I was doing some resizing of some .223 Winchester brass today and I kept getting stuck case after stuck case. I switched over to Remington brass, lubed and prepped the exact same way, and had no problem whatsoever. Thinking I messed up somewhere I tried the Winchester brass again and stuck a case right away. Both brands were prepped the same way at the same time. Anyone have any idea why the Winchester is giving me such grief?
Some brass harder to resize than others?
- Thread starter mudj
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hometownhero
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Was some of the winchester loaded hotter? I noticed that if its a smoking load it's take a bit more to size. Nothing major though. No idea about the stuck cases though.
I use winchester brass pretty well exclusivly for my .223, my dies have processed about 1300 of them so far, i've yet to expieriance a stuck case ever.
what lube are you using?
I use the LEE paist type lube and lube each case by hand just below the shoulder and just a quick swipe accross the case mouth, havn't bothered to make sure the inside of the mouth is fully lubed.
what lube are you using?
I use the LEE paist type lube and lube each case by hand just below the shoulder and just a quick swipe accross the case mouth, havn't bothered to make sure the inside of the mouth is fully lubed.
Not enough lube.
I use Imperial Sizing Wax exclusively and wipe the entire outside of the case. My initial wipe on the lube is a bit more aggressive then for subsequent cases because there is no lube on my fingers. After the first couple cases I just lightly touch the wax about every second or third case.
I use Imperial Sizing Wax exclusively and wipe the entire outside of the case. My initial wipe on the lube is a bit more aggressive then for subsequent cases because there is no lube on my fingers. After the first couple cases I just lightly touch the wax about every second or third case.
Atom is right that it could be brass hardness. Regardless, if you put enough lube on the ENTIRE exterior of the case it will go into the die.
Here is a test. Clean/degrease the inside of your die. Then just use the standard amount of lube. I will guarantee you will more than likely stick a case. It takes a fair bit of lube at the start to season the die.
I have yet put to much Imperial Sizing Wax to the point where it will put indents on the case shoulders. The key is to find a routine. Use the same amount of lube each and every time and all will be good.
Here is a test. Clean/degrease the inside of your die. Then just use the standard amount of lube. I will guarantee you will more than likely stick a case. It takes a fair bit of lube at the start to season the die.
I have yet put to much Imperial Sizing Wax to the point where it will put indents on the case shoulders. The key is to find a routine. Use the same amount of lube each and every time and all will be good.
Something doesn't smell right, the cases were fired and reloaded once before without any problem being noted, and now they are getting stuck in the die.
1. Not enough case lube.
2. Hot load/over pressure and cases bulged at base.
3. Chance of bad batch of soft brass.
4. Your dies are dirty and have grit embedded inside the die causing excess friction.
5. Are you using small base dies?
Can you post photos of these problem cases?
What type case lube are you using?
How do you clean your brass before resizing.
Are you using Hornady One Shot case lube?
Right now I'm cleaning, decrimping primer pockets, lubing and sizing three five gallon buckets full of .223/5.56 mixed brass. (Remington, Federal, Winchester, military Lake City) The only reason I get a stuck case is from not enough case lube, no matter what brand of case is being resized. My cases are tumbled wet with stainless steel media and all dirt and grit are removed from outside the case. These cleaner cases size easier, the dies are kept clean and are periodically disassembled and tossed in a vibrating case cleaner to clean and polish the die.
Below, one five gallon bucket of brass and not one stuck case.
97% of all errors are human errors and only 3% are mechanical failures, meaning chances are your doing something wrong.
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Question.
Are you shooting a AR 15 type rifle?
Military brass for the 5.56 is made harder and not thicker for military weapons, and civilian made .223 cases are made of softer brass because of the different firearms being used and the cartridge rated chamber pressures.
Winchester brass should be easier to resize, because the brass is softer than military brass.
When the M16 rifles were in the developmental stage in the early 1960s civilian brass was adding to the jamming problem and it became a military requirement that the cases be made harder.
Are you shooting a AR 15 type rifle?
Military brass for the 5.56 is made harder and not thicker for military weapons, and civilian made .223 cases are made of softer brass because of the different firearms being used and the cartridge rated chamber pressures.
Winchester brass should be easier to resize, because the brass is softer than military brass.
When the M16 rifles were in the developmental stage in the early 1960s civilian brass was adding to the jamming problem and it became a military requirement that the cases be made harder.
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