STUCK ANOTHER ONE@!$#!@#!!
Installed the new guts, tried Lee case holder for .223, made sure the ball was lightly lubed, made sure the neck was lubed, lubed the outside of the case with Imperial sizing wax, sized it, went fine. wiped it off, measured in case gauge, needed more setback, turned in the die quarter turn, lubed it, sized it, measured okay. Got the next case, lubed the neck, lubed the case, ran it into the die and stuck it. It took noticeably more force to size, but it was the same headstamp (LC06). But of course by the time you feel it taking more force it's too late. It doesn't say small base or S.B. on the RCBS die. Just RCBS 77 .223. Could it be undersized?? My brass was fired in ARs and SCARs and Minis, not a machine gun or anything...
Swear. Remove the sizing rod, ball stays in case. Look in kit for bit to drill case. Bit isn't there. Look up on internet, says .20". I mic a few bits. Don't have anything the right size. Go to ace hardware and buy $5 11/64 bit. Drive home, bit spins in chuck/binds in case. Drop something, look on floor of garage and find the #7 bit that came with RCBS kit. Drill case. Attempt to thread case. Crappy japanese tap that came with RCBS kit has been worn out in 2 uses... teeth are broken, dulled, won't tap the case, slips out. Ride motorcycle to Ace hardware, buy $6 1/4x20 tap. Ride home, tap works fine. Remove case.
I have an RCBS shellholder on the way from Midway. But after spending what feels like a ridiculous amount of money and time and effort on this enterprise I'm seriously about ready to throw this POS out the window and accept the fact that I simply wasn't meant to reload .223.
:banghead: