loading .223

aallan

I have been re-loading for 10 years or so. I have recently taken it back up and am having trouble with my .223 getting stuck in the die (RCBS). I dont remember this ever happening this much before. I have cleaned the die several times and lubed the cases, but not too much. Any ideas?

Laredo Lefty

What kind of lube are you using? I have loaded thousands of .223 / 5.56 rounds and use One Shot case lube.

It works great but do not us it sparingly. I put the cases in a short cardboard box lined with aluminum foil, spray them down using plenty of One Shot. When I pick them up for resize/trimming, I roll them and smear the lube around the entire case before putting in the shell holder. This disperses the lube and coats the entire surface.

dfletcher

At what point is the case getting stuck? Is it just at the start of the up stroke (when the case is fully seated inside the die) or is it after that at the end of sizing when the inside neck sizer is passing back through the case neck?

You're lubing the inside neck - correct?

ALASKAN GUIDE

I have loaded 10s of thousands of rounds they never stick when they are lubed correctly I like dillons spray lube hope this helps
John<{{{><

aallan

I usually use RCBS spray lube. I currently am using Lyman. The case gets stuck at the top of the sizing stroke. It is when I try to pull the leaver down that I notice it is stuck. I am using an ammo master. It looks like the concensus is that it is a lube problem. Thank you so much for your help!

freddbear4

Is it possible that your expander ball is oversized a bit or is the neck itself stuck in the top of the die?? RCBS has tech staff on the phone line that could help.

aallan

quote:Originally posted by freddbear4
Is it possible that your expander ball is oversized a bit or is the neck itself stuck in the top of the die?? RCBS has tech staff on the phone line that could help.


I am pretty sure its a lube thing. The ball is ok, its getting stuck at the bottom of the stroke. Thanks, Tony.

sandwarrior

aallen,

something to double check on if you load for a few calibers of close to the same size. Make sure you have the right shellholder in the press. I did this a few times. I was loading 30-06 and had the base for a 6.5x55 in. That's only .007" difference but it really puts the pressure on the outside of the rim when pulling the case back out of the die. Every hard to shape case that ran through pulled out of the shellholder. I got a bunch of 30-06 cases that were fired out of semi-autos. It looks like it fits but you don't see really well into where the clearances need to be.

aallan

It was a lube problem. I thought i wasn't putting enough on, turns out I was using the wrong brand! I didn't think it matterd, I figured it was all just advertising, but come to find out lyman lube sucks...LOL. I switched back to RCBS and have not had one clase stuck! I will never buy lyman again! I am tempted to send the remainder of the can back...LOL.

sandwarrior

aallen,

Send it to me! I use Lyman in the winter and RCBS in the summer. Lyman is thin for higher temps but just right when I'm out in garage loading in "cooler" temps.