Making 5.56 cases fit shellholder, the easy way

[Quiettime]

I used to throw out a lot of LC 5.56 brass because it wouldn't fit in my shell holder. Then I figured out a way to swage them into shape just like a Lee boolit sizer.

Took a Lee carbide 38 spl sizing die and drilled out the threaded part with a 25/64" drill bit and use the pusher from a boolit sizing kit to push the cases up through. Works great and a little lube makes it work a little better (always does don't it?)

Cases come out at about .374" at the head and the spec is .380 -.010. They fit just fine in the #4 shell holder and have done several hundred and fired them (.300 Blackout) with no problems

I figure what the heck, (#1) the dies are cheap, (#2) I have a set of Dillons anyway and (#3) I use a universal decapping die first anyway when I reload with the Rock Chucker so I have lost nothing. Works great.

[Quiettime]

https://scontent-a-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/1779069_800903326590808_1586705146_n.jpg

[ph4570]

Cannot say that I have had that problem to solve on any of RCBS JR, Dillon 550 or LNL AP. But I have only processed about 20,000 cases. Any chance your shell holder is out of wack.

In any case sounds like you came up with a clever work around.

[EddieNFL]

I get an occasional piece that doesn't want to slip into the shellplate. Goes in the scrap brass bin.

[Quiettime]

Cannot say that I have had that problem to solve on any of RCBS JR, Dillon 550 or LNL AP. But I have only processed about 20,000 cases. Any chance your shell holder is out of wack.


Eh, I guess. Only happens with LC brass and I've done some google searching and found others with the same issue. It happens about 10 or 15% of the time for me with the LC brass. I used to toss them but now I do not have to.

[MaryB]

I have ran into some that wouldn't fit the shellholder and upon closer inspection they all had slightly bent rims. Found while decapping and inspecting not while loading.

[bobz]

I've run into that same problem with 5.56 brass at about the same 10-15% ratio. All my brass is GI, range pick-ups. I think the sticky ones are slightly swollen from being fired in machineguns. Can't tell just by looking and I've never measured them. Good idea on the swage die.

[triggerhappy243]

BRAVO for good ole american enginuity. semi-auto rifles are murder on the head rim. it bends easy. and nicks even easier. that is where I have trouble.

[farmallcrew]

never(cant say never) but ill say a 1% chance this happened to me. I reload anything thats on the ground, commerical or Mil. And very very very rarely have had a 223 not go into a shell holder, when it didnt go in, it was because a piece of walnut shell was in it. opps. Sometimes i have to wiggle them to get them in, that would be the same thing your talking about, but still that i very few. I reload about 2-3k 223 a year.

[Moonie]

I believe this is usually more of an issue for progressive press shell plates. I have this issue on my progressive but not usually on my turret.

[Walter Laich]

I have one sticky slot in my progressive's shell plate--others are fine. Depends on my mood if I wait for the next slot or just throw it away.

[MtGun44]

Sounds like an out of spec shell holder to me.

Bill