I'm pretty sure I know what the answers are going to be, but I'm going to ask here anyhow to make sure I dis not miss anything.
I've loaded pistol, and bolt action rifle before, but never anything for a semi-auto. I'm sizing brass in .223 for a Ruger AR-556 using a Lee FL sizing die. Set the die according to instructions, checked the shoulder, and it was bumped back a fair bit, about .008 or so but I decided to leave it as I wanted a good FL size for a semi-auto. I sized and trimmed about 200 casing, and decide to load up a dummy (no powder) round. Upon doing so I found it would not chamber so I was thinking OAL was too long. After lots of trial and error I decided to chamber the brass casing only and it would not chamber. I try another and same thing, and so on. Tight enough that I can not eject with the charge handle. I have to push it out with a cleaning rod. A factory round chambers fine.
All the brass was fired in this rifle. All trimmed to length.
I've read about small base dies, and I've also read they are for people that do not set their dies correctly. I tried resetting the FL die and resized a few casings, and still no go. The die is so hard down on the shell holder now I'm afraid I'd snap the handle if I pushed any harder. I believe the die is set as correct as it can be. Is it a die out of spec ? Is this a case for Small base dies ? What am I missing ?
Thanks,
-Jeff
I've loaded pistol, and bolt action rifle before, but never anything for a semi-auto. I'm sizing brass in .223 for a Ruger AR-556 using a Lee FL sizing die. Set the die according to instructions, checked the shoulder, and it was bumped back a fair bit, about .008 or so but I decided to leave it as I wanted a good FL size for a semi-auto. I sized and trimmed about 200 casing, and decide to load up a dummy (no powder) round. Upon doing so I found it would not chamber so I was thinking OAL was too long. After lots of trial and error I decided to chamber the brass casing only and it would not chamber. I try another and same thing, and so on. Tight enough that I can not eject with the charge handle. I have to push it out with a cleaning rod. A factory round chambers fine.
All the brass was fired in this rifle. All trimmed to length.
I've read about small base dies, and I've also read they are for people that do not set their dies correctly. I tried resetting the FL die and resized a few casings, and still no go. The die is so hard down on the shell holder now I'm afraid I'd snap the handle if I pushed any harder. I believe the die is set as correct as it can be. Is it a die out of spec ? Is this a case for Small base dies ? What am I missing ?
Thanks,
-Jeff
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