GettoPhilosopher

Steve: thanks! I didnt think of that one, though in retrospect it makes so much sense.

Update: Loaded a couple hundred rounds, chamber tested them all (they all fed, chambered, and extracted just fine), then went out and fired them off last weekend. None of the brass looks problematic, and they all fed fine. Only issue I had was one failure to fire (primer didn't "pop")....I had one last batch too. Not sure if it's my choice of primer (Tula, don't judge me, I was broke when I ordered them... ), or if it's the same problem as I had with my press (inadequate storage during the move...maybe they got damp or something?). Thanks all for the help!

Update, then I'm off to dinner: Ignoring the case gauge, I took the brass I'd previously sized and trimmed (the ones slightly too long for the gauge) and tested if they'd smoothly chamber in my rifle(s). Chambered and extracted like butter; apparently whatever's wrong with my setup now, the slightly off-gauge cases still work just fine in my rifle. I'll try some more when I get home to ensure I'm not just getting a small lucky batch, then move on to getting my seating die set up right, and use those test rounds (brass + bullet, no powder or primer) to further test. If I'm confident they all fit just fine despite the gauging issues, I'll load some up and take a (cautious) trip to the range. Like I said in my first post, I have something like 1,000 cases already sized and trimmed, so I could technically ignore my resizing die issues for now. Or at least get some ammo loaded while I figure them out. Thanks again everyone for all your help. I'll keep updating the thread as I get this nailed down. Steve RA: Thanks for the heads up! SWThomas: I'll definitely add them to the shopping list. Youngeyes: Yup! I'll get it figured out. But it's that very fact--I know this works, because it DID before, but why the I()!&@!@ isn't it working anymore, and how do I get it to work again??--that was driving me nuts. AMN2_Man: They were all fired in my rifle only, and my rifle didn't damage them--they fit backwards in the gauge just fine before I put them through the press, only stop fitting afterwards. I'm thinking my adjustments may be too coarse; I'll try finer tuning this weekend.

Thanks!

Thanks for the info! Yes, I tried the "backwards brass" test, and they do not fit. I've...considered just seeing if they fit in my rifle(s) and calling it a day, but I'm trying to be cautious and patient about this (despite SWThomas' opinion ) as I know I'm new and don't have the experience to cut corners. It's also worth noting that I'm loading for 2+ AR15s...both are White Oak 1:7 SDM barrels (a 20" and a 16"), but I am trying to load ammo that's interchangeable between the two, and usable in one of my other vanilla AR carbines in a jam. Recognizing that the original problem I was having (seriously, what's the correct term for "sticks slightly too far out of the case gauge"? I hate being imprecise) is so minute of a sizing issue that I literally have to take a straightedge and feel the slight wobble to even notice it....is that "close enough" that I can make sure it chambers and just move on? Obviously a KB is the last thing I want.

*nods* That's what I was just thinking. Separate from this thread, I've been chatting with my "gun buddies" trying to find anyone within driving distance who has the experience to walk me through it. On another note, I did just find an issue that at the very least isn't helping. I inspected my sizing die -- as I said, I had rust spotting issues from poor storage on my part, so in the back of my head I'm wondering if I don't just need to replace the dies -- and I noticed that my depriming pin/expansion ball assembly (pardon any errors in nomenclature) wasn't centered! I.e. if you set the die upside down on a flat surface and look straight down, the assembly was canted to one side. Doing a basic "spin die in fingers and watch pin" test, you can see the "wobble" from the bent pin. I unscrewed the depriming pin, and I noticed a couple things: (It's worth noting I bought this set used. Reputable purchaser and all, but it's still used.) 1) There's some kind of dried "crap" in the threads on the pin. It's light red, and looks kind of like Loctite. 2) The carbide expanding ball looks like it's dried off center with the dried red crap (loctite?) keeping it off center. I'm trying to (delicately...I know it's carbide but I'm still scared of scratching it) remove the ball and install my replacement pin. Updates when I have them.

I'm going to pull out the press again today or tomorrow and try some very fine tuning (say, 1/8 or 1/16 turns at a time)....maybe I'm being too coarse and skipping right over the "sweet spot" between not resizing the cases at all vs. crunching them down too far and warping the rim? Can you post any pics of the crushed/warped cases? What are you using for case lube? Case lube is RCBS Case Slick. I've varied how I apply/how much I lube the cases, trying to see if maybe I was over or under lubing them. I'll see if I can't get some good photos this afternoon, but honestly...I can't see what's wrong with them. They just suddenly no longer fit in the case gauge, and it's only the rim that doesn't fit. Thanks for the wonderfully helpful advice. I'll file that one away. Feel free to chime in with any helpful comments if you'd like to actually point something I'm doing (or not doing) out.

I think your instructions are wrong. They usually say to screw it in ANOTHER 1/4 turn or so. Regardless, you are not bumping the shoulder back far enough. You want a small amount of interference to "cam over" the linkage in your press. At least that's been the case with every set of dies I've ever had. Yeah, I noticed that the first time....I tightened it down more (since that was insufficient), now it's camming over but somehow crushing/warping/squishing the base of the case so it no longer fits in the case gauge?

Post edited to reflect my trimming equipment. I'm using a http://www.littlecrowgunworks.com/wft.html trimmer. When I first ran my 10 "successful" test cases or so (i.e. properly fit my case gauge as far as headspace is concerned), I then adjusted my WFT until it trimmed to 1.750". Then I repeated the process for...I'm trying to remember, but something like 30 test cases? Same routine, resize/deprime in press, confirm they're properly sized with case gauge, trim, confirm proper trim length.

Hello all, I'm a new loader running into a lot of problems that are frankly making me want to give up, sell my stuff, and buy more factory ammo instead. I'm hoping someone can help me... Relevant Equipment list: RL550B press, Dillon dies (.223), Lyman .223 case gauge, "WFT" .223 trimmer Relevant Components list: Hornady 75gr BTHP Match bullets, Wolf .223 primers, once-fired Lake City brass (fired from my rifle, all from the same case of Federal M193), H335 powder, 2.260 COAL Relevant Firearm: home built AR built around a White Oak 20" 1:7 SDM barrel When I first got my press, everything seemed to adjust and happen the way I expected it to, based on the books and articles and advice I'd read/been given. I got everything adjusted for headspace, seating/COAL, and crimping. After doing something like 50 cases (checking each with my Lyman case gauge), I did about 1000 cases. When I was done, I went to doublecheck my headspace and found that 95% of my resized brass was wrong; it stuck up just past the "no go" top lip of the case gauge. (Yes, I've double checked the case gauge. Factory ammo gauges properly.) >< Ok, so I take 50 of the correct pieces I have and I get the rest nailed down with a ladder. I go test it out, find the load that shoots great for my gun. Success! I go back to load some more and find that my dies have surface rust spots all over them. Apparently my storage was insufficient and humidity was too high. (I had just moved, long story) I strip it all down, clean it all, and oil it all. Press is back in business, but all my adjustments are gone. (if relevant: I cleaned the dies by soaking in Hoppes #9, then using a brass chamber brush for the inside of the dies and a brass brush for the outside. I cleaned the press with WD40 and paper towels--no soaking, just spray and wipe) Now I'm trying to get everything readjusted, and NOTHING IS WORKING CORRECTLY. I try to adjust my full length sizing die, and nothing works right. I follow the die instructions (raise press, screw in till touches baseplate, back out 1/2 turn) and the case stays the same (slightly too long for the case gauge). Screw it in a little further, nothing happens. Screw it in some more....and suddenly the base of my cases is somehow warped and the case won't fit in the case gauge at all? If I turn the brass around, I literally can't get the base in the gauge; it's stretched or squished or lopsided or SOMETHING. But if I rubber mallet the case in the gauge anyway (can you tell I'm desperate by this point?), it's still slightly too long. Are my dies screwed up due to the (removed) surface rust spots? Did I ruin them cleaning them? Am I missing some laughably obvious newbie issue? My attempts to Google similar search terms have been utterly unsuccessful thus far. Help?