New to reloading, would like some advice reloading .223 on my hornady LNL AP

A

Antedev

Inactive
Hi guys.

I need help, I am trying to get into reloading and have everything. Im working on a Hornady LnL AP and I got a set of match grade dies for the .223 along with the correct bushing for the FL sizing die. So right now im getting my sizing die set up. So I followed Hornady's instructions to screw down my sizing die till it makes contact with the shellplate and locked it down . I have some once fired LC brass that i bought already cleaned, swaged and deprimed, so I case lubed as directed and resized a couple. After resizing some I used my lyman case gauge and the casehead sticks out further that the max headspace allowed. :/ I tried Lowering my Sizing die as much as I could but still does not fix the headspace.

Am I doing something wrong?

Could it be the brass I bought??

What should I do.?

I attached some pictures so you can see how far is my sizing die and how far my brass sticks out.


Any help would be appreciated.

Andres

BRass.jpg

brass2.jpg

sizing%20die.jpg
 
1. Are all the brass sticking up?
2. Did you clean the case gauge inside out real well?
3. Did you clean the case lube off?

Most think reloading is all about measuring. But most of the time it's just like doing dishes.
 
Antedev

Your pictures show a very similar problem I had/have with a batch of Speer Lawman .45 acp. They just would not go into the gage the last "smidgen". I blamed it on small "nicks" on the extractor rim. I smoothed a few with a file and utility knife. Started gage checking the extractor ends of the case before doing any preparation or loading work. If they passed the "up-side-down" case gage test making sure the case head was not to marred they then went into the load pile; otherwise, into the cull pile. I load LC .223 brass on a Dillon 550b. I haven't had a failure pass the case cage test but I have crushed a few shoulders.
 
So, your die is touching, but can you feel is cam over? Mine gets shorter as i increase cam over force.

Also, have you put marker on the case and found the touch points? It might not be the datum point touching.
 
What rifle are you shooting? If it's a bolt action, you might try chambering a sized case. If it will not chamber, or you really have to cam it closed, you have a problem. But maybe not. Don't think that will work in an AR. Also, while it could be, I don't think it's your brass. Is the case tight in the gauge? Brass issues are usually at the base. As noted in the earlier post, you need to be sure you are contacting the gauge correctly. Is the front of the gauge resting on a hard surface? I'm sure you've considered that, but if not, could be a case length issue. Process of elimination. Good luck.
 
I'm not sure what that thing you have those case's in but the way I tell if the case's are alright is to run some MTY sized case's through the chamber I'll be shooting them in. If I feel any tightness closing the bolt, they are to long for my chamber. Notice MY chamber. All chamber's are not created equal. I have two 243's and they both chamber factory ammo very well. I set the sizing die to make my sized case fit the chamber. Brought home my new 243 last week and rounds for my old one will not chamber in it. There are specs each factory need's to meet making ammo so that their ammo will fit in every gun they may be used it. There's min and max spec chambers. coming from all the factorys. The min spec will accept all factory ammo as will the max spec. But the max chamber is a sloppy chamber that can be hard on reloaded case's but how you adjust your seating dies will erase that difference. One of my 243's has a chamber over min spec but under or right at max.

They only way to measure sized case's in in the chamber your gonna shoot it in. Otherwise your die will reset the case to min spec so it will fit factory case's. Some tight and some sloppy.
 
Antedev,

I haven't used your particular press, but on most iron frame presses the instruction is to turn the die down until it contacts the shell holder, lower the shell holder, and then turn the die in an additions 1/8 to 1/4 turn. The reason is that sizing a case takes enough force that it stretches the press slightly and so you need a little extra force to hold the die flush against the shell plate under that stress. Check with Hornady on this, but it is normal procedure on most iron frame presses.
 
The case head in the photo is certainly protruding higher in the case gauge much more than it should be. Ideally the case head is intended to sit somewhere between the upper and lower steps but all chambers do not necessarily follow those rules. But your sized cases are overly long and I guess will not chamber. First try what has been mentioned above to see if the press camover will provide the necessary adjustment but I doubt that it will.

What can be done next is to shorten the sizing die by grinding or filing some metal off the base of the die. This will not in any ruin the die as some might think. I have done that on at least a half dozen dies of various calibers. The quick and easy way is with a small grinding wheel that attaches to an electric drill. Such a thing should be available at building supply or hardware stores and can be used for a number of purposes. Using a file for the purpose takes a bit longer than using a grinder. And remember, shortening the die will not ruin it. Some might suggest filing down the top of the shell holder but that could possibly weaken it considerably.
 
To summaries before pulling out the grinder....

  • Clean both the die and case gauge well to remove the protective lube the
    dies and case gauges are shipped in to keep them from rusting.

  • Check the brass for small nicks around the rims that could keep the the
    brass from inserting completely in the gauge. Usually when you have that
    problem, some cases will fit but not others.
  • Setup the sizing die by raising the ram all the way up, screw the die down
    until it touches, back the ram down, then screw the die down 1/8 of a turn.
    Insert a lubed case and size it. Check the brass to see if it bumped the
    shoulder back far enough per your case gauge. If not, turn the die down
    some more and repeat.
 
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First I wanna say thanks so much for the replies and helping out.

I did cleaned my brass and gauge after resizing. My commercial bullets fit perfectly in the gauge.

Also my bullets fall off the gauge and they fit perfectly upside down all the way is so the contact is at the neck..

I tried turning my sizing die a 1/4 down where I would be putting pressure between my she'll plate and sizing die and it does a better job but still at the same height or a little over the top end of the gauge. I can feel it with my finger.

Do you guys think the fact that is a match grade die that I need a certain type of brass thru it??

I did consider grinding it down a little since that seems to be the solution but I didn't want to ruin my brand new match grade sizing die...

I am giving Hornady a call and see what theyou say.
 
So I spoke with Hornady and they want me to send in the die along with some brass that have been resized and some that have not...They want to check the die and If they find they need to, they will grind the sizing die for me... So I will send it over and ill post their resolution .
 
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