What am I doing wrong?

[karnaaj]

I've been reloading for a while but not in the last year or so. I set up my press for .223 using RCBS dies I had previously used without issue. I've got some processed brass from sharch and some unprocessed from who knows where, probably Wideners. The processed brass chambers in my AR but the unprocessed does not. The unprocessed brass had a crimp so I used my Dillon swager and then wet tumbled for an hour or so. I've checked the setup on my resizing die but it will not chamber. I have a dillon case gauge and it fits fine so I have no idea what to try next. Anybody feel like tackling this one? Thanks Paul

 

[243winxb]

Compare the 2 lots by taking measurement.

 

[Walkalong]

Has the unprocessed brass been sized? My guess is no.

Whoops, I see you sized them. Double check the sizer setup.

 

[Bart B.]

When the press ram's all the way up, is the shell holder hard against the bottom of the full length sizing die?

If not, screw the die down 1/16th turn then try again. Again if the first try didn't work. Then see if one of these sized cases will chamber easily.

 

[karnaaj]

When the press ram's all the way up, is the shell holder hard against the bottom of the full length sizing die?

If not, screw the die down 1/16th turn then try again. Again if the first try didn't work. Then see if one of these sized cases will chamber easily.

It was always my understanding that you back the die off the shell plate 1/4 turn. Am I mistaken?

 

[243winxb]

Yes. Turn the FL die down till brass chambers.

 

[Bart B.]

You're using a conventional press, not a progressive; right?

That thing the case head slides into is a shell holder.

1/4th turn is about .018" so your case shoulders are probably being pushed forward as the case body is sized down. Fired case shoulders need to be set back a little.

Set the die in the press so it touches the empty shell holder, then screw it down 1/8 to 1/16 turn, then lock the die. Lube a case then full length size it. See how it chambers. Post the results so we all can celebrate your success.

Do you have anything to measure cases from head to someplace on their shoulder, such as a Hornady LNL case gauge?

 

[Walkalong]

It was always my understanding that you back the die off the shell plate 1/4 turn. Am I mistaken?

Thinking about carbide sizers in pistol calibers?

Follow Bart's advise.

 

[karnaaj]

You're using a conventional press, not a progressive; right?

That thing the case head slides into is a shell holder.

1/4th turn is about .018" so your case shoulders are probably being pushed forward as the case body is sized down. Fired case shoulders need to be set back a little.

Set the die in the press so it touches the empty shell holder, then screw it down 1/8 to 1/16 turn, then lock the die. Lube a case then full length size it. See how it chambers. Post the results so we all can celebrate your success.

Do you have anything to measure cases from head to someplace on their shoulder, such as a Hornady LNL case gauge?

It's a LnL AP. I'll try turning the die down more.

 

[Reloadron]

The processed brass chambers in my AR but the unprocessed does not. The unprocessed brass had a crimp so I used my Dillon swager and then wet tumbled for an hour or so. I've checked the setup on my resizing die but it will not chamber. I have a dillon case gauge and it fits fine so I have no idea what to try next. Anybody feel like tackling this one? Thanks Paul

You may want to take a case or two that will not chamber, after sizing and paint it with a magic marker, dykum, layout blue or similar. Now try and chamber again. Look for scratches or marks in the finish you applied. Look close around the base. The idea is to try and see which dimension is not fitting the chamber. Most case gauges do not look at the case diameter, especially just above the case head. Now if you see marks or scratches on the marked up case you should know why they won't chamber. Processed chambers and unprocessed won't chamber after sizing so something is different between the two that sizing is not changing.

Ron