I have been loading for a while with a single stage press. Just recently I purchased a progressive press with the hopes of speeding up the process considering I have started shooting weekly. I have been reloading .223, .308, .357 sig, and 9mm. My question is toward 223 loading. I have noticed that when sizing and de-priming my cases (mostly LC and Remington brass) it is not very smooth on the up stroke as well as the down stroke. I am using RCBS FL sizing die and I have used a Hornady sizing die with the same outcome. I am using Hornady one shot lube and I have also used RSBS case lube. I have watched several videos on loading on a progressive press and all the videos seem to run very smooth compared to what I am doing. Any suggestions on how to fix this issure or is it just the way it is?
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223 loading question
- Thread starter poke5353
- Start date
Re: 223 loading question
Maybe the expander ball is sticking a bit on the upstroke, as it exits and enlarges the case mouth back to size?
Are running a carbide expander? If not, it should help some. Or try few pieces of brass without the expander to trouble-shoot, and see if it is any smoother.
But it is not going to be perfectly smooth with the drag of 3 or 4 stations doing their work.
Maybe the expander ball is sticking a bit on the upstroke, as it exits and enlarges the case mouth back to size?
Are running a carbide expander? If not, it should help some. Or try few pieces of brass without the expander to trouble-shoot, and see if it is any smoother.
But it is not going to be perfectly smooth with the drag of 3 or 4 stations doing their work.
Re: 223 loading question
That Hornady One shot lube is the worst case lube I have tried using. I've had more stuck .223 cases than I can remember using that crap. It is also messy, creates fumes, and just never worked well for me.
I switched to the Redding Imperial Sizing Die Wax and have had much success. I've sized 1500-2000 .223 cases with it so far, and i've only had one stuck case, which was probably my fault anyway.
It is much cheaper and a little goes a long way. A little 2 oz tin can will last a long time.
That Hornady One shot lube is the worst case lube I have tried using. I've had more stuck .223 cases than I can remember using that crap. It is also messy, creates fumes, and just never worked well for me.
I switched to the Redding Imperial Sizing Die Wax and have had much success. I've sized 1500-2000 .223 cases with it so far, and i've only had one stuck case, which was probably my fault anyway.
It is much cheaper and a little goes a long way. A little 2 oz tin can will last a long time.
Re: 223 loading question
I wouldn't use One Shot on necked rifle cases! I learned a long time ago to 'do it right' when loading .223 / 5.56 ammo. I use Imprerial Sizing Wax on all of my rifle brass, and it never leaves any noticeable residue in my sizing die, which will cause neck and shoulder dimples.
I've tried Hornady Unique, RCBS case lube, and a few others on rifle cartridges. All have left some form of dimple in the neck or shoulder due to lube build-up inside the die over time.
I only use One Shot for my pistol brass that goes through my carbide dies.
As a note, it's always easier to wipe all of your loaded rounds down when you are finished because you put TOO much, as opposed to, spending 20 or 30 minutes on a stuck case.
I wouldn't use One Shot on necked rifle cases! I learned a long time ago to 'do it right' when loading .223 / 5.56 ammo. I use Imprerial Sizing Wax on all of my rifle brass, and it never leaves any noticeable residue in my sizing die, which will cause neck and shoulder dimples.
I've tried Hornady Unique, RCBS case lube, and a few others on rifle cartridges. All have left some form of dimple in the neck or shoulder due to lube build-up inside the die over time.
I only use One Shot for my pistol brass that goes through my carbide dies.
As a note, it's always easier to wipe all of your loaded rounds down when you are finished because you put TOO much, as opposed to, spending 20 or 30 minutes on a stuck case.
Re: 223 loading question
Well I took the expander ball out and cleaned well. I ran aces through it without the ball and it was very smooth. I don't think it has a carbide expander ball. So I bled up more cases and I made sure I lubed the inside of the nec mouth and put the expander ball back in and it was running pretty smooth. I guess that is the issue. Just need to make sure the inside of the necks are lubed.
Well I took the expander ball out and cleaned well. I ran aces through it without the ball and it was very smooth. I don't think it has a carbide expander ball. So I bled up more cases and I made sure I lubed the inside of the nec mouth and put the expander ball back in and it was running pretty smooth. I guess that is the issue. Just need to make sure the inside of the necks are lubed.
Re: 223 loading question
I load a lot of 223 progressively using that same lube. I put the brass in a tub after tumbling then do about 3-4 2 second sprays on the brass and mix them by hand. The sizing die gets about a 1 second spray inside of it then blown dry. Just be careful with that stuff as it will build up over time and will cause dents and oversized cases.
I load a lot of 223 progressively using that same lube. I put the brass in a tub after tumbling then do about 3-4 2 second sprays on the brass and mix them by hand. The sizing die gets about a 1 second spray inside of it then blown dry. Just be careful with that stuff as it will build up over time and will cause dents and oversized cases.
Re: 223 loading question
have been using hornady one shot case lube for years on 223,308, 06 with out a hitch i spray it on and let it set for a minute or 2 then go at it. I load all my 223 on a dillion 550 press, but i have a single stage press soley for resizing, I took the resizer off my dillion tool head and put it on my single stage press and I usally spray 50 rounds at a time put them in a bucket I do 200 cases at a time, when i get 200 done i then transfer them to another bucket which will put the first ones sprayed on top then i go to resizing. I then run them thru the tumbler for about 10 min and put the finshed brass in another bucket, for when i need or want to load. As far as loading no problem just load on the dillion as normal, with the resizing die out of tool head i load as normal, the case will go up in the empty hole and u seat primer and rotate, I know it a little more work but that way i get consistent resized brass since i load for 3 ar's i have my die set up to size the brass 3 thou under the smallest chamber stretches too.
have been using hornady one shot case lube for years on 223,308, 06 with out a hitch i spray it on and let it set for a minute or 2 then go at it. I load all my 223 on a dillion 550 press, but i have a single stage press soley for resizing, I took the resizer off my dillion tool head and put it on my single stage press and I usally spray 50 rounds at a time put them in a bucket I do 200 cases at a time, when i get 200 done i then transfer them to another bucket which will put the first ones sprayed on top then i go to resizing. I then run them thru the tumbler for about 10 min and put the finshed brass in another bucket, for when i need or want to load. As far as loading no problem just load on the dillion as normal, with the resizing die out of tool head i load as normal, the case will go up in the empty hole and u seat primer and rotate, I know it a little more work but that way i get consistent resized brass since i load for 3 ar's i have my die set up to size the brass 3 thou under the smallest chamber stretches too.
Re: 223 loading question
Try sticking the drcapping rod in a cordless drill and polish the expander plug. This should help smooth things out.
Try sticking the drcapping rod in a cordless drill and polish the expander plug. This should help smooth things out.
Re: 223 loading question
I'm only running a single stage press and using Hornady Unique. After sticking a few cases by being in a hurry and using mica powder on the inside of the necks, tried using a dab of Unique on the insides of the neck.
Lube the outsides of the case with my fingers and set them in my loading block. Then, using a Q-tip very lightly coated in Unique I run the Q-tip into 5 case necks. Very lightly reload Q-tip and repeat. Since going to this method I have not to date stuck a single case. I have not noticed any difference in my loads as I don't try to remove the lube inside after sizing. Also have not had any issues with buildup inside the die or on the expander ball resulting in buldged cases. Just as a feel good thing, I'll clean the die every couple hundred rounds. This has worked flawlessly for me so far and speeded up my process as sizing feels smoother and no more stuck cases. Also noticablely less force needed on the down stroke. Just another option.
I'm only running a single stage press and using Hornady Unique. After sticking a few cases by being in a hurry and using mica powder on the inside of the necks, tried using a dab of Unique on the insides of the neck.
Lube the outsides of the case with my fingers and set them in my loading block. Then, using a Q-tip very lightly coated in Unique I run the Q-tip into 5 case necks. Very lightly reload Q-tip and repeat. Since going to this method I have not to date stuck a single case. I have not noticed any difference in my loads as I don't try to remove the lube inside after sizing. Also have not had any issues with buildup inside the die or on the expander ball resulting in buldged cases. Just as a feel good thing, I'll clean the die every couple hundred rounds. This has worked flawlessly for me so far and speeded up my process as sizing feels smoother and no more stuck cases. Also noticablely less force needed on the down stroke. Just another option.
Re: 223 loading question
New poster here, but not at all new to reloading.
Get the carbide expander and don't look back. But in the meantime, I have a tip that will help. Get a Teflon cookie sheet. Lay about 50 cases on it in rows with the case mouth facing you. Then use a pump type spray lube, misting all the cases and allowing some lube to hit the inside of case neck. Agitate the pan to even out the lube on the outside. It only takes a tiny bit inside the case neck as it collects on the expander ball anyway. Don't clean the pan. Repeated use "seasons" it. I've done 1000's of cases this way and have yet to get one stuck. Hope this helps.
New poster here, but not at all new to reloading.
Get the carbide expander and don't look back. But in the meantime, I have a tip that will help. Get a Teflon cookie sheet. Lay about 50 cases on it in rows with the case mouth facing you. Then use a pump type spray lube, misting all the cases and allowing some lube to hit the inside of case neck. Agitate the pan to even out the lube on the outside. It only takes a tiny bit inside the case neck as it collects on the expander ball anyway. Don't clean the pan. Repeated use "seasons" it. I've done 1000's of cases this way and have yet to get one stuck. Hope this helps.
