to support the opposite side of the shellplate from the sizer/trimmer die.
Once I did that, I got much more consistent shoulder lengths.
A dial indicator showed me what was happening when the shellplate was not being backed up by those two dies opposite the sizer/trimmer.

[stand125]

Are you lubing the inside of the case neck? I have had necks that had a difficult time getting the expander ball out and it actually pulled the shoulder. I noticed accuracy improve once I picked a head stamp and stuck with it. Find a headstamp that resize and chambers and discard the others.

[kelvin232]

Cases not trimmed after sizing. Neck too long and hitting stop on case Guage. Trim cases.

Get calipers and confirm case OAL.

[hambam105]

We all learn a bit different.

If you ever setup a progressive press to cam over, you need to put 2 more dies across the shellplate also against the shellplate as well to support the shellplate platform from being bent if you are camming the press over with only 1 die hard against the shellplate.

I consider myself more a technician than a machinist or engineer because having that shell plate resting caddy-wompast atop the ram never crossed my mind.

[JagerDog]

I guess nobody checks their sizing against the chamber in question? Is the case gauge at SAAMI minimum or maximum? Are you bumping the shoulder .002" or .005"? Inquiring minds want to know....

Guessing the brass didn't come from his rifle. Appears to be AR platform. Sizing to spec rather than chamber isn't a bad way to go. Gauge should be toward min.

[ar15barrels]

I consider myself more a technician than a machinist or engineer because having that shell plate resting caddy-wompast atop the ram never crossed my mind.

If you want to do some visual learning, setup a progressive press with just a sizing die and two dial indicators.
One indicator on the side with the sizing die and the other indicator on the other side of the shellplate.
Do not set the sizing die to touch the shellplate yet.
You want to watch the shellplate come up while sizing a case and then compare how the shellplate comes up when NOT sizing a case.
Now turn the die down a little so you are hard bumping the die on the shellplate and repeat the measurements.
It should be easy to see what's happening once you have the indicators showing you what you can not see.

[Greg Curci]

Thank you for all the advice, I probably should have noted that I bought once fired brass from another calgunner. My case gauge is to SAAMI specs. This is my first time reloading rifle cartridges after loading pistol for a while. I've been using the small base dies for the first go around and plan on using a Lee FL die for all the brass that I pick up after using in my AR.