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GIMS,
Just reloaded my first box of .223 the other day, but I think Jack got it right.
New brass has probably not been neck expanded, so it will be almost too tight to accept the pilot.
Lube those new cases lightly, and run them through your sizing die, with the neck expander stem in place. (Caution, be sure to remove the depriming pin, if you have already primed those cases!) This opens up the neck a few thousandths from the resized diameter as the stem is pulled back through the neck, when the case is withdrawn from the die. A little dry lube (motor mica) makes neck expanding much easier, but some dies come with carbide expander buttons, and don't need inside lube.
You will also find that resizing the cases causes them to grow a few thousandths in length, so you should always resize before trimming, and regardless of what some may tell you, always resize new cases before loading!
Here is what I do to get the cases indexed into the collets accurately.
1. Back out the collet lock screw so it is not touching the collet.
2. Hold a resized case in the collet, as you guide the pilot into the case mouth.
3. Now press the trimmer shaft and pilot lightly against the case, which pushes it into the collet, and while holding light pressure on the trimmer shaft, slowly rotate the shaft, and tighten the collet lock handle at the same time.
Rotating the case with light pressure against the collet will tend to wipe any dust or dirt out of the collet, and seat the base of the case completely flat against the collet.
4. Trim to length.
Do you have a good chamfering/deburring tool? You will need to do that after trimming, to take the sharp edges and burrs off the case mouth.
Good luck!
Bill
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