IdahoLT1
Member
I started to reload .223 for my AR and bought 200ct of Hornady 55gr. Vmax and 100ct of Nosler 60gr. ballistic tips. I reloaded the Vmax's and they are all fine but ran into problems with the Nosler. They have a cannelure on them and every factory cartridge ive seen with a cannelure had the top of the rim crimped to the top or center part of the cannelure. I did this but ended up with an OAL of 2.8" with 2.6" being the max OAL for the .223. I double checked on some Winchester 55gr FMJ with a cannelure and their OAL was 2.2".
The problem is that they have to be ~2.5" to feed well in my mags, so I loaded them to the same length as the Hornady's. The ogive is different than that of the Vmax and the cannelure is completely covered by the end of the case. Because the Nosler bullet has a different ogive than the Vmax, its possible for it to slip into the case. Or basically, case is crimped on part of the bullet where its starting to reduce in diameter. The Vmaxs are crimed on a straight part of the bullet.
Should I be worried about this? Is this a mess up from Nosler or were these bullets intended for the .22-250. The only thing it listed on the box was to use it in a rifle with a 1:7" to 1:10" barrel.
Pics:
Here's the .223 with the 60gr Nosler
Here's the .223 with 55gr Vmax
Here's the 55gr Winchester FMJ
Here's the bullet from the Winchest ammo next to the Nosler
The problem is that they have to be ~2.5" to feed well in my mags, so I loaded them to the same length as the Hornady's. The ogive is different than that of the Vmax and the cannelure is completely covered by the end of the case. Because the Nosler bullet has a different ogive than the Vmax, its possible for it to slip into the case. Or basically, case is crimped on part of the bullet where its starting to reduce in diameter. The Vmaxs are crimed on a straight part of the bullet.
Should I be worried about this? Is this a mess up from Nosler or were these bullets intended for the .22-250. The only thing it listed on the box was to use it in a rifle with a 1:7" to 1:10" barrel.
Pics:
Here's the .223 with the 60gr Nosler
Here's the .223 with 55gr Vmax
Here's the 55gr Winchester FMJ
Here's the bullet from the Winchest ammo next to the Nosler