.223 reloading issues

[Bob72]

Besides sticking a case in the FL die I had these problems. I load on a lee Progressive 4 turret press. I size, trim, prime, seat and factory crimp. The problems are as follows.
When seating the rounds are of different lengths, i.e. 2.220, 2.214, 2.207(below min) etc. The press moves up slightly when seating and I try to use the same pressure each time.

I backed off the seating die so as not to crimp and used the Lee Factory Die. When I first started using it, some of the bullets were easily pushed into the case. Probably over crimp because I had small to medium cannulares in the bullets. Backed off and that seemed to work, however, even using this die I found on occasion that the bullet length might change a thousandth or so. (less)

Any suggestions?

 

[Damon555]

What bullets are you loading? It's not uncommon for the tips to get beat up and give you different COL measurements from round to round. It's best to measure off of the ogive. This will give you a more consistent measurement.

 

[rcmodel]

1. Clean the inside of the case mouths with a bore brush.
2. Chamfer the case mouths with a chamfering tool.

rc

 

[CMV]

I don't have a comparator and have the same issues chasing OAL measuring from the tips - you'll never get there & will have to accept ± .0003 or so, but not as much as you're seeing - unless you're readjusting the seating die after each round "chasing" a certain length (which would be a fool's errand).

Even so, to get the best consistency, look at how you're "...when seating and I try to use the same pressure each time." Bottom the handle out and see/feel that the stops on the linkage are touching. Make sure the ram is pushing everything up and you see that turret get cocked up a little. You want to take up all that slop with every stroke. Stopping short or trying to hold a "just there" amount of pressure with your calibrated forearm isn't going to work well.

 

[kingmt]

If you can push them in by hand ether the brass isnlt sized or the bullets are undersized.