.223 Case length issue

[SCW]

I'm just setting up to load .223 and ran into a snag. I have to cut the case length down to 1.745" to get the die (brand new Hornady die) to crimp the neck without collapsing the shoulder. If I leave the die adjusted to the point where it won't collapse the shoulder with 1.760" case length, the neck tension isn't enough to keep the bullet.

I have some new unfired UMC cases that are 1.750" from the factory, and I've got to be .005 shorter than that. Seems strange, especially since max published length is 1.760"

Any ideas? I'm thinking I've got a poorly chambered die but I have no way to check it.

 

[ocabj]

I'm confused because crimp has nothing to do with neck tension. When you resize the brass (full length or neck only), the neck itself is sized back down in diameter. If after this, your seated bullets don't stay seated in the neck, you have a problem with your resizing die.

 

[Walkalong]

Sounds like you have 1.745 and 1.750 backwards. You say the crimper collaspes the shoulder on 1.750 brass and not 1.745 brass. That does not make sense. If you had a crimper that was cut wrong in the neck portion (too long) it would be a problem with the shorter brass, not the longer brass.

ocabj is right about neck tension. If your brass will not hold the bullet tight before crimp you have a problem with your sizer/expander die, perhaps to big an expander ball, or just a sizer with the neck cut to big.

Call Hornady. All the die manufacturers are eager to help. They want their stuff to work for you.

I am half asleep, hope I made sense.

 

[SCW]

Found the problem. Built up lube on the expander ball in the size die was causing a large neck. Cleaned it up and now no crimp is needed and case length is less relevant, I've been able to seat cases as long as 1.770 without trouble.

Thanks again-

 

[rcmodel]

Built up lube on the expander ball

That must be some pretty serious case lube you got there!


rcmodel

 

[Roccobro]

Can you let us know what lube your using so we can , uh, "use accordingly"?

Justin

 

[1911user]

Even though your dies will happily load a case that is too long, you still have to watch the case length and trim as needed to stay under the max. length.

The danger is higher pressure resulting from an extra long case neck getting jammed into the throat of the barrel. That makes it much harder for the bullet to start down the barrel as the powder burns. It could seriously damage the rifle (or you) in an extreme case.