help me set up my dies-again!

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Axis II

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First sorry guys if my constant questions are irritating some.

I have 2-223 bolt guns and decided to quit messing with the HB and work up some hunting loads for the hunting gun and while messing with it trying to size the brass just enough to fit the chamber tightly because it worked so great for my HB rifles accuracy the die lock ring came loose and now I lost all my settings.

Here is the issue... I have several pieces of LC once fired in the HB which I want to set the die up for but I have no clue how to get my die back to where I wanted it. what I did when I first acquired this once fired Mil brass was size it little by little until it chambered in the rifle and then left the die alone. seeing how every single piece of brass is once fired or has been mixed up with what wasn't sized for that gun and what needed. someone took all my 800-900pc of brass and decided to move it when it was separated for the tumbler and now I have no clue what's what.

I tried chambering several pieces and I don't feel resistance like I did before so I'm thinking I goofed a year or so ago and FL sized everything else per RCBS instructions. I tried using the same 50-100pc of LC 07 for load workups and now have no clue whats what in that batch.

can someone please help me get my dies back to where I need them to chamber tight in this rifle?
 
My best advice is to follow the directions from the die manufacturer and/or just do it the way you did it the first time.
 
You can just start adjusting your sizing die down a little at a time, till you get what you want. Due to spring back you will get a different results as the round count increases on the brass. I don't know what mfg dies you have but I would recommend the good split lock rings by Hornady. These will not move once you set them. It becomes a chore trying to do customs loaded brass separated. If you use 2 different brass mfg will help. Mark the bases, but will be removed during most cleaning operations. May be better to find a point where both will fit with the same sizing setting. Now if you have one gun with a very generous chamber, determine what size shim can be used under the die to set it back.

I would recommend you get a case gauge. This will help you determine if the brass has been sized or not. Another option is the RCBS Precision Mic. This actually gives you a measurement of where the shoulder is in relation to the base. As you size the brass you can actually measure your progress. When working with multiple guns the RCBS PM is nice so you can fine tune for each gun easly. I do this on a couple of rifles, there is 0.003" difference in the chambers. Once I determine the difference I just place a 0.003" shim under the sizing die to make the correction.
 
I have 2-223 bolt guns and decided to quit messing with the HB and work up some hunting loads for the hunting gun and while messing with it trying to size the brass just enough to fit the chamber tightly...
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This is why if I have a number of firearms chambered the same I size to a case gauge. With only two, it should be pretty easy to find the one that is "tighter" and set your dies up with it just like you did before and ammunition will work in the "looser" one. If you pick the wrong rifle he ammunition will "go" in the first and "no go" in the 2nd.

That will work for the sizing, you will have to do a similar trial and error with OAL if you are wanting to have it as long as possible.
 
ohihunter2014 said:
I've got 900pc of brass that some seem to be sized larger and are loose. all of its been FL sized and doesn't chamber tight.
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So, you FL resized the stuff and it is not "tight" - no choice but to fire it, let it form to the chamber and start again. Keep the different gun's cases separate from here on.

What else is there to do? You have "over-resized them" - you cannot undo that, unless you fire them.
 
Blue68f100 said:
You can just start adjusting your sizing die down a little at a time, till you get what you want. Due to spring back you will get a different results as the round count increases on the brass. I don't know what mfg dies you have but I would recommend the good split lock rings by Hornady. These will not move once you set them. It becomes a chore trying to do customs loaded brass separated. If you use 2 different brass mfg will help. Mark the bases, but will be removed during most cleaning operations. May be better to find a point where both will fit with the same sizing setting. Now if you have one gun with a very generous chamber, determine what size shim can be used under the die to set it back.

I would recommend you get a case gauge. This will help you determine if the brass has been sized or not. Another option is the RCBS Precision Mic. This actually gives you a measurement of where the shoulder is in relation to the base. As you size the brass you can actually measure your progress. When working with multiple guns the RCBS PM is nice so you can fine tune for each gun easly. I do this on a couple of rifles, there is 0.003" difference in the chambers. Once I determine the difference I just place a 0.003" shim under the sizing die to make the correction.
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ive got a lyman case checked and each and every piece I had plunks fine but there is no resistance like usual in the heavy barrel. I set the die up to where its just a little pressure on the sized case. I cant remember who but someone on here told me to do that when I first obtained the Mil brass. I haven't messed with the pencil barrel in over a year but I remember the HB being way tighter than the pencil barrel chamber.

I'm using rcbs dies on a LCT press.
 
jmorris said:
This is why if I have a number of firearms chambered the same I size to a case gauge. With only two, it should be pretty easy to find the one that is "tighter" and set your dies up with it just like you did before and ammunition will work in the "looser" one. If you pick the wrong rifle he ammunition will "go" in the first and "no go" in the 2nd.

That will work for the sizing, you will have to do a similar trial and error with OAL if you are wanting to have it as long as possible.
Click to expand...
I know the heavy barrel has the tightest chamber as 100pc were for that rifle and I would just reload those pieces for that rifle. now they got mixed in with the other 700-800pcs and the die is all buggered up. I know the tighter chamber stuff will work in the looser one the issue I have is all the other brass was just plain jane FL sized per the instructions because the chamber was so loose in the other gun. when I first obtained the brass I just FL sized most of it and put the 100pc LC 07 I had aside for my good rounds for the HB but never resized them per the instructions I sized and chambered and turned the die in until they would chamber tightly.

my issue is with the brass all being FL sized and say I do fire form it to the HB its going to fit the rifle where as the brass wasn't fire formed when I first got it so I was able to play with the die and get it tight in the chamber.
 
Cheesemaker said:
So, you FL resized the stuff and it is not "tight" - no choice but to fire it, let it form to the chamber and start again. Keep the different gun's cases separate from here on.

What else is there to do? You have "over-resized them" - you cannot undo that, unless you fire them.
Click to expand...
is it possible to set the die up for the fireformed cases I have? I have 20 I know 400% they were fired and sized for that gun. I guess I'm asking if its possible to set the die up to match those cases without changing the cases? I tried using the calipers on one of them and put the case in and took the die all the way out and screwed it down until I felt resistance but the die isn't even punching the old primer out its so high once I feel resistance.

or say I take all these pieces of brass and fire them again and now they are fireformed and already fit the chamber unlike before how can I make sure the die is sizing them to fit tight in the chamber?

I guess I'm wording it wrong cause it makes sense in my head LOL.
 
Just sort the cases then pick a batch to work with. For my custom ammo per rifle I use a Lee neck sizing die. Those rifles are shooting such a low pressure I get neck splits before I ever had to push the shoulder back again.

How to set your FL die to neck size. Take your expander/mandrel out. Smoke the neck of a fired case with a sharpy & adjust the die until almost all the sharpy is rubbed off. If it won't chamber then slowly work your die down until it bumps the shoulder enough it does chamber. Once your die is set put a piece of lead bird shot under the set screws.
 
my issue is with the brass all being FL sized and say I do fire form it to the HB its going to fit the rifle where as the brass wasn't fire formed when I first got it...
Click to expand...

Yes, once you fire form the brass expands to fit the chamber it was fired in.
 
kingmt said:
Just sort the cases then pick a batch to work with. For my custom ammo per rifle I use a Lee neck sizing die. Those rifles are shooting such a low pressure I get neck splits before I ever had to push the shoulder back again.

How to set your FL die to neck size. Take your expander/mandrel out. Smoke the neck of a fired case with a sharpy & adjust the die until almost all the sharpy is rubbed off. If it won't chamber then slowly work your die down until it bumps the shoulder enough it does chamber. Once your die is set put a piece of lead bird shot under the set screws.

Let me start over. I have 100pc LC07 that is sized perfect for my heavy barrel with 800 other pieces of brass that's been FL sized per instructions. i can find the 100pc in the 800pc mess no problem the issue i have is the die was moved from what it once was set for the HB. all this brass was once fired Mil Lc brass and i would just size it down until it fit the HB chamber. this was the very first sizing i did when i received this brass so it all fit that gun. the rest was FL sized for an AR.

what my issue is seeing how the die is moved and these 100pc LC07 have been sized to fit one rifle and fired and sized again how do i set up the die to fit the chamber again seeing how the brass isn't tight anymore its all loose or fits just right? every single piece of brass fits in my case checker and every single one will chamber fine because its all been FL sized so i don't have any tight brass to reset the die.
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Now that's saying a bunch right there. ;)

I hope you just thought my idea was so wise you just had to repeat it. Lol
 
kingmt said:
Now that's saying a bunch right there. ;)

I hope you just thought my idea was so wise you just had to repeat it. Lol
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it was supposed to be quoted but didn't work right.

Let me start over. I have 100pc LC07 that is sized perfect for my heavy barrel with 800 other pieces of brass that's been FL sized per instructions. i can find the 100pc in the 800pc mess no problem the issue i have is the die was moved from what it once was set for the HB. all this brass was once fired Mil Lc brass and i would just size it down until it fit the HB chamber. this was the very first sizing i did when i received this brass so it all fit that gun. the rest was FL sized for an AR.

what my issue is seeing how the die is moved and these 100pc LC07 have been sized to fit one rifle and fired and sized again how do i set up the die to fit the chamber again seeing how the brass isn't tight anymore its all loose or fits just right? every single piece of brass fits in my case checker and every single one will chamber fine because its all been FL sized so i don't have any tight brass to reset the die.
 
The only way you are going to make a case larger after sizing it down is to fire it.

If you sized it more than needed, you can't make it not "loose" by sizing it more, needs to be "blown out" again.
 
What they have all said. The directions I have at the simplest way I know to tell you to get back to where you was.
 
As suggested just shoot it, theres nothing to be done about that. If you want it tight in the gun with the tighter chamber shoot it in the other. Then adjust your die till it chambers smoothly in the tight one.

Or if you like ill trade you for unsized brass you can play with ive got about 40lbs of.the stuff under my bench.
 
First sorry guys if my constant questions are irritating some.
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They'll get over it or die with it.

This is intended to be a "safe" place for people to ask questions. It ceased to be that during the run-up to the recent election. You will have to ignore the trolls along with the people who want to criticize the fact you are even daring to ask a question. Take what useful infromation you can from this site and compare it with published data and load accordingly.
 
I tried chambering several pieces and I don't feel resistance like I did before so I'm thinking I goofed a year or so ago and FL sized everything else per RCBS instructions. I
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For .223 Remington, I have bought 60 rounds (three boxes of 20 rounds each) to use in setting up my dies and loading my first cartridges.

Follow a published reloading manual. Turn the critical sections into a checklist. Follos the checklist.

In my own experience, I have loaded several rounds using RCBS Full Length sizing dies that would not later chamber ina regularl .223 chamber.
 
Its been my experience that the .223/556 chambers seem to vary more than most. I have a rem700 adl (now in 6x47) that had such a short chamber full length sizing didnt push the shoulder back far enough, and it would be hard to chamber most factory ammo. My mini on the other hand has a chamber such that any brass from it haent been useable in any of the other .223 rifles ive had unless full length sized.
 
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