Reloaded 223/556 rounds jam.

[M3Man03]

I am having a problem that hopefully some of the experts on here can answer.

I have loaded a lot of 223/5.56 ammunition. Never had any problems prior to the last batch.

When chambered in my AR, which has never even had a jam/misfire before this, the rounds get "stuck, where you need to do the bump stock on a hard surface while pulling the charging handle, to get them out.

I can't tell where they're binding in the chamber.

I took some brass from the same batch that had been resized/tumbled/trimmed/case prepped/primed, and tried to put it in the chamber of the AR and closed the bolt. Again, it got stuck, without any bullet even.

So I took this brass, went back to my Hornady .223 full length case resizer, and tried to resize it again. Lubed it up like I have countless times before (for even the good batches) and when I tried to get it in the die, it gets STUCK about 2-3cm (1/4") from going all the way in. I can't force it in without incredible amount of force, worrying that I'll break my press even!

So, I take the same brass, shoot it through my Lee NECK sizer (only neck, not full), and then BACK to the full length sizer and it slides right in.

I then can take the brass, chamber in the AR and it cycles just fine.

So, what's wrong with my Hornady die? Why won't it size properly without going through my neck sizer first?

Like I said, I've loaded a couple 1000 rounds with that die previously, this batch is the first time I've had a problem.

Is it possible to wear out a die?

I switched to Hornady dies because I had countless problems with Lee full length sizer dies.

 

[243winxb]

Is the expander in the Hornady die in the correct position? Or to high up in the die?

 

[M3Man03]

I have the jam problems into the die with the expander even removed.

I've tried a number of positions, it doesn't seem to change the difficulty getting the brass in the die.

 

[steve4102]

You aren't using spray lube by any chance are you?

 

[M3Man03]

Yeah.

I've usually had good luck but now people are telling me how bad it is.

 

[ranger335v]

"Is it possible to wear out a die?"

Sure. It's supposed to require from 1/2 to 3/4 million rounds but it can be done.

Get some good case lube and put it on the lower part of the cases. Use most anything sold in a tube or can, not a spray.

 

[243winxb]

The wrong shell holder, or a dirty one may not leave the brass align with the die correctly. In other words, the brass is going into the die on an angle?? Seen this online 1 time before. *But the problem area seems to be the neck only? Very strange

 

[M3Man03]

How do you do this, when trying to load a couple hundred cases?

To individually apply the lube to all of them would be almost as bad as trimming them all, which I do... but it's a PITA.

 

[HJ857]

I can't help to determine why this happens, but I can help you determine good sizing before you jam it up in the rifle.

Get one of these. Not necessarily this very one, but something like it.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=268983

Drop either a sized case or a finished round in to it and it'll tell you if it's going to fit in the chamber. I find it best to test the finished round.

Over the past year or so I get a few cases that for some reason will simply not resize properly and jam in the chamber just as you describe. I even bought two new sizing dies, one Lee and one RCBS small base die and got the same problem. This case gauge solved the problem. If a round doesn't pass the gauge test, I disassemble it and throw the case away.

I run batches of around 250 cases and I can get 5 to 10 cases per batch that won't pass the test.

 

[Byron]

Have used RCBS small base dies over 30 years. I clean the sizing die with alcohol occasionally.i have used Dillion Spray with no problems. Byron

 

[918v]

I think you need to screw the sizer down further toward the shell holder. You are not bumping the shoulder. You are only sizing the body. When you only size the body, the angle of the shoulder changes and the datum point moves forward, thereby decreasing headspace.

Is your die touching the shell holder?

 

[rcmodel]

get "stuck, where you need to do the bump stock on a hard surface while pulling the charging handle, to get them out.

Sounds to me like you are crimping them in the seating die, either accidentally, or on purpose, and buckling the shoulders slightly. SO slightly you can't see it, but slightly enough to get stuck in the chamber tighter then a gnats hind end.

Back off the seater die slightly so it doesn't crimp, and I bet the problem goes away.
If you feel you must crimp, buy a Lee FCD collet crimp die.
It runs off pressure from the shell holder and is not dependent on every case being exactly the same length like the seating die crimp.

I can't tell where they're binding in the chamber.

Yes you can.

Color one of the sticky rounds with a black magic-marker and try to chamber it.
Where the black rubs off is the problem.

rc

 

[M3Man03]

Tried the marker trick and didn't work before I posted this thread.

In regards to the seater, I have the same problems with brass I haven't put a bullet in yet.

 

[MrOldLude]

Tried the marker trick and didn't work before I posted this thread.

In regards to the seater, I have the same problems with brass I haven't put a bullet in yet.

Baffling. The case is getting stuck somewhere in the breech without touching the walls.

 

[kingmt]

Is the bullet into the riflings?

 

[Sport45]

How do you do this, when trying to load a couple hundred cases?

I lube my rifle cases on an old-school lube pad. It's pretty fast when you drop five or six at a time on the pad, give them a quick roll and then dump into a plastic bucket. I can lube a couple hundred in less than 5 minutes.

 

[jinxer3006]

So, I take the same brass, shoot it through my Lee NECK sizer (only neck, not full), and then BACK to the full length sizer and it slides right in.

I then can take the brass, chamber in the AR and it cycles just fine.

Did you have the expander in your FL die when you did this?

 

[918v]

Why don't you disassemble your FL die, clean it out with copper solvent, look inside the die while holding it against a light source and make sure you dont have a rock or cancer or maybe a gremlin sitting in there obstructing the case neck from being sized.

Then reassemble the die, and do over.