problems with Hornady .223 die

kuca_2004 · March 10, 2012, 12:53 AM

I am having a problem with my .223 die. I have the Hornady lock-n-load ap press and I am trying to load .223 ammo. So I lube the case and put it in the slot in the shell holder. I raise the handle and when it goes through the sizer die the lever pulls hard than it shakes the whole table when I push the lever back up. I tried using Hornady case lube in the aerosol can and also tried using the Imperial Wax. They both go through hard. I have also tried older cases that have been loaded a couple times and brand new cases and they all go through hard. So I am thinking it is something with my die. I used the Hornady gun cleaner and dry lube and cleaned the die and it still didnt help any. Can anybody help me out and tell me what might be wrong....?

FWest · March 10, 2012, 07:03 AM

Did you lube the inside of the case neck ?

PAdutchman · March 10, 2012, 08:21 AM

Kuca I hate to be the bearer of bad new, and I am sure there are many out there who can probably do it, but I had the same problem as you. I just don't have good luck full length sizing bottle neck cartridges on a progressive press. I gave up doing it. I now come home from the range, lube and resize my brass on my orange crusher single stage press, check OAL and trim if needed, and then clean them in my tumbler and store them. When I'm ready to reload I put a decapper die in my Hornady LNL stage one slot to clean out the flash hole from any tumbling media and then go through the reloading stages. It's a lot less hassle believe me. Good luck!

243winxb · March 10, 2012, 10:15 AM

The 223 will size harder than pistol brass. Will the sized brass fit the chamber of the firearm?

zxcvbob · March 10, 2012, 10:25 AM

Are you lubing inside the case necks? Try dipping them in powdered graphite, motor mica, or talcum powder (make sure it's real talc and not cornstarch)

Ronbo1 · March 10, 2012, 10:33 AM

I am using Hornaday dies for reloading 223 brass but with a single stage Co-ax press with imperial wax. They go in and out without very much effort as long as I lube the cases with my fingers, most important to lube the shoulder area well. I dip the case necks in the lube tin once in awhile to keep the expander ball lubed.

mrawesome22 · March 10, 2012, 10:41 AM

Lubing the shoulder should be avoided.

The body and inside neck is where lube is needed.

My guess is the OP is using enough lube.

Edit: is *not using

kuca_2004 · March 10, 2012, 11:24 AM

I haven't been lubing the inside of the neck. I will try that, I have some graphite powder. on my hornady 22-250 die it works amazing without lubing the neck so I figured I would be ok with the 223.

wncchester · March 10, 2012, 06:33 PM

If you're having trouble getting a case to start out of the sizer you don't have enough case lube; it's easy to move if you do. If you have trouble getting the expander out of the neck you need to lube the necks on the inside. You should have no trouble determing which it is and in both instances it's a matter of lube, not the die.

hooligan1 · March 11, 2012, 02:13 PM

RCBS packages a nylon brush and handle with its lube pad kit, I put a little case lube in the corner of my lube pad and pick some up on the brush every tenth or so case, and run it through the mouth with a "back and forth" motion. It seems to work perfectly, and the tumbler cleans out the excess.

er775 · March 11, 2012, 05:22 PM

I have the same press and had the same problem when I used the Lee RGB die to load for 243 even if I lubed cases inside and out with Hornady one shot, I switched to the RCBS die and no more problem.

langenc · March 11, 2012, 07:44 PM

I was having trouble chambering ammo some time ago.

I called RCBS and asked for 'the technical support' dept. The young lady that answered asked 'what is the problem'? I told her and she asked "are you lubing the inside of the necks?" I said maybe??

Turns out that the expander was probably stretching the case neck on its' way out due to not enough lube.

I tried her advice and everything was much better. I didnt even have to talk w. tech support-the secretary knew my problem!! Ill bet she was a reloader. I always have wished I had asked her if she reloaded.

gregjc9 · March 12, 2012, 11:57 AM

Sounds like you dont have enough lube on the cases. I've run 223 through my LNL with Hornady dies with no issues. Try this - put the cases in a shallow plastic container, about the size of a cake pan. I put on rubber gloves and put a dab of Imperial sizing wax on one hand and rub my hands together till it's smeared pretty well. Then I just reach into the brass and roll them around in my hands. Keep doing this until it looks like I've touched all the brass. Never had one stick, nor cause dimples on the neck, with this method.

March 10, 2012, 12:53 AM	#1
kuca_2004 Member Join Date: May 8, 2011 Posts: 98	problems with Hornady .223 die I am having a problem with my .223 die. I have the Hornady lock-n-load ap press and I am trying to load .223 ammo. So I lube the case and put it in the slot in the shell holder. I raise the handle and when it goes through the sizer die the lever pulls hard than it shakes the whole table when I push the lever back up. I tried using Hornady case lube in the aerosol can and also tried using the Imperial Wax. They both go through hard. I have also tried older cases that have been loaded a couple times and brand new cases and they all go through hard. So I am thinking it is something with my die. I used the Hornady gun cleaner and dry lube and cleaned the die and it still didnt help any. Can anybody help me out and tell me what might be wrong....?

March 10, 2012, 10:25 AM	#5
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Are you lubing inside the case necks? Try dipping them in powdered graphite, motor mica, or talcum powder (make sure it's real talc and not cornstarch) __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

March 10, 2012, 10:33 AM	#6
Ronbo1 Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2004 Location: MN Posts: 136	I am using Hornaday dies for reloading 223 brass but with a single stage Co-ax press with imperial wax. They go in and out without very much effort as long as I lube the cases with my fingers, most important to lube the shoulder area well. I dip the case necks in the lube tin once in awhile to keep the expander ball lubed. __________________ When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty. America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves Abraham Lincoln

March 10, 2012, 10:41 AM	#7
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Lubing the shoulder should be avoided. The body and inside neck is where lube is needed. My guess is the OP is using enough lube. Edit: is not using Last edited by mrawesome22; March 10, 2012 at 07:04 PM.*

March 10, 2012, 06:33 PM	#9
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	If you're having trouble getting a case to start out of the sizer you don't have enough case lube; it's easy to move if you do. If you have trouble getting the expander out of the neck you need to lube the necks on the inside. You should have no trouble determing which it is and in both instances it's a matter of lube, not the die. Last edited by wncchester; March 11, 2012 at 02:30 PM.

March 10, 2012, 07:03 AM	#2
FWest Member Join Date: July 22, 2011 Location: Maine Posts: 32	Did you lube the inside of the case neck ?

March 10, 2012, 08:21 AM	#3
PAdutchman Member Join Date: July 26, 2008 Posts: 44	Kuca I hate to be the bearer of bad new, and I am sure there are many out there who can probably do it, but I had the same problem as you. I just don't have good luck full length sizing bottle neck cartridges on a progressive press. I gave up doing it. I now come home from the range, lube and resize my brass on my orange crusher single stage press, check OAL and trim if needed, and then clean them in my tumbler and store them. When I'm ready to reload I put a decapper die in my Hornady LNL stage one slot to clean out the flash hole from any tumbling media and then go through the reloading stages. It's a lot less hassle believe me. Good luck!

March 10, 2012, 10:15 AM	#4
243winxb Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,730	The 223 will size harder than pistol brass. Will the sized brass fit the chamber of the firearm?

March 10, 2012, 11:24 AM	#8
kuca_2004 Member Join Date: May 8, 2011 Posts: 98	I haven't been lubing the inside of the neck. I will try that, I have some graphite powder. on my hornady 22-250 die it works amazing without lubing the neck so I figured I would be ok with the 223.

March 11, 2012, 02:13 PM	#10
hooligan1 Senior Member Join Date: July 18, 2010 Location: Independence Missouri Posts: 4,586	RCBS packages a nylon brush and handle with its lube pad kit, I put a little case lube in the corner of my lube pad and pick some up on the brush every tenth or so case, and run it through the mouth with a "back and forth" motion. It seems to work perfectly, and the tumbler cleans out the excess. __________________ Keep your Axe sharp and your powder dry.

March 11, 2012, 05:22 PM	#11
er775 Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2011 Posts: 129	I have the same press and had the same problem when I used the Lee RGB die to load for 243 even if I lubed cases inside and out with Hornady one shot, I switched to the RCBS die and no more problem.

March 11, 2012, 07:44 PM	#12
langenc Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2007 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 1,551	I was having trouble chambering ammo some time ago. I called RCBS and asked for 'the technical support' dept. The young lady that answered asked 'what is the problem'? I told her and she asked "are you lubing the inside of the necks?" I said maybe?? Turns out that the expander was probably stretching the case neck on its' way out due to not enough lube. I tried her advice and everything was much better. I didnt even have to talk w. tech support-the secretary knew my problem!! Ill bet she was a reloader. I always have wished I had asked her if she reloaded.

March 12, 2012, 11:57 AM	#13
gregjc9 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2008 Location: Northern Va Posts: 501	Sounds like you dont have enough lube on the cases. I've run 223 through my LNL with Hornady dies with no issues. Try this - put the cases in a shallow plastic container, about the size of a cake pan. I put on rubber gloves and put a dab of Imperial sizing wax on one hand and rub my hands together till it's smeared pretty well. Then I just reach into the brass and roll them around in my hands. Keep doing this until it looks like I've touched all the brass. Never had one stick, nor cause dimples on the neck, with this method. __________________ ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ Greg