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Posted: 3/7/2015 11:07:19 AM EDT
| I am reloading for my AR using Hornady Dies and I have had several stuck cases and broken expanders. When I reordered the decapping rod expander i got the .224" one and it was too big, then tried the .220 and it was too small. I searched on Midway and CheaperthanDirt for the correct size (I think it's a #2) but couldnt find it. Does anyone know where to get it/what diameter the expander should be?? |
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.220" would be the smallest you would want.
.222" would be the biggest you would want. Your stuck cases are the result of insufficient lube. I use Imperial Sizing Die Wax and consider it the best lube on the market. Very little is needed or wanted, works smooth as silk and a little can will last close to 6000 cases of .223. Dillon spray lube will work with .223. Hornady One-Shot has stuck more rifle cases in dies than all the other brands combined. It works fine for straight-walled pistol cases. Never with bottle-necked varieties. |
| I have stuck 2 cases in my life time, both were about 2 months apart. Both were with Hornady dies, one a 30-06 the other a .223rem. Got rid of the Hornady dies and have not had a stuck case since. It's been ten or 12 years. Never had a stuck case before these dies either. |
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Quoted:
.220" would be the smallest you would want. .222" would be the biggest you would want. Your stuck cases are the result of insufficient lube. I use Imperial Sizing Die Wax and consider it the best lube on the market. Very little is needed or wanted, works smooth as silk and a little can will last close to 6000 cases of .223. Dillon spray lube will work with .223. Hornady One-Shot has stuck more rifle cases in dies than all the other brands combined. It works fine for straight-walled pistol cases. Never with bottle-necked varieties. So since straight walled pistol cases don't require lube most of the time with a carbide resizer ring, Hornady One Stuck Case should stay on the retailers shelf 
I have "stuck" a couple rifle cases with it |
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One Shot seems to require patience and a light touch. It has to FULLY dry before you start trying to size rifle cases, or this kind of stuck case problem pops up.
I use home-brewed lanolin-in-alcohol lube. It's similar to Dillon's spray lube (and One Shot), but it's cheap and easy to make, and it drys pretty quickly. You still have to let it dry, though. Here's a thread in the Reloading forum about making lanolin-based lube. Easy, quick, cheap, functional: it's everything you want. If you don't want to go to the trouble, buy the Dillon spray lube, but after spending $8.95 plus shipping, you may want to go "cheaper" like a lot of us. 
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I have RCBC, Hornady, Lee, Lyman and other brand dies, even old Herter dies from the '60s. I see no practical difference in the tendency of any to stick. Frankly, the only die that has stuck in the last 10 years was an RCBS, and it was in.223! It was solely due to inadequate lube. I broke my routine and tried One Shot spray.
Before spending more money, polish the neck expander button to the correct size and stop using the One Shot. Get a pad, some decent lube, and roll the cases. It won't happen again. It is possible the die has a rough spot inside, but unlikely. And, no, the solution to your problem is not an expensive progressive press and high priced carbide dies. |
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Quoted:
.220" would be the smallest you would want. .222" would be the biggest you would want. Your stuck cases are the result of insufficient lube. I use Imperial Sizing Die Wax and consider it the best lube on the market. Very little is needed or wanted, works smooth as silk and a little can will last close to 6000 cases of .223. Dillon spray lube will work with .223. Hornady One-Shot has stuck more rifle cases in dies than all the other brands combined. It works fine for straight-walled pistol cases. Never with bottle-necked varieties. This can't be overstated. Keep an open can on the reloading bench, swipe your first two fingers over it and rub it around the case. I've found I on;y have to reapply it to my fingers every four cases or so. When you start using it, you'll never go back. I think it's marketed by Redding now. |
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Call Hornady they should have what you need. No reason to replace the dies. You need to use a different lube. I have used RCBS lube on a pad and Cabela's house brand both with good luck.
Lube is the key when you resize bottle neck cases. Pistol cases do not need lube with carbide dies, however if you use lube they size with less force. The answer to your problem is not to buy a Dillon press and dies. They make great products but so do other companies. |
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Quoted: yeah im going to look into RCBS or Lee to see if they do the job better with less issues. Your problem is not your dies. I have very good results with Hornady dies. Get rid of the one shot and get some spray lanolin lube like Dillon's or Franklin Arsenal (Midway). Most of here use the homemade version of the spray lanolin lube. Sizing ball should be .002 to .003 smaller than bullet diameter. So .222 for 223 cases. Then when you get all of this figured out, ensure the sizing die is adjusted correctly. Take a sized case, wipe off the lube, and chamber and extract it. If it's tight or won't chamber, adjust sizing die down 1/8 turn and try again. Repeat as needed. Good luck Welcome to Arfcom. 
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