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Thread: Nothing but problems prepping 223 brass

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    Nothing but problems prepping 223 brass

    This isn't my first experience prepping brass in 223. Nothing went right 200+ pieces. Stuck the decapper pin in some H1 brass with tiny primer holes. Several times. Burnt up a old battery powered drill Dewalt 9v doing trim-debur-etc. still need to swage the primer pockets on about half. Finally stuck a case really good in the decapper die Lee. Tried hitting the stem then the RCBS stuck case tool but no good now letting it soak overnite in penetrating oil.

    I need to re-think my prepping process for 223!

    One good thing I cleared off a desktop and added space for case prep station.
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  2. #2
    Boolit Master bbqncigars's Avatar
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    If you're using a spray case lube, be sure to give it time to dry. Otherwise you will encounter resizing problems. Decapping excitement can be avoided by using a Lee universal decapping die. When adjusted correctly, the pin will slide before breaking.
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  3. #3
    bhn22
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    Loosening the collet nut and hitting the top of the decapping stem should free the case. The die should be installed in the press for this procedure. I'd suggest a proper trimmer, it sounds like your old drill simply wasn't big enough for the job, most cordless drills simply don't have the power for trimming. Which trimmer head were you using? You can either swage or ream the primer pockets. You'll probably go through a couple of different pocket reamers before you find the one you like best. I always tumble my cases first to clean them, then full length size in a single stage press to minimum length for semi-autos, or whatever partial length you want for a bolt gun. Then measure each case, and trim, then deburr. Ream or swage the primer pockets, then throw back into the tumbler for final cleaning and polishing. To lube the cases for sizing. I spray a couple of shots of Dillon case lube in a plastic bag with a generous handful of brass in it. Some lube will get in the case mouths, but I do this deliberately to lube inside the case necks in a few cases. Wipe any excess lube from the neck and shoulders before sizing to avoid lube dents.

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Mix some sweets or other copper solvent in with the penetrating oil to work on the brass case. It does help. Also freeze and heat cycles may help. Sit in freezer over night and warm during day on a heat vent. do this for several days. Die expands with warming shrinks with cold and squezes case down when shrinking. If enough of the head is stiking out get die tight in a vise and with a flat punch tap around the outside pushing to other side, not in or out but side to side this may shrink the case dia and help to lossen it with the case taper. Make sure cases are all lubed, die is clean and free of crud, and everything is as it should be. IE correct shell holder, correct lube and correct tooling. Take some time and see what went wrong this time. Whats diffrent this time than before? What has changed?

  5. #5
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    I deprime first with a Harvey Deprimer. Hand held unit that works great. I then tumble, lube, size, etc.. Just don't want crud near my machine. As others said give your lube a chance to set. I hand debur and chamfer so...

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    The RCBS stuck case remover did not work? How did it fail. Is this the tap the primer pocket kind of remover? If not have you tried the drill and tap the primer pocket and use a bolt, a socket and a stack of washers home remedy?

    Tim
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  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    i tapped the primer pocket and tried the bolt with washers, etc but it was really stuck apparently. My fault too- no lube on that one I was just in a hurry. I use Imperial lube. After letting it soak in penetrating oil a couple of hours I tried the Lee directions and tapped on the pin stem working it loose that way; that stem will need to be replaced now since the pin broke off flush with the end. i ordered a Lee universal decapping die now so its an extra step on 223 but will help with those military cases, crimped. The ones that gave me such trouble were marked H1- Austrian brand I think.

    Plan to ream the primer pockets using the Lee hand tool reamer and the cases chucked in the drill, 18v or the electric drill. Don't want to buy the table top swager- what are some other options?

    Joe
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  8. #8
    Boolit Bub




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    I agree with the trimmer statement. When I Prep my .308's I use a Skil Plug in Drill. The Cordless ones just aren't up to the task and like to burn out real quick. I think I got that corded drill for about $60, makes quick work of the trimming process for sure! Worth a shot in my book. Personally, Im about to splurge for the Dillon Rapid Trim to set on my 550 for prepping my brass, especially since my brass business is starting to take off and I could make more by prepping prior to selling with a little bit of sweat equity of pulling the handle. Just my .02 but the best thing to help your problem is the proper (or at least higher quality) tools for the task.
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  9. #9
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    I just size the 556 brass. Never had a problem. With primers. RCBS has two different sizes of primer pins. Use the small ones. I know I'm over 150K 556 over the years. Can't remember the last time I broke a pin. I know the last one I did break it was a South African 556 as it was a berdan primed case. I use a VLD inside chamfer deburring tool to cut out the crimp. And it is a 18V Chinese Harbor Freight drill. Been going for about 5 years now. You only need to just touch it. You really don't need to cut a whole lot.

  10. #10
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    here is how I fixed my lee sizing die permanently.

    I opened the back door to the garage and threw it as hard as I could into the neighbors hay field.
    unfortunately I got it back in a bale of hay he sent over the next winter.
    I then threw it off the cliff behind the house into the bear river.

    the rcbs die has not given me any grief since then.
    I like the lee collet neck size die though, it works as advertised.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master DaveInFloweryBranchGA's Avatar
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    1. Lee Universal Depriming die (buy used)
    2. RCBS Lube die with pad soaked well w/RCBS lube
    3. Dillion sizing/trim die (buy used)
    4. Dillon 1200 Trimmer with Lowe's smallest shop vac size attached to suck up brass particles (buy used)
    5. Dillon swager (buy used)

    The above can be set up in a progressive press or used in a single stage except for the swager. I spent and wasted a lot of money trying other brands of swagers/pocket trim methods until I tried the above. Decided to go with the above when I had over 5K of .223 cases to decap/size/trim/swage. The above made it easy, trouble free and fast.

    I'll never go back to the headaches I've had in the past.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master

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    I fixed my problems with the Lee die by polishing the neck sizing pin and the inside of the die. If a case feels too tight when sizing I back off and re-lube it. Before polishing the die I got some stuck a few times and I took the die with the stuck case and put it in the deep freeze for a few hours. The differential contraction between the brass and steel allowed the case to pop right out.

    good luck

  13. #13
    Boolit Grand Master

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    I've used cordless tools for a long time, with good success. But, I use tools professionally and mine are 14 or 18 volt and have 1/2 inch chucks. No issues about being under powered here.

    The Lee depriming die is a good suggestion. Often on sale for $9.99 at places like Midway.

    In lieu of a primer pocket swagger, lots of things will work just fine. A 45 degree countersink, your deburring tool, any one of several tools that Lyman, Hornady, RCBS or Wilson make. I personally like the Wilson the best, but its also the most expensive.

    If your die looks rough, you can polish the inside of it with a bore mop coated with Flitz and turned in a drill.

    223 brass is so plentiful, I would probably scrap any that were known to cause problems. I know it hurts, but...

    Sorry you are having so much trouble. Sometimes mil surplus is like that!

  14. #14
    In Remembrance
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    Over the past forty years, I have found that "shortcuts" or getting in a hurry when prepping necked rifle brass only leads to increased frustration.

    There are, however, tools that will make the job much easier and almost enjoyable--beginning with the Dillon swager. Sorry, but it just does not get better, easier or more consistent (or universal) that with the Dillon tool.

    For my plinking .223 and 30-30, I recently picked up the Lee quick trimmer tool that trims, chamfers and deburs in one step with about three or four rotations of the handle.

    I use RCBS dies for full-length sizing of .223 cases and Imperial Sizing Wax. Kiwi Mink Oil will work just as well. So will Bag Balm.

    I deprime and full-length size in the same step with the RCBS die, then toss the brass in the tumbler for a while to get all the lube residue off. Then I move over to the single stage press I have dedicated solely for brass prep and boolit-sizing. On goes the little Lee trimmer do-dad and wham-o, I can trim a lot of cases in a very short period of time. Then over to the Dillon swager, and voila--a mess of cases ready to be loaded with no hassles, no muss, no fuss.

    Every time, without fail, that I used to get in a hurry or impatient or try to find shortcuts, I would have an unpleasant, frustrating experience.


  15. #15
    Boolit Master
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    I had the same issues with H1 (and H3, as I recall) brass- the flash holes are too small- now I just cull the ones I pick up.
    Loren

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
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    UPDATE- got the Lee universal decapper die supposed to decap even mil crimped brass. After doing about 20 PPU brass no problem I turned to the H1 556 brass. Only did about 5 when that unbreakable pin bent! I had it set to slip on the PPU BRASS. Back to lee for a couple of pins and I have some H1 brass for trade if anyone wants to try their luck.
    Joe
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  17. #17
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Scrap bin???

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
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    I picked up some new brass recently giving me a lot of trouble with the small primer holes. I broke my Lee pin on one. On my second lee die it kept pushing up the pin no matter how hard I tighten it. I switched to my RCBS dies and bent 3 pins so far. I now sort out the headstamp that gives me trouble and scraps them. At least with the RCBS dies I have lots of primer pins.
    All this effort and the low price of steel case ammo makes me want to say this batch is my last batch of .223.

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
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    make sure those cases are not berdan primed. if there not make sure you lube the inside of the case necks,i use lee dies by preference

  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    These are not Berdan primed cases. But the flash hole is smaller than normal, and I think some must be a little off center. These headstamps will go in my scrap bin from now on. funny though some of them worked fine and popped out the primer normally, with no more effort than any other military crimped primer.

    I emailed Lee to see how this warranty on the universal decapper stem works. If they want me to sent it back to them to just replace the stem that probably isn't worth it, since I can buy a new stem for a couple of dollars. Joe
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BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
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