.223 Rem. inside neck diameter

[newreloader]

Went to reload some .223 for my mini 14 today, and I notice after resizing,with Lyman die, I check the bullet for fit, and it is hard to get it started in the case. Should I have to hold the bullet in the top of the case when seating, shouldn't it go in by itself just a bit?
Im measuring .224 outside, and best I can tell with my calipers .220-.221 inside.
Ive reloaded these before and while it was a tight fit it doesn't seem like I should have to force the bullet in the case to seat it. help, please?
Its a Lee classic loader press

 

[jwrowland77]

Are the flat or BT bases on the bullets? Did you chamfer the inside of the case mouth?

Even when I chamfer with a VLD tool and have BT bullets, I still have to hold the bullet upright for the most part to get a good seating. They will stand up on their own a bit but I still hold on to them when seating.

 

[rcmodel]

No, unlike handgun reloading, rifle is different.
You should not be able to ever hand start a jacketed rifle bullet in the case neck.

Chamfering and de-burring your case will help with seating flat base bullet.
As will using boat-tail bullets.

But you will still have to hold them in place to get them started in the seating die.

Anything less would not provide enough case neck tension.

The exception would be loading cast lead bullets in rifle.
In that case you have to flare the case mouth enough to get the lead bullet started in the case without shaving lead off the sides.

rc

 

[newreloader]

.223 Rem. inside neck diameter ?

Bullets used are Hornady Varmit 55 gr. Sp.
I remember when I did some last year they were a tight fit, just didn't remember them like this. Yes, I chamfer the inside a bit. Im using cheapo Harbor Freight calipers, and I don't know how accurate the inside reading is. Would .220-.221 be about right?
Sincerely appreciate the help. Thank you

 

[newreloader]

223

Flat based

 

[rcmodel]

.220-.221" is a little tight.
.2225" or so would be better.

Any chance you don't have the expander button still on the de-capping pin rod?

rc

 

[newreloader]

223

Expander button?
There is nothing on the pin end of decapper, if that is what you mean.

 

[rcmodel]

Well there should be.

What brand of dies are they?

Lee expander:


Hornady Expander:


RCBS Expander:


rc

 

[Weber]

If they are to tight, require extra pressure, or leave a ring mark on the bullet you need to adjust your expander a bit more.

 

[newreloader]

223

Lyman dies

 

[rcmodel]

Still should have an expander button on the rod.

Part #5 here.
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/dies/lyman-die-parts.php

If yours is missing?
I'd up-grade to this one.
http://www.lymanproducts.com/lyman/dies/carbidedecap.php

rc

 

[cbmax]

Basically your issue is that you are using flat base bullets. Nothing wrong with them whatsoever, but you will have to hold them in place when you seat them. As long as you ever played with your sizing die, all should be okay.

CB

 

[newreloader]

223

RC , Can I take the die apart and check it out? And, thank you for the pic

 

[witchhunter]

You can unscrew it from the die body, but when you are putting it back in make sure it is not too deep , only enough to push the primer out. Run your ram up unto the die all the way with a case, adjust til it pushes out the primer, then lock the decapping rod onto the die, this will center it.

 

[newreloader]

223

I took the die apart, and I see the part as described here by RC.
Also took a shell case that had not been resized and the bullet falls right down into the case. I then took one which was resized and the tight fit.

 

[Weber]

Then that means you need to asjust the expander down until the desired case mouth is reached.

If the bullet goes in to easy, back it off. Still to tight bring it down.

The other factor is if you are crimping. If you are not crimping you need to make sure you have enough tension on the mouth to hold the billet in place.

 

[rcmodel]

No it doesn't mean that.

He is loading .223 rifle.

The expander cannot be 'adjusted down' to make the case mouth bigger.

It's clear down inside the case when the case is sized, then expands it when the case is pulled back over it on the way out of the die.

There is no adjustment in a rifle die as to how much it expands.

Rc

 

[Weber]

There is on mine, I posted my procedure.

My sizing die is used only for expanding, the sizing die is backed off and the expander is adjusted to my desired case mouth opening.

 

[howlnmad]

I'd like to see a picture of this adjustable expanding die.

 

[Potatohead]

No it doesn't mean that.

He is loading .223 rifle.

The expander cannot be 'adjusted down' to make the case mouth bigger.

It's clear down inside the case when the case is sized, then expands it when the case is pulled back over it on the way out of the die.

There is no adjustment in a rifle die as to how much it expands.

Rc

Thank God. That post threw me for a loop, adjusting something or 'nother.


Hey RC, great post with the pics up there. thx

 

[Weber]

Maybe I'm not explaining my process clear enough for you, but there is more than one way to use your tools.

You probably are used to using on die to decap, size and expand. If so, you can not adjust your expander without affecting your ability to decap.

If you look at your instructions that come with your die, there is a section that states if you over adjust your decappign/ expander die further than 3/16 of an inch your case mouth tension will be reduced.

Since I decap, size/trim, and expand on different stations I have the ability to taylor my case mouth tension.

If I'm processing brass for crimp, I use a less case mouth tenstion. No crimp, I use a tighter spec.

I hope that clears it up a bit.

 

[rcmodel]

You must be using Lee dies.

The OP is using Lyman dies.
And there is no adjusting how much the expander expands.

No other die company uses a tapered expander.

Rc

 

[spottedpony]

I'm surprised no one has suggested the possibility case necks need reamed.
If the brass has been resized several times. As brass lengthens with sizing, case necks can also thicken, thus when resized may still be too small of a diameter for a bullet to seat evenly.
A simple test though not conclusive is try to insert a bullet by hand, into an UNRESIZED case. if you can insert the bullet fairly easily neck wall thickness should be ok, if you cannot insert the bullet, or if it is hard to do, inside case walls may need reaming.

 

[243winxb]

Flat base bullet get held with your fingers as you guide it up into the seating die. The rest should take care of itself.

 

[howlnmad]

While you have the die apart, measure the diameter of the expander ball.

The bullet should slip right into the neck of a fired and unsized case and not into a sized case.