Need help with Lee pacesetter dies

[chevy bob]

I'm attempting to reload 223 {for ar-15} using the Lee pacesetter dieset and am having some problems.I've done some reloads for .30 carbine and .45 acp but this is my first try with bottleneck cases.The problem is I can hardly get the bullets to start in the cases as the necks don't seem to be expanded enough.I'm using Hornady 55 gr. V max bullets.I thought that the full length resizing die was supposed to expand the necks on the cases enough to get the bullets started,but it dosen't seem to.Can I get some advice from the experts please?

 

[Blackrock]

That flat base bulet will fit real tight in most any .22 caliber case. I have had problems with them in my 22-250. I had to give the inside case mouth a real good chamfer to get them to start. I use a Lyman VLD chamfer.

 

[WNTFW]

ChevyBob,
I had a problem with an undersized expander on .243. The dies were Lee but I got them used, so no telling if someone modified it. You can get a new pin from Lee very reasonably priced.
Pull the pin & measure it. The undersized one on the .243 was .236 IIRC.

 

[rbernie]

You need to chamfer the inside edge of the case mouth. If you fail to do this and keep trying to force the bullets into the brass, you will shave copper from the bullet jacket and likely start buckling the cases in the shoulder.

Rifle cartridge reloading doesn't normally bell the brass the same way as handgun brass, and the chamfer helps the bullet ease its way into the case neck.

 

[Walkalong]

Yep. Doesn't take much, but a chamfer is a must, especially after trimming brass.

 

[chevy bob]

Thanks for all the input but I still have another question.After removing the decapping pin from the full length resizing die and measuring its diameter at the widest point,it comes out to .203.The diameter of the bullet is .224.Does this mean that I have the wrong sized decapping pin?Shouldn't the diameter be at least .224 or better?I'm still fairly new to this so thats why I'm asking.So what do you guys think-could this just be the wrong part in the die or am I doing something wrong?Thanks in advance.
P.S. Also, I did chamfer these cases after trimming.

 

[ranger335v]

"After removing the decapping pin from the full length resizing die and measuring its diameter at the widest point,it comes out to .203.The diameter of the bullet is .224.Does this mean that I have the wrong sized decapping pin?"

It means you didn't use the decapping/expander pin.


"Shouldn't the diameter be at least .224 or better?"

If by "better" you mean larger, no; an expander is always the same size or slightly smaller than the bullet diameter. Ideally, the final inside diameter of the necks will be one or two thou smaller than the bullet, never larger.

Chamfer the mouths of your cases so the bullets can get strarted without shaving the bullet's heels, that seemingly slight damage destroys accuracy.

 

[WNTFW]

My .233 Dillon die has a .223 dia expander for .224 bullet.
Lee .243 = .242 - Undersize pin was .2375
RCBS .308 = .3065

.021 under seems under by an extreme amount. Might be from a .204 die.

 

[chevy bob]

Thanks,I think I'll give Lee a call on this.

 

[rcmodel]

The expander should be about .001" - .002" under bullet diameter for proper case neck tension. For .224" bullets, mine measures .2225" and it works perfectly.

This is critical for .223 used in a semi-auto rifle.

Like others have said, you also need to chamfer the case necks to get the bullets to go in.

rc