Unexpected shoulder setback/bump

[DShortt]

I was wondering if anyone else here has experienced a problem similar to the one I'm having.
I'm trying to FLS some LC .223 brass that has been fired 4x since the last FLS. I'm using a Lee die and I've got it adjusted up so far it's only sizing about 1/3 of the neck but the shoulder is getting set back .010" or more still. I'm certain that the shoulder isn't being touched by the die at all, it seems to me that when the neck is being sized the pressure on the shoulder is what is changing the cartridge base to datum measurements.
I thought of buying a bushing die and FLS without the bushing then using a neck sized as another step or honing the neck of the Lee die so that it's only being sized down to .220" on the inside neck diameter. Right now it's sizing down to .212".
Am I thinking about this correctly or have I missed something that someone has seen before? I'm trying to make sure I'm not overcomplicating this and missing something simple.

 

[big5ifty]

A picture of the neck / shoulder would be useful.

If it's sizing 1/3 of the neck, there will be a step in it.

 

[DShortt]

A picture of the neck / shoulder would be useful.

If it's sizing 1/3 of the neck, there will be a step in it.

Yes it's got a step in it. Visible and I have measured it.
I forgot to say I've not annealed this brass yet. I was planning to do so after sizing.

 

[big5ifty]

I forgot to say I've not annealed this brass yet. I was planning to do so after sizing.

Anneal a few pieces, and retry the sizing on annealed brass.

 

[DShortt]

Anneal a few pieces, and retry the sizing on annealed brass.

I considered that as well but thought that might cause this very problem. I'll try that this evening since the problem has already presented itself.

 

[dellet]

What is the diameter of where you are measuring on the shoulder?

When you size the base to shoulder measurement should get longer, before it gets shorter. Sides squeeze in push the shoulder forward until it hits the die and gets pushed back.

About the only way it would get shorter before the shoulder contacts the die, would be if you are measuring too close to the shoulder/body junction. If you are using something with say a .354” diameter to measure, it would be fine on a fired case, but on a sized case, would drop down on the body. You would want something closer to a diameter of .320” to be closer to then middle of the shoulder.

 

[big5ifty]

I'm guessing if the neck is harder than the shoulder, the force of the sizing die on the neck will deform the shoulder.

223 brass always seemed much thicker to me, and much more difficult to size than any other caliber.

My 223 reloading taught me to extract cases stuck in the sizing die.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Think of putting that case in a press and just pushing down on the whole thing. Thats what your die is doing as its trying to size the neck. Try a bushing FL die thats not trying to size the neck down so far

 

[big5ifty]

Another thing - the lube. The jamming on the case neck could also be a lube problem.

223 is hard to resize, it needs good lube. The spray on lubes never worked reliably for me, the lube pad not much better, the best results were with pure lanolin.

If you have any Imperial or Hornady case wax, try using that.

 

[1shot]

Yes it's got a step in it. Visible and I have measured it.
I forgot to say I've not annealed this brass yet. I was planning to do so after sizing.

Anneal first, then re-size.

Lloyd

 

[jepp2]

Size a few after removing the expander and lubing with a really good case lube (like Imperial).

 

[DShortt]

Annealing the necks has corrected the problem. Thanks for the replies, I appreciate your advice.

 

[ebb]

make sure necks are chamfered adequately