222 REM reload issue

[C5]

I've been reloading 38, 357 and 9mm, but this was my first attempt at reloading a rifle load and it is 222 REM for my dad. I have a Hornady Lock and Load and Lee 222 dies. Since all the brass are from my dad's Savage 24V, I thought I would just resize the neck and not the whole case. Well that was a mistake as the cases were now too large and I had to resize the entire case. Well let me now back up and state that I had the neck die extended as far as it would go into the Hornady and needed a touch more length. Now after resize the whole case, the neck is too small in the collet to accept a bullet (Hornady 50 g SP). I have no way to expand the neck.

What is the issue? I can't believe that I have used the entire length of the neck sizing die and it is not long enough for my use. I thought Lee dies were good, at least they have been for my pistols.

TIA for any help or ideas.

 

[HOWARD J]

If you can bell the case mouth will the bullet seat properly?

 

[Walkalong]

What did you resize the brass with. A resize die, whether neck or full, should have an expander in it.

Which Lee dies do you have?

Sorry, but I am a bit confused by your post.

 

[oldgold]

At a guess I'd say you took the decapper out of the full length sizer die so as not to remove live primers. If this is what you did it won't work. The full size die forms the neck down and the fat part of the decapper rod brings it back to the proper size.

If this is what happened you need to resize again with the decapper/neck expander back in the die. Just let the case go in far enough to clear the neck and with drawl it.

If this is not what happened,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,never mind.

 

[Walkalong]

Excellent guess.

 

[JimKirk]

I wish that something on this order could be made in to a sticky

It would sure help ... that when asking for help ... please include all the relevant information, such as die make, which die by name, caliber and any other info that would help us to help you.

If you'd make this info known, rather than find out in post #41 that it is a 270 rather than a 243, help may arrive much sooner, It would also help keep me from looking like a complete fool and making guesses as to what you have.

This is not directed just at the OP, but everyone who asks for help!

Jimmy K

 

[medalguy]

Oh and by the way read the instructions that came with your dies.

 

[C5]

reply

funny!!

I read all directions with my LEE dies that I bought from MidWAY.

I resized initially with the neck sizer only and had an issue, as the die would not go in deep enough on the Hornady LnL until I took of the locking ring and reversed it as I need two more threads in order to bell the opening to accept the bullet. The problem with this approach is that the brass, which were fired from the same Savage 222 and were brand new once fired Remingtons were too large to go back in the chamber. Thus, I wasted those primers and had to resize the brass with the primer remover still in place.

I used the full case resizer as deep as it would go and still be able to cycle the Hornady LnL.


Lee Deluxe 3-Die Set 222 Remington
were used as this link shows, and I also bought the crimper die as an extra.


Due to the fact that the neck collet resizer has an issue, I believe that this set of LEE dies do not function properly in the Hornady system, as a SWAG. I have used pistol dies without an issue in the same system.

 

[HOWARD J]

Don't forget to contact Lee re: your problem.
They will be interested in your findings.....................

 

[C5]

good idea, I did not think of that

 

[Walkalong]

I have had some issues with some dies in the LNL. Like you said, you can run out of threads. I have managed to make all mine work though.

On this Lee .44 sizer the "lock ring" is not on any threads. It is acting like a spacer with the bushing tightened against it to hold everything in place.

 

[C5]

Walkalong,

The issue you have with not enough threads on the Lee dies is exactly what I'm having an issue with too on the LNL. At least I'm not crazy and this would be solved if Lee but on about 3-4 more threads.

 

[Walkalong]

My other Lee dies have had barely enough threads, but this one did not. Like I posted earlier, I have been able to make all my dies work. Lee hasn't been the only die brand with barely enough threads.

 

[JimKirk]

Removed primers are not wasted, reuse them in plinking loads, it does not harm them. I would not us them in critical ammo though.

Jimmy K