SOLVED!!  I think . . .

Thanks to the photo from butlersrangers.  I noticed the rear edge of the rim of the original brass had a very pronounced bevel.  The Hornady brass is almost squared off.  I chucked up five of my dummy rounds in my lathe and filed a bevel that looks like the original ammo.  Voila!!  All loaded as smooth as butter, even when I purposely loaded a cartridge with its rim behind the next cartridge.

THANKS again for eveeryone's help.  Now off to the range to zero it at 200yds.

BTW - I also machined a new front sight similar to the "Marine Corps" from sight authorized on the 03/03A3 Springfields.  That is, a VERY thin based that still fits the slot in sight base, but with a much wider top portion of the blade.  MUCH easier to see.