Loading .223 with a LCT

[tcoz]

I'm getting ready to begin loading .223 with my trusty Lee Classic Turret and I have a question about the best procedure. After cleaning the cases, my initial step will be to run them through the sizing/decapping die. I'll then trim, chamfer & deburr them and ream and/or remove the primer pocket crimp if one exists. My question involves the priming step. I use the Lee Safety Prime system which works great for pistol, but in this case since I'll be doing case prep between decapping and then seating a primer, I would have to run the case back up through the sizing die after prep in order to load a primer at the top of the ram stroke before seating it at the bottom of the stroke and I doubt whether cases should be run through a sizing die again after being prepped. So, should I load the little cup with a primer by hand before it would run the case into the die or should I run it all the way up without the case in the shell holder then put the case on when the ram is on the downward stroke or should I just buy a hand primer and not use the press at all for the priming step?

I hope I explained that clearly enough. As always, I'm sure I'll get some great feedback and that's why I usually ask my reloading questions on this forum. Thanks in advance.

 

[UziLand]

I have a hand primer but stopped using it due to fatigue. I took the old single stage I bought a couple of decades ago and set it up just for priming. But I am also semi-retired and have lots of time . Actually, it doesn't take very long.

 

[Safetychain]

I use the hand primer, though I am presently using the RCBS turret, but the same situation occurs.

 

[higgite]

....So, should I load the little cup with a primer by hand before it would run the case into the die or should I run it all the way up without the case in the shell holder then put the case on when the ram is on the downward stroke or should I just buy a hand primer and not use the press at all for the priming step?

You have all the resources needed to try the 2 methods that you described. Try and see if you like either method. If not, you're a likely candidate for a hand or bench primer. When I used an LCT, I didn't have the priming attachment, so I used a hand primer. I now have a bench primer that I use for rifle brass.

 

[griff383]

You could always pull your sizing die when loading, when I had a LCT thats what I would do. FL size, trim, cham/deburr, then swage/ream primer crimp if neccesary. Once the brass was prepped and ready to load I would pull the sizing die and only use 3 of the 4 holes to prime, charge, seat bullet, and crimp.

 

[Gadawg88]

I load lots of .223 on the LCT. My process is as you describe, lube, size/deprime, tumble to remove lube, trim/chamfer/debur, swage primer pocket if needed, clean primer pocket (check for stuck corn cob media in flash hole), raise ram to insert primer in cup, lower ram and insert case in shell holder on the way down, seat primer, then the rest. No need to size twice. Once you develop the rythem it seems natural.

 

[Centurian22]

I use the lee ergo prime hand priming tool for most of my reloading and love it. I occasionally prime on my LCT one at a time as I have the plunger/cup that goes in the ram but don't have the feeder (safety prime?). I can't quite picture it but are you sure you would have to run the brass into the die to be able to feed a primer? If so your idea to run it up empty and feed it on the way back down sounds good. I like to prime all my brass on the hand primer after prep work so its ready to go. Good luck.

 

[USMAGator]

I've loaded lots of 223 on my LCT. What I've found works efficiently for me is to dispense a primer into the cup on the last stroke completing a round. So I raise the ram seating the bullet, click the primer into the cup, lower the ram, remove the completed round, place the next piece of sized/trimmed/prepped brass into the shell-holder, then seat the primer and continue with that piece of brass. It works well for me, and saves a little time in that you're not having to raise the ram an extra time just to pick up another primer, that step is built into the normal loading motion.

 

[1KPerDay]

Remove a die from your turret, remove the indexing rod. insert case to be primed, raise ram, insert primer into cup using safety prime, lower the ram and prime case.

You can also load "semi-progressively" this way if you have your cases all ready to go (sized, reamed/trimmed/cleaned) and your auto-disc throws consistent enough charges using the rifle charging die and the double-disc kit. Leave the indexing rod in this time, prime as noted above, then index, charge, index and seat a bullet. The last steps of reloading rifle go ridiculously quickly once you spend hours and hours and hours in brass prep.

 

[1KPerDay]

BTW use some good sizing lube... .223 is not the most fun to size IME. Avoid Hornady One Shot for rifle.

Imperial sizing wax. And buy a stuck case removal tool just in case.

 

[bob1285]

I work .223 cases the same way I recap/size in a lee single stage press and then finish the job in a turret . I run a case up into the hole where You would normally have the residing die put primer in and seat it on the bottom stroke then auto rotate to the powder drop. works great for me. So all case prep is done on a single press.

 

[tcoz]

Thanks so much for all the great ideas. I'll probably first try to get into a good rhythm of running the ram up, loading a primer then inserting a case on the way down. If that doesn't work too well, I'll remove the die and run the case up into the empty space. Hand priming probably isn't a viable option except as a last resort because of the amount of arthritis in my hands. Thanks again.

 

[tcoz]

BTW use some good sizing lube... .223 is not the most fun to size IME. Avoid Hornady One Shot for rifle.

Imperial sizing wax. And buy a stuck case removal tool just in case.

I've been using Lee resizing lubricant and a pad for my pistol cases. Is this method ok for .223 as well?

 

[1KPerDay]

Should be. Why are you using it for pistol, out of curiosity?

 

[tcoz]

I just got into the habit of very lightly lubricating my pistol cases so that they slide in and out of the sizing die a little easier. I use a few dabs on the pad every hundred cases or so.

 

[1KPerDay]

A good practice, IMO. I use hornady one shot on my pistol brass... helps ease sizing effort even with carbide dies. Couple sprays in a bucket of brass, shake it around, done.

 

[shooter1]

As suggested, remove the sizing die after case prep and load progressively as you would with pistol. That's assuming you have a powder measure mounted on the press capable of dispensing rifle charges. I've loaded maybe 3000 rounds of 5.56 on a Lee Turret. The Safety Prime works great, that's what I'd use.
Str1

 

[kutter]

I cheat by trimming my .223 to the minimum length, I lose them before they ever stretch too much or just wear out, usually primer pockets get too loose amd I scrap the brass. That way I only have to do all of that once, then I just load them as normal on my LCT.

 

[shooter1]

I trim every time before loading. When I pick brass up off the range, I have no assurance it's mine. Especially in three gun. I might do like Kutter and trim less if I could be assured of recovering my own brass.
str1

 

[Centurian22]

Shooter1 you could always mark your cases with a unique color code using a sharpie on either the side or across the head. Side would be easier to spot on the ground. As a way to make it quicker and more unique you can tape 3 markers together in a line by themselves or to the edge of a desk, give each case a pass across the tips to mark them after final loading.

 

[shooter1]

Some of the guys do mark cases. I've even done it myself. Turns out that I'm a bit of a range chicken. If someone leaves brass on the ground, I pick it up. I've managed to lay in a good supply that way. It just takes a few seconds to run a case through the trimmer just to be sure. Old habits, ya know.
str1