Tried lube die, then resize .223 - are shoulders getting pulled up?

[IMtheNRA]

I installed a lube die, followed by a full-length resizing die. After measuring the resized cases with the RCBS "Precision Mic", it appears the shoulder is moving in the wrong direction, or about +4 on the mic.

Could the expander on the resizing die be pulling the case neck up enough to have this effect on the case shoulder position? I feel the expander dragging on the case mouth as it exits the case much tighter than it did in the past.

Prior to trying this RCBS lube die, I used to spray the brass with a huge amount of One-Shot aerosol lube. No doubt it got into some of the case mouths, keeping the expander lubed and I never got such an unexpected result after resizing.

Am I on the right track? If I have to start lubing case mouths, that would negate the convenience of the lube die.

 

[Ifishsum]

Yes that sounds like a very real possibility. One possible solution other than lubing inside the case mouths would be a carbide expander button for your sizing die.

 

[IMtheNRA]

Ooooooh. I didn't even know that was an option. I see Redding offers this as a "kit". I assume this is an upgrade to their sizing dies.

I'll see if any others are on the market.

 

[cfullgraf]

Or go to a bushing die. Use the bushing that requires little or no neck expanding.

 

[rsnell]

You may want to polish the expander button. G. David Tubb covers this in one of his u-tube films on reloading.

Bob

 

[IMtheNRA]

Cfullgraf - I have a bushing neck die available, but the problem is that some of the brass has dented mouths. It is all shot from a semi auto. Unlike an expander button, the bushing will not fix a mouth that is no longer round.

 

[A-FIXER]

I also had this occur, but now I get a q-tip and hornady oneshot lube and lube inside of neck. I find this much easier than using a brush inside the neck. If on your upstroke you find it to require more power than the down stroke the expander is dragging on neck and pulling shoulder up.

 

[Sunray]

A loaded round drop into the chamber? If so, forget about it. You're over complicating the whole thing.
"...some of the brass has dented mouths..." Needle nosed pliers to open the mouth enough for the expander to fit. The die will fix the rest.

 

[highlander 5]

Hornady makes carbide expanders for RCBS dies

 

[7mmsavage]

You may want to polish the expander button. G. David Tubb covers this in one of his u-tube films on reloading.

Bob

I was going to suggest the same. I had a similar problem with LC brass, maybe it's a little thicker. I chucked the expander in my drill press and polished it with 600 grit paper. It only took a few seconds until it was shiny. That along with lubing case necks solved my problems.

 

[Walkalong]

The Redding carbide expander button can be made to work on RCBS dies as well.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=6658727&postcount=1

 

[IMtheNRA]

Thanks, everybody! Since I have only Hornady FL .223 sizing dies, I'll order the Redding carbide button kit and a Redding FL sizing die.

Hopefully, this will allow me to use the convenient RCBS lube/decap die in station 1, followed by the FL sizing die in station 2, without pulling the shoulder back up due to insufficient neck ID lubrication.

 

[steve4102]

Nine tines out of nine, when a sized case increases in length from head to shoulder it is due to an improperly set up sizing die and NOT the expander ball pulling the shoulder forward.


Screw the FL die into the press till it touches the shell holder.

Lower the ram and screw it into the press 1/4 turn more.

Check shoulder bump with you gauge.

Another way to show that the Expander is NOT pulling the shoulder forward, Remove it, take it out of the die completely.

Size a few cases and measure, Most likely these cases with no expander will show the same increase in length as those sized with the expander.

 

[Walkalong]

That can certainly do it.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=9736025&postcount=10