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5.56 reloading |
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Lockjaw
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/17/2016 Location: Chelsea Status: Offline Points: 434 |
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Posted: October/20/2016 at 06:04 |
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What do you guys measure cases to and find wont chamber? I reloaded some and most chamber, but a few won't.
The brass is LC, and I used a rock chucker with Lee Dies I think. Is it better to just buy the brass already processed? I have enough primers, powder and bullets to look 1000 rounds, but I need them to function in my AR.
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Bigdaddy0381
MODERATOR Georgia peach Joined: February/27/2007 Location: Georgia Status: Offline Points: 13681 |
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Get rid of the lee dies, grab you some RCBS small base dies.
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P&Z Firearms , Pro gun cleanings and gun repair and wood refinishing.
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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sounds almost like you were just borderline with your die setting that most are ok but some that needed more work didn't get it..... Small base dies as mentioned above are good to help this but also make sure you have your dies set correctly. Load in small batches to check function before going on to a big batch.. I've also see guys get tired and not fully manipulate the arms on the press loading in big batches... this'll call issues too. |
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Steelbenz
Optics Jedi Knight ROLL TIDE ROLL Joined: January/03/2006 Location: Heart of Dixie Status: Offline Points: 5153 |
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Get a Wilson case gauge. I don't reload a magazine without running my reloads through one.
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"Don't argue with a fool! From a distance you can't really tell who's who!"
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BeltFed
Optics Retard Joined: February/12/2008 Location: Ky Status: Offline Points: 22268 |
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+1 on a case gauge. I use a Dillon case gauge, and it works for me.
Setting up my dies according to the die directions didn't even get me close to specs. With the case gauge I was able to get the case properly sized and trimmed, by properly setting up my size and trim dies. |
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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+3 on buying a case gauge. Lyman, Wilson, Dillon all make them. Basically its just a spec chamber that you can drop you resized brass into to make sure it will fit. Possibly you are just not pushing the shoulder back quite far enough. The case gauge can tell you those things.
I would try that before changing dies. I have loaded thousands and thousands of 223 with Lee dies and they have worked fine for me. Small base dies are a good thought too. Especially if you are sizing brass that was not shot in your gun or you just have a rifle with a tight chamber. I have bought supposedly process brass before. I have always still had to resize it. I bought 1000 300 blk brass that the guy claimed he had completely processed and it was ready to load. Nearly all of the still had the military crimp in them, needed the shoulder pushed back farther, had not had the primer pockets cleaned out etc. He should have just called them cut and shaped brass, not fully processed brass. IMO its always best to do all that yourself. Then you know it is done to your spec and need. |
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Lockjaw
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/17/2016 Location: Chelsea Status: Offline Points: 434 |
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What do you like for a case trimmer?
I use my rock chucker, and then I have a powder thrower, so I go through in batches. I resize and deprime. Then remove the crimp. Then I usually run through the tumbler. Then I use a hand primer to prime them, and fill up a tray of 50. Then throw the powder. Then seat bullets. The Lee dies are not my favorite. I have the progressive addition for it, but that thing doesn't work worth a flip. I need to just send it to RCBS and tell them to make it work or send me something I can use.
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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I have a few of these trimmers and they are the bomb. https://littlecrowgunworks.com/product/worlds-finest-trimmer-wft/?v=7516fd43adaa
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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[QUOTE=supertool73]I have a few of these trimmers and they are the bomb. https://littlecrowgunworks.com/product/worlds-finest-trimmer-wft/?v=7516fd43adaa[/QUOTE] Ditto! |
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"Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds up to be" - Abraham Lincoln
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Steelbenz
Optics Jedi Knight ROLL TIDE ROLL Joined: January/03/2006 Location: Heart of Dixie Status: Offline Points: 5153 |
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What he said! LOL!
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"Don't argue with a fool! From a distance you can't really tell who's who!"
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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For a progressive take a look at the Hornady, they are around $400ish. I have had one since 2002 (i think) and loaded 10s of thousands of rounds with it. It makes fantastic ammo. I can make 1/2 moa ammo with it. I have been very happy with it over the years. Often 223 is a high volume round and being able to load 300 to 400 rounds an hour is a great thing. I have used a few Dillons and they are top notch, but quite a bit more money. I would love to own a 650, but cannot justify it since my Hornady has been so good to me. You can buy auto case and bullet feeders for hornady as well. A guy could make some serious ammo then. |
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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SPOT ON. I have this one too. Time and frustration saver...BIG time. I crimp my AR rounds too. Lee makes a decent one.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Great post. I too have used Lee dies exclusively for .223 with no problems, but I like the small base recommendations here.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Alan Robertson
Optics Master Joined: October/31/2009 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 1763 |
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Lockjaw, You mentioned tumbling your brass after sizing. That raised an eyebrow. You might try loading a batch that was tumbled before sizing instead and see if your problem goes away. It isn't out of the question that some mechanical case inconsistency occurs randomly during the tumbling process. Ps There's some good stuff in this thread! |
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"Garg'n uair dhuisgear"
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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I tumble, (rarely) with walnut hulls. If you should tumble after primer removal, be careful you don't have a small piece of media stuck in the primer pocket when you reprime the case.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Lockjaw
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/17/2016 Location: Chelsea Status: Offline Points: 434 |
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How about the Lee deluxe case trimmer? Usually when I tumble after resizing I use compressed air to clear the primer pockets.
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Lockjaw
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/17/2016 Location: Chelsea Status: Offline Points: 434 |
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Oh and can I drop a loaded case in a case gauge to check it? I have probably about 500 rounds loaded and some functions, some doesn't. I want to be able to separate the ones I need to pull apart and resize the case before reloading again.
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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Yes
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Lifetime warranty and excellent customer service don't mean a thing when your gun fails during a zombie attack.
"A Liberal is a person who will give away everything they don't own." |
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cheaptrick
MODERATOR Joined: September/27/2004 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 20844 |
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Perfect for that.
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If at first you don't secede...try..try again.
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Lockjaw
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/17/2016 Location: Chelsea Status: Offline Points: 434 |
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Ok I ordered the case gage and also the WFT in 223. I figure I can pull apart the ones that don't fit and save the powder and just trim them and put back together.
I have 440 cases that are sized, deprimed, and decrimped that I could trim and load. I have 3 pounds of powder, 500 bullets, and 1000 primers. I have more brass. And no bench.......
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