223 FL Lee die on the 650 not sizing enough

[Kryogen]

I need to give it a quarter turn after contact to get cases sized down properly(case gauge) for semi auto. That cams the shellplate too much for my taste.

What would you do? Do you need to do the same with the dillon dies? Or get redding or forster dies?

Trash the lee dies and buy dillon dies?

Thanks

 

[Mystic Precision]

I assume you mean that at "full down" stroke, the case is not being sized as much as you would like?

2 solutions.. shortern the die a bit so it will still bump the shoulder and squeeze most of the case body but not make contact with the shellplate

Turn the die in a bit more and use the contact between the die and shellholder to act as the stop for the entire loading process.

Many presses have some spring back under load and the load is induced through the sizing process.

This is not a die problem... this is a press problem with simple solutions.

Jerry

 

[bigedp51]

We live in a plus and minus manufacturing world and no two dies and chambers are the same. I have a standard full length Lee .223 die that reduces the case diameter "more" than my RCBS .223 small base die and also pushes the shoulder back more. On the flip side of this I have two different make .223 case gauges that give different case length readings. This is where a Hornady cartridge case headspace gauge comes in handy, you measure a fired case and set the die for the desired shoulder bump or setback.

Below a fired case.

Below the same case after full length resizing and .003 shoulder bump.

And now the strange part, my Lee FL die will push the shoulder back .009 shorter than my GO gauge. Which means we do live in a plus and minus manufacturing world.

I do not have a progressive press so when I have your problem I lap the top of the shell holder. And this pushes the case further into the die and the shell holder is the cheapest part you can modify. I don't have a lathe and attacking a die with a hacksaw scares me.

 

[legi0n]

if you don't have the proper power tools, be prepared to spend an afternoon to shorten the die.
I know I did use quite a lot of elbow-grease for 0.02"

 

[Kryogen]

Ok thanks i was able to just minimally cam over to get the proper sizing to spec.

Lubing inside the necks really helped, there was probably some pulling back because of the expander.

 

[PitBull1973]

I need to give it a quarter turn after contact to get cases sized down properly(case gauge) for semi auto. That cams the shellplate too much for my taste.

What would you do? Do you need to do the same with the dillon dies? Or get redding or forster dies?

Trash the lee dies and buy dillon dies?

Thanks

I have a Dillon 650 set up in 223 and for this reason I size my cases on a single stage first , clean them and then throw them in the case feeder. I know it takes more time but at least I size them to the bump I need with no issues

 

[Mystic Precision]

I have a Dillon 650 set up in 223 and for this reason I size my cases on a single stage first , clean them and then throw them in the case feeder. I know it takes more time but at least I size them to the bump I need with no issues

when I bulk load for my AR in 223, I also will do the sizing in bulk in a single stage press.

Saves having to stress out the progressive.... and I really don't want to have a "fat" case jam up the rifle.

When FL sizing, quality lube and lots of it (or whatever is required by the manf) is a good idea... BUT if you have lubed cases in the progressive, what a pain to get rid of the lube in the loaded rd.

And extra lube on the ammo can lead to some expected fun and games... not my idea of a good time

Jerry

 

[beltfed]

Hmmm...sizing brass on a single stage. That would drive me nuts.
I also size my cases separately, but do it with a separate die and die plate on my 650.
Run a case feeder full of brass with several sprays of Dillon lube and do it in bulk - no need to pick brass out of the shell holder and put another in its place with each pull of the handle.



I wouldn't put cam on the plate - get your die modified or try a different one.

 

[Kryogen]

I do a 2 toolhead loading. Brass is pre-cleaned, then lubed, tossed into the 650 to size, then trimmed, then into the tumbler to remove lube, then onto the loading head to prime, powder, seat, crimp.

I think that i was able to get minimal cam and good sizing with proper inside neck lube. I think that was the issue, the neck pulling back on too clean brass.

Single stage prep isnt for me. Thats why I bought a 650.
If I shoot more 223 eventually I think that I will get a dillon trimmer and a swage-it kit. Even triming manually and swaging the occasioanal not swaged yet case terribly annoys me.... It doubles or triples the time required ro prep the brass.

 

[beltfed]

You may want to look at a Giraud Trimmer - trims, and chamfers inside and outside of the case neck in a second like a pencil sharpener. An excellent tool for automated case prep.