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 LandoCommando 
Member
Joined: Apr 2012  NY, USA
 Posts: 2 Feedback: 100% (4) |
Posted: 6/27/2012 1:04:42 PM
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT Now, including the powder station that's only 3 stations. Am I missing some necessary dies or will 2 be left open for a COP die or something along those lines? Thanks |
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Posted: 6/27/2012 1:07:58 PM
you could add a lee factory crimp die,
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Posted: 6/27/2012 1:10:46 PM
Many prefer to crimp separately.
With pistol, you may use an expander. You will likely have empty spaces. |
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Posted: 6/27/2012 1:13:52 PM
Originally Posted By LandoCommando: I have the Hornady LocknLoad AP and it is a 5 station press. My intention is to reload .223 so I have this set of dies. Link Now, including the powder station that's only 3 stations. Am I missing some necessary dies or will 2 be left open for a COP die or something along those lines? Thanks Yeah, any other dies are simply options. Try working with what you have before you add stuff, but a powder check die is a great idea if there is a chance of overcharge. Most of the powders I use come close to filling the case, so I've never used a powder check - but many of my friends do use them.
With .223, don't forget you'll have case prep to do:
Sizing
Trim to Length
Chamfer/Debur
Decrimp Primer Pocket
Lube
Then reload as normal - Primer - Powder - Projectile
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Posted: 6/27/2012 1:19:47 PM
[Last Edit: 6/27/2012 1:22:50 PM by LandoCommando]
Originally Posted By LonelyRaven:
Yeah, any other dies are simply options. Try working with what you have before you add stuff, but a powder check die is a great idea if there is a chance of overcharge. Most of the powders I use come close to filling the case, so I've never used a powder check - but many of my friends do use them. With .223, don't forget you'll have case prep to do: Sizing Trim to Length Chamfer/Debur Decrimp Primer Pocket Lube Thanks for the information. I am going to just start simple and work up to all the other options available. I'm pretty sure I have the brass prep process down so I wasn't too concerned with that portion of the whole process. Edit: when you said "sizing"; doesn't that get done in the first die? |
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Posted: 6/27/2012 6:06:07 PM
Originally Posted By LandoCommando:
Originally Posted By LonelyRaven:
Yeah, any other dies are simply options. Try working with what you have before you add stuff, but a powder check die is a great idea if there is a chance of overcharge. Most of the powders I use come close to filling the case, so I've never used a powder check - but many of my friends do use them. With .223, don't forget you'll have case prep to do: Sizing Trim to Length Chamfer/Debur Decrimp Primer Pocket Lube Thanks for the information. I am going to just start simple and work up to all the other options available. I'm pretty sure I have the brass prep process down so I wasn't too concerned with that portion of the whole process. Edit: when you said "sizing"; doesn't that get done in the first die? Sizing is usually done in station one on a progressive. The reason that it is listed as part of brass prep is because you will need to lube the case to size, then remove the lube before you load. Some people set up a single stage press to deprime without resizing, then clean the primer pockets, then lube and resize using a bushing die that sets specific neck tension. Then they can clean off the lube, trim the case, and they are ready to start loading. I have a Dillon 550B and use the first station to size and deprime in one step. Then I tumble off the lube, trim to length, and prep the primer pocket. If my kids want to help, I have them wipe the lube off the cases with a rag and then do the trimming and primer prep before a final tumble. To add to your original question, I use a sizing/deprime in station 1, powder drop in #2, seating die in #3, and barely add a taper crimp in station #4. I don't really need the taper crimp, and don't have any other die that I would put in a fifth station (if the 550B had one). The only thing that I might change is dedicating a tool head to size, deprime, and trim with the RT1200. Then my loading tool head would be blank in station 1. |
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Posted: 6/28/2012 1:24:55 PM
If you have the LnL AP I assume you are using the quick lock bushing. This makes everything easier. When doing 5.56 I use a universal decapping die in station one ONLY, nothing else. I just stand there and feed cases and pull the handle (a case and bullet feeder are coming soon). After I deprime all the cases I am working with, I clean them in my SS media and they come out like new, including primer pockets and the inside of the case. I am uptight about clean cases inside and out. I then lube all the cases using a SMALL amount of Imperial case wax, put my sizing die in station one, and just size all the cases. Just like in the depriming stage. If you use case wax you will find there is little wax left on the cases (if you use it correctly). Once sized, I trim the cases, swage the primer pockets (if needed) and load the powder measure in station 3, the seating die in station 4 and a seperate crimping die in 5. Then just start loading brass in the press and pull the handle. I klnow it sounds like more work but this is the easiest way I have found to do it. I don't prime off the press as some do (if my press, which is DESIGNED to be primed on can't /won't do it I would get something else) and I don't buy the "feel" BS that some purport. Like I said, with the busing system you don't need to dick wiht the tool head and all that. Another bonus for the LnL AP.
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Posted: 6/28/2012 3:53:47 PM
[Last Edit: 6/28/2012 3:56:43 PM by Sabre19]
Originally Posted By LandoCommando:
Originally Posted By LonelyRaven:
Yeah, any other dies are simply options. Try working with what you have before you add stuff, but a powder check die is a great idea if there is a chance of overcharge. Most of the powders I use come close to filling the case, so I've never used a powder check - but many of my friends do use them. With .223, don't forget you'll have case prep to do: Sizing Trim to Length Chamfer/Debur Decrimp Primer Pocket Lube Thanks for the information. I am going to just start simple and work up to all the other options available. I'm pretty sure I have the brass prep process down so I wasn't too concerned with that portion of the whole process. Edit: when you said "sizing"; doesn't that get done in the first die? I just want to toss a couple of things in here for you to think about: 1 - case sizing does indeed get done in the first die, as well as depriming. Since trimming rifle brass typically (always?) happens AFTER resizing, this step tends to fall under the "case prep" category. 2 - some people, myself included, find it a lot easier to deprime ONLY in station 1, then resize in station 2 on the LNL AP because brass of all types tends to smack up against the resizing die mouth in station 1 due to the case retainer spring not being fully engaged in that station 3 - it might help to think of on-press and off-press stages to the reloading process. For example, this is how I process and reload .223 with my LNL AP: BRASS PREP Off Press - Tumble brass to clean off dirt (so as not to scratch dies) - lube brass On Press - Deprime (Lee Universal deprimer, station 1) - Resize (Sizing die, if possible with the depriming pin removed, station 2) Off Press - Swage primer pockets (if needed) - Wet Tumble (for bling, also to remove case lube from resizing process and to clean out primer pockets) - Trim RELOADING On Press - Prime - Powder charge (station 3) - Seat bullet (seating die, station 4) - Crimp (crimp die, station 5) |
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Posted: 6/29/2012 8:24:34 AM
Thanks for all the info.
I guess I had it in my head all wrong. I imagined that there were two separate stages; prep and turret. I didn't make the connection that everything isn't done on the press all at one time. |
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dryflash3
Global Warming Hoax Skeptic before it was cool
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2007 WA, USA
Posts: 19193 Feedback: 100% (1) Link To This Post |
Posted: 6/29/2012 11:12:52 PM
[Last Edit: 7/1/2012 12:13:57 AM by dryflash3]
Don't feel bad. We don't expect a new reloader to know everything, and some of us learn something every day here.
If you have any more questions, ask.
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Posted: 6/30/2012 8:33:28 PM
Originally Posted By dryflash3:
Don't feel bad. We don't expect a new reloader to know everything, and some of learn something every day here. If you have any more questions, ask. Thanks a lot for the support. Does trimming necessarily need to take place after sizing? |
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dryflash3
Global Warming Hoax Skeptic before it was cool
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2007 WA, USA
Posts: 19200 Feedback: 100% (1) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/1/2012 12:24:41 AM
Originally Posted By LandoCommando: Originally Posted By dryflash3: Don't feel bad. We don't expect a new reloader to know everything, and some of us learn something every day here. If you have any more questions, ask. Thanks a lot for the support. Does trimming necessarily need to take place after sizing? The case expands to the chamber dimension upon firing. Sizing shrinks (grows) the case back down so it will easily fit back in the chamber.
The brass has to go somewhere when it's being worked, so the case will lengthen slightly.
So after sizing and removing lube, the case length needs to be checked.
Any 223 case that measures 1.761 or longer needs to be trimmed.
Depending on your trimming tool it's easier to trim every case (the short cases don't get touched by the trimmer) than measure a case find out it needs to be trimmed
then trim it.
So if you trim a fired case before sizing, it will grow when resized, and be longer than you intend it to be.
Which tool are you using to trim with? |
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Posted: 7/2/2012 5:39:16 PM
Originally Posted By dryflash3:
Which tool are you using to trim with? I was going to go with the CTS trimmer Link |
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dryflash3
Global Warming Hoax Skeptic before it was cool
Moderator
Joined: Jun 2007 WA, USA
Posts: 19225 Feedback: 100% (1) Link To This Post |
Posted: 7/2/2012 5:41:30 PM
Originally Posted By LandoCommando: Originally Posted By dryflash3: Which tool are you using to trim with? I was going to go with the CTS trimmer Link That's fine, trim after sizing. |
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