no end of trouble with 223 sizing die

T

throback

Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
lower mainland BC
I am having a ton of trouble with stuck cases in my RCBS 223 dies . I am using Dhillon lube and doing nothing unusual. I am full case sizing some and neck sizing stuff I've already fired once. The cases get seriously stuck. By the time I pound the crap out of them to get them out the case is toast.

I've always used RCBS dies, these ones I picked up used at the gun show. I am wondering if they may have been worn out dies when I got them. Hmmm, sounds like new die time to me.

But otherwise I can't think of what I am doing wrong.

Also any thoughts on cases with small rifle primers vs large Rifle primers ?
 
Try spraying some cases with PAM. Lube the odd case mouth. If that doesn't work take the die apart and scrub the inside with a bronze chamber brush. When you reassemble it make sure the decapping pin is sticking out just far enough to poke the primer out. Check the size of the resizing button.
You have .223 cases with large primers:confused:
 
maynard said:
Try spraying some cases with PAM. Lube the odd case mouth. If that doesn't work take the die apart and scrub the inside with a bronze chamber brush. When you reassemble it make sure the decapping pin is sticking out just far enough to poke the primer out. Check the size of the resizing button.

You have .223 cases with large primers:confused:
Click to expand...

Nope , they just looked big along side the crimped 223. They are in fact small.

I've done the bronze brush thing. I think the dies F%&$(#. Have to get the freaking case out first I guess.
 
Last edited:
I have yet to see a large primer .223 casing. It sounds like the casings are a wrong size to start with. Are the casing embossed with .223 or .223 REM.?. I have sized thousands of .223 ( Rem., Win., IVI )with the same die set and never had a hang-up. I use RCBS lube and found it to be the easiest to use.If the dies are worn, they would be larger not smaller and casings should just about fall thru them.
 
As a suggestion, try taking out the decapping rod along with the inside neck resizing button. That will leave just the empty die.

Then try it. If the cases still get stuck then it is the die.

If they resize & come out smoothly then it is probably the decapping rod or the button.
At least you can pin down where the problem lies.
 
Ditto that about primer size--should be small rifle. Can't image a worn die doing that with Dillon lube (or any lube)--are you sure it's .223?

Took me longer than it should have once to figure out the 4th die in the pistol toolhead I bought was another resizing die rather than a crimp die :-(
 
colinjw said:
As a suggestion, try taking out the decapping rod along with the inside neck resizing button. That will leave just the empty die.

Then try it. If the cases still get stuck then it is the die.

If they resize & come out smoothly then it is probably the decapping rod or the button.
At least you can pin down where the problem lies.
Click to expand...

My thought too. Replaced the decppng rod same result.
 
bnichols said:
Ditto that about primer size--should be small rifle. Can't image a worn die doing that with Dillon lube (or any lube)--are you sure it's .223?

Took me longer than it should have once to figure out the 4th die in the pistol toolhead I bought was another resizing die rather than a crimp die :-(
Click to expand...

Yes its 223 . I have reloaded 100 rounds with it. I've ruined about 5 cases so far.
 
223 Trouble

are the cases all same brand and headstamp .i had problems on my 550 with winchester 9mm some of it was military and crimped and it caused me alot of grief till i looked at the headstamps also had problems with s&b brass ,primer holes are smaller.
 
You never specified the brass make. If you're using military brass, the primers are crimped in. You did check to make sure the brass was boxer rather than berdan primed? Test the die like the guys suggested above. If it is the die, call RCBS and explain the problem. They WILL stand behind their product. I had a problem with one of their dies a couple of years back. Sent me a brand new one as a replacement. Simply asked that I dispose of the old die. RCBS has the reputation of having the best warranty in the industry for a reason.
 
Throback, try cleaning the die really well with a good solvent and bronze bore brush. Then, clean it with a few patches and alcohol.

Now, swab it with a patch saturated with STP automotive lubricant. Lightly lube a few cases with the STP and try sizing a case, not full length, but with the die set about one turn above the shell holder.

So far, so good? Okay, now try to FL resize the same cases after lightly lubing them again with STP.

Still okay? Now FL size two or three more cases without any lube on them. Just with the lube in the die. This will burnish up the die and you should be good to go from there.

Now lube up your brass and go to work. Have done this a quite a few times over the years with problem dies, and never had it fail to fix the problem.

Let us know how it works.
Ted
 
Last edited:
X-man said:
You never specified the brass make. If you're using military brass, the primers are crimped in. You did check to make sure the brass was boxer rather than berdan primed? Test the die like the guys suggested above. If it is the die, call RCBS and explain the problem. They WILL stand behind their product. I had a problem with one of their dies a couple of years back. Sent me a brand new one as a replacement. Simply asked that I dispose of the old die. RCBS has the reputation of having the best warranty in the industry for a reason.
Click to expand...

I am using American eagle brass. But I just got some once fired winchester. I had sized 4 when number 5 got stuck. Last time I had the trouble I thought the rod looked rough and replaced it. The whole sizing process seems hard with the 223.

I have loaded pistol and several large rifle calibers and have not encountered this before. Its like there is huge friction on the sizing stroke.
 
Why not? said:
Throback, try cleaning the die really well with a good solvent and bronze bore brush. Then, clean it with a few patches and alcohol.

Now, swab it with a patch saturated with STP automotive lubricant. Lightly lube a few cases with the STP and try sizing a case, not full length, but with the die set about one turn above the shell holder.

So far, so good? Okay, now try to FL resize the same cases after lightly lubing them again with STP.

Still okay? Now FL size two or three more cases without any lube on them. Just with the lube in the die. This will burnish up the die and you should be good to go from there.

Now lube up your brass and go to work. Have done this a quite a few times over the years with problem dies, and never had it fail to fix the problem.

Let us know how it works.
Ted
Click to expand...

Interesting stuff. OK I'll try that.
 
throback said:
I am having a ton of trouble with stuck cases in my RCBS 223 dies . I am using Dhillon lube and doing nothing unusual. I am full case sizing some and neck sizing stuff I've already fired once. The cases get seriously stuck. By the time I pound the crap out of them to get them out the case is toast.

I've always used RCBS dies, these ones I picked up used at the gun show. I am wondering if they may have been worn out dies when I got them. Hmmm, sounds like new die time to me.

But otherwise I can't think of what I am doing wrong.
Click to expand...

O.K. you bought used dies, and are having problems with them.
Do you know how many cases have been reloaded with them?
Do you know if the previous owner used them to resize steel cases?
Did he or she modify the die for a specific purpose?
Did they have issues with this die, and that is why they sold it?
Dies are pretty solid, but they can be damaged -food for thought.
.223 dies are pretty common dies. If you have to order them, I would suggest lock, stock & barrel.
Using buggered up dies are not worth the potential damage to your ammunition, your firearms, and more importantly, you and those around you if something catastrophic happens due to it.

I've seen used dies at gun shows that were worthy of nothing other than a trip to the local metal recyclers. ymmv.
 
beltfed said:
O.K. you bought used dies, and are having problems with them.
Do you know how many cases have been reloaded with them?
Do you know if the previous owner used them to resize steel cases?
Did he or she modify the die for a specific purpose?
Did they have issues with this die, and that is why they sold it?
Dies are pretty solid, but they can be damaged -food for thought.
.223 dies are pretty common dies. If you have to order them, I would suggest lock, stock & barrel.
Using buggered up dies are not worth the potential damage to your ammunition, your firearms, and more importantly, you and those around you if something catastrophic happens due to it.

I've seen used dies at gun shows that were worthy of nothing other than a trip to the local metal recyclers. ymmv.
Click to expand...

If its is the die , so be it. I already know that there are better dies out there for maximum accuracy. As long as I am not making some type of mistake here I am not worried. Everything points to the die and I will make a change there , but I will try the STP idea out of curiosity.

Thanks all for the comments
 
I'm leaning towards bad brass. Could have been fired in a oversized chamber and is now way out of spec. Had the same thing happen with once fired brass I bought at a gun show, half of it landed in the recycle bin. Pull out the micrometer and see how much the brass is out of spec.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom