.223 problem

[Roadkill]

I've been reloading about seven years. Can't remember when I fired the last store bought round in a dozen or so calibers. This has me stumped. I got a ATR-1 FAL in .223.

It will chamber and fire Wolf and Frontier ammo. But, if I resize the my once fired cases so it they hold the bullet (62g and 55g) tight the shoulder is bumped back too far and it won't chamber in the gun. Bolt won't lock. Suggestions?

Thanks

 

[counterclockwise]

When this happens to my .223s it always turns out to be crippling the shoulder just enough so it flares slightly at the junction of the conical section and the cylindrical body.
It is difficult to see visually but will show up in a drop in gage or the chamber as you described. I finally got the thing tamed down, by separating the seating- roll crimping operation. If you are not crimping at all, then it is obviously another problem.

Are you full sizing, small base full sizing, or neck sizing?

At seating, my bullet/neck interference starts at .003. After inserting, there is a residual .001 elastic interference, typically between bullet and casing neck. The other .002 is taken up in plastic yield, best I can figure.

 

[Roadkill]

Sounds like the problem, full sizing, no crimping.

 

[JDGray]

at the junction of the conical section and the cylindrical body

You making up names for a bottle neck case?

 

[counterclockwise]

Hmmm. Well, at the risk of insulting an old-timer with beginner stuff, here is a list of other things to check:

1. Worn expander ball in the sizer so that bullet/neck interference is greater than .003.
2. brass reloaded over X times so the neck material has become hardened and there is more than .001 residual inteference after bullet insertion.
3. burr left from trimming operation is grabbing the bullet in the seating operation.
4. under trimmed neck exceeding the neck relief in the bolt gun chamber causing interference.
5. casing not pushed up far enough in the sizer die, so fireformed fit at the shoulder is not being reduced.

 

[Roadkill]

Hmmm. Well, at the risk of insulting an old-timer with beginner stuff

No insult - I'm the one who asked for help

1. Worn expander ball in the sizer so that bullet/neck interference is greater than .003.

Don't use an expander ball

brass reloaded over X times so the neck material has become hardened and there is more than .001 residual inteference after bullet insertion.

Once fired

3. burr left from trimming operation is grabbing the bullet in the seating operation.

Nope. Bullet will seat, just won't tighten up

4. under trimmed neck exceeding the neck relief in the bolt gun chamber causing interference.

This might be a part of it. Will check this out.

5. casing not pushed up far enough in the sizer die, so fireformed fit at the shoulder is not being reduced.

If case goes too far in the sizing die the shoulders are bumped back and it won't chamber in gun.

Thanks for the suggestions. At least I now have something to work on.

 

[rcmodel]

Don't use an expander ball

That might be your problem.
You may be buckling the shoulder slightly when seating bullets because the case-neck tension is to high from not expanding after sizing.

If case goes too far in the sizing die the shoulders are bumped back and it won't chamber in gun.

That's bass akwards.

If the shoulder is pushed back too far, you will have excess headspace, but the bolt will most certainly lock shut on them.

Try this:
1. Put the expander button back in the die.

2. Adjust the sizer die all the way down against the shell holder.
Then give it anouther 1/8 turn or so.
That will get all the slack out of the press and insure full-length sizing is done correctly.

3. Back off the seating die to make sure you are not crimping when seating the bullets.

Do all three and your reloads will feed, fire, and function freely.

rc

 

[Roadkill]

Followed suggestions, worked perfectly. Thanks