Lee Pro .223 Problems

[dribz]

Hi,

I took a reloading class and then I decided to buy a Lee Pro 223 when it was on sale. When I put my first shell through I got this result.



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anyone know what is wrong? or how i fix it?

[Briancnelson]

I'm assuming that happened in the depriming/sizing stage?

Or is that after running it for a full cycle?

Looks like there's something wrong with your sizing die in the first instance, or perhaps you aren't lubing the shell properly.

If the bullet seating die did it, I'm assuming its not adjusted properly and is pushing the shoulder back instead of just inserting the bullet.

[dribz]

Its during the depriming/sizing stage. I have the shell fully lubed. The action isnt super heavy like it is getting stuck. It feels normal like it was MEANT to do that.

[stphnman20]

What dies are you using?

[sonnyt650]

Check the diameter of the expander for the sizer by checking how a bullet fits in that neck. It looks like it tried to expand a larger-than-223 neck.

[dribz]

I am using the die that came with the .223 Lee Pro. Its stock from the factory.

[Sub95]

how far down did you thread the die into the press?

[dribz]

how far down did you thread the die into the press?

as instructed. Til it hits, and then a turn.

[mif_slim]

Humm, Im trying to think of when I did that too, it was when i first started and that happen...I think it was because I had the wrong die in the wrong spot or something... grrr...

Maybe the die is too far in to create that?

[dribz]

I adjusted the rod that deprimes the shell. I moved it down a bit and now it doesnt do that. But now I do not know if it is sizing or not. It looks the same as the other shells.

[Justintoxicated]

Looks like it is using the wrong expander to me. Call Lee and get a new one, or buy some better dies like Hornady or Redding

[Fatstackz]

Not intending to hjack but, where did you find a class on reloading?

[Briancnelson]

If it's going down far enough to deprime it should be sizing it. On a Lee die, the neck sizer and deprimer are the same rod. Moving it down will just make the sizing portion go further into the shell. There's nothing wrong with Lee dies in general, I've had more problems with RCBS to be honest, ignore the trolls.

I'm a bit surprised it would squash the neck down like that under any circumstances, given the shape of the Lee neck rod (it's not a ball, its more of a dual cone)
Indeed, as a prior poster said, it looked like it was a neck sizer too big for the die.

I suppose being too far up in the die could account for that as well.

Try running it through the whole cycle next, including trimming etc., if the bullet looks like it fits ok, it should be fine. If you want to be very certain, buy a shell gauge, and put the sized shells in there to check they conform. I'd recommend that, given your issue. If the shells AREN'T conforming to the shell gauge then indeed, perhaps you have a mismatched die, and you should send it to Lee for replacement.

I do not believe this is the case however, since it worked after adjustment.

[Justintoxicated]

post a picture of the expander / deprime rod after you unscrew it from the top of the die.

then post another picture with the tapered portion resting inside the top of a 223 case.