jimmyb79 Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 So I started reloading recently with the simple Lee Loader kit. I'm reloading 223 and have subsequently upgraded to the Lee Single Stage Press kit, but haven't set it up. Going back to the loader round...I loaded six bullets total, and a couple will not load fully i.e. i cannot close the bolt on the rifle. I have since checked some empty brass prepared using the loader kit and found that they were a touch long. Trimmed them back, tried again, still not fitting. Resized again, still won't fit. Length of the case is 1.750 inches and the case has been resized using the loader die... The overall length doesn't seem to be the issue as on one of the bullets I have seated the round much deeper than the others just to see if thats causing the problem. My guess was the collar was in some way restricting the case in the chamber. Is that solved by crimping or could it be something else. Or...is it something that simply won't happen on a proper press set up correctly?! Any help gratefully received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 I may be able to answer my own question. I'm using once fired brass and the loader kit only resizes the neck. Once I have the press set up, I'll be able to full length resize which I think may be the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subaru_sti5 Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Were they fired in your rifle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 (edited) Yes, all fired out of mine, so I thought they'd be ok... Edited June 21, 2014 by jimmyb79 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amazed Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 (edited) Where do you live mate ? What dies do you have ? Edited June 21, 2014 by Amazed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 I'm in Kent. I've been using the basic lee loader for those rounds and cases, but I've got the breechlock challenger single stage press kit to set up with pacesetter dies so I'm hoping using the new stuff might sort the issue... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 try making a dummy round ... No primer or powder ... set up to the book lengths. Paint cartridge body, neck and bullet with a black felt tip and try chambering it .. It may show where its hanging up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Cheers Seeker, will give that a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peskyfoxs Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Have you seated the primer in far enough? I have had this happen a couple of times and when I looked it was not quite flush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Lee loader? If so sounds like your not whacking it enough! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Primers are all good. Might be a lack of whacking, that'll be sorted when I get the press all set up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Sounds like it's too tight in the chamber and you're not resizing it enough. If it was a primer not in fully I am sure that camming the bolt would push that in fully. Sounds like you have sorted out the seating depth so unlikely that, you would also have a jamed bullet, but that would be obvious. A case thats not been resized would need too much force on the bolt to enable it to close fully. My bet is not resized. I am not familiar with your press or choice of dies but your case needs to go in a tad further. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Cheers Dougy, the kit I've used on the problem loads only resizes the neck of the case, whereas the setup i'll be using fairly soon is a full length resizer, so if thats the issue, hopefully that'll rectify it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted June 21, 2014 Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 Assuming the cases once fired fit back in the chamber which they will it's not to do with only neck sizing or case length. More likely something isn't set up properly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2014 It's more than likely Alex. Will have a play with the new press and see how it goes with proper dies as it were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Cheers Dougy, the kit I've used on the problem loads only resizes the neck of the case, whereas the setup i'll be using fairly soon is a full length resizer, so if thats the issue, hopefully that'll rectify it. It is though you will only know for sure once you have full length sized. What happens is the case when fired expands to an exact fit of your chamber (so tightly you could never extract it) , it then quickly cools and shrinks back a tad allowing you to work the bolt and extract it (this is why stiff bolt lift or difficult extraction is a sure sign of too much working pressure). Some guns will have slightly more generous chambers than others and these rifles tend to need greater amounts of FLS(this is a good reason to avoid buying once fired from another rifle as FLS only sizes nearly all the case back to spec) I always FLS for some guns, though one should avoid pushing things too back to far as this can lead to other problems when the round is fired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 That's a really helpful explanation, thanks mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 wanted to load 5 this morning so out of interest got the Lee loader kit out .. found that if I neck size and knock the case out with the decapper rod it 'flared' the mouth just enough not to chamber. Good explanation from Kent ... and each gun seems to differ as much as the load and butt nut .. tho the last is probably the most uncontrollable variable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 (edited) When I look at the cases they do all seem to be flared a little, and I don't think there's a way of fixing that with the loader kit. I'm assuming the bullet seating die I've got with the press will 'unflare' if that's the right word! One question though, with the six rounds I've already got loaded, if I run them through the bullet seating die, will that potentially fix those rounds? Edited June 22, 2014 by jimmyb79 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 The Lee Loader is designed IIRC to give a little flare to help start seating a bullet because it is tapped in as opposed to being pushed with great mechanical advantage. The seating process should crimp it back in a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=lee+loader+video&docid=607996030174236317&mid=AA9E12BF40BE35AEE7DAAA9E12BF40BE35AEE7DA&view=detail&FORM=VIRE1#view=detail&mid=AA9E12BF40BE35AEE7DAAA9E12BF40BE35AEE7DA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Not sure I'd force a loaded case into a L.Loader to reshape it .. even at reloading 101++ level? Are you certain what the problem is? Best option = disassemble and start again if you have a bullet puller/hammer. If you are certain it's at the case mouth then the crimp die in the pacesetter kit MAY cure it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 I wasn't going to try the lee loader again for it, I don't imagine loaded case in die with mallet will end well! I've only loaded six like it so it's not the end of the world and good learning experience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeker Posted June 22, 2014 Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 aah ... misread the post ... As you say, it's a part of the experience Hopefully you'll bump into an experienced loader in your area and vicariously shorten the learning cycle. good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb79 Posted June 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2014 Cheers bud- much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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