1st time reloading rifle, help!

Bacchus · March 1, 2002, 10:12 PM

I've reloaded several hundred .38 special cases, but this is my first time reloading rifle cartridges. I'm having trouble with the .223 cartridge with a Lee single stage press.

For the first step (depriming), I keep getting stuck cases. The instructions say to "screw the full length sizer in until it touches the shell holder...lower the ram and screw the die in 1/4 to 1/3 turn more and then tighten the lock ring finger tight". I'm doing that and every time I put a case in the shellholder, it gets stuck. Sometimes it deprimes the case and sometimes it doesn't. I end up having to take apart the entire die and ruining the case. Also, the instructions state that lubing the cases beforehand should solve the problem, but I tried that and they still got stuck.

What am I doing wrong?
Thanks for the help.

kurt IA. · March 1, 2002, 10:38 PM

Sounds like no lube on case, but sense you say you do that, and be sure that you do lube the case. Try this, back the die away from the shell holder, not touching it, light a candle, and pass the neck of a case over it so the neck is black lube the body of case only, size it look where the black is rubed off adjust die so you see a very little black above the shoulder neck juction, adjust the decap pin down to were it just sticks out the flash hole a little, with the ram up. You may be crushing the shoulder. the other thing could be the neck exspander ball being too large, or rough.

dick w. holliday · March 2, 2002, 08:19 AM

sounds like a lube problem to me--however i'd follow their directions about screwing the die down--a ten dollar investment in a case guage from dillon or midway would not be a bad investment at this point....that's what i use since i've never made the investment in a stoney point tool........getting back to the lube-most all lubes work fine-i most of the time just roll the body of the case on the pad-i have no problems with sizing----Dick

PS-i also use the spray on lubes from time to time but i think the pad is the best for shouldered cases....Dick

March 1, 2002, 10:12 PM	#1
Bacchus Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2001 Posts: 259	1st time reloading rifle, help! I've reloaded several hundred .38 special cases, but this is my first time reloading rifle cartridges. I'm having trouble with the .223 cartridge with a Lee single stage press. For the first step (depriming), I keep getting stuck cases. The instructions say to "screw the full length sizer in until it touches the shell holder...lower the ram and screw the die in 1/4 to 1/3 turn more and then tighten the lock ring finger tight". I'm doing that and every time I put a case in the shellholder, it gets stuck. Sometimes it deprimes the case and sometimes it doesn't. I end up having to take apart the entire die and ruining the case. Also, the instructions state that lubing the cases beforehand should solve the problem, but I tried that and they still got stuck. What am I doing wrong? Thanks for the help.

March 1, 2002, 10:38 PM	#2
kurt IA. Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2001 Location: Iowa Posts: 141	Sounds like no lube on case, but sense you say you do that, and be sure that you do lube the case. Try this, back the die away from the shell holder, not touching it, light a candle, and pass the neck of a case over it so the neck is black lube the body of case only, size it look where the black is rubed off adjust die so you see a very little black above the shoulder neck juction, adjust the decap pin down to were it just sticks out the flash hole a little, with the ram up. You may be crushing the shoulder. the other thing could be the neck exspander ball being too large, or rough.

March 2, 2002, 08:19 AM	#3
dick w. holliday Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2001 Location: NC Posts: 589	sounds like a lube problem to me--however i'd follow their directions about screwing the die down--a ten dollar investment in a case guage from dillon or midway would not be a bad investment at this point....that's what i use since i've never made the investment in a stoney point tool........getting back to the lube-most all lubes work fine-i most of the time just roll the body of the case on the pad-i have no problems with sizing----Dick PS-i also use the spray on lubes from time to time but i think the pad is the best for shouldered cases....Dick