223 lee rifle die help

[greyling22]

so, after loading a fair number of 223 cases that never quite looked right, though they chambered and fired ok, I got irritated and watched the lee help video on full length sizing a rifle die and got confirmation that I was right, the die isn't working correctly.

I set the die as per lee's instructions, touch the ram, then a quarter turn more. I raise the ram, no gap between die and ram. I insert case, and I get a gap about the width of a penny. I thought, maybe the decapping pin is bottoming out before the case is all the way in, so I pulled the pin out, and I still get gap. I'm also not resizing the neck all the way back to the shoulder. I checked case length, and I'm 1.760" or a shade shorter.

Any ideas? what am I missing? I've got plenty of case lube on and I"m putting a plenty of pressure on the arm.

 

[rcmodel]

You haven't adjusted the die down far enough yet.

You want to feel it "bump" over at full ram extension.

That takes all the linkage slop and frame flex out when the actual case sizing pressure is spring things away from things.

Just forget the 1/4 turn instruction thing and screw it in until you can feel it bump over at full ram extension, and there is no light showing between the die & shell holder.

rc

 

[greyling22]

that did the trick. thanks RC.

now if only lee would fix their instructions........

 

[kingmt]

Glad you got it. I'm dumbfounded that 1/4 turn left that gap. That press must have a lot of flex in it.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That looks like a single stage press so I'm also surprised you had a problem.

I'm glad it was only an adjustment fix...

 

[FROGO207]

Goes to show you not every press is made the same as it's brother/sister. Those instructions are the simple way to set up your press if everything is in reasonable alignment. Any flexing (slop) and there is more adjustment needed. I guess they think the real reason the press is able to be adjusted is not necessary to be known by the average reloader in the first place.:banghead: It's all in those pesky little details. Sad to see that the manufacturers that make the products think that we all have a doctorate in engineering and need only the quick setup info instead of the "this is why you need to do.........". Especially with reloading, it really IS rocket science after all.