Old Shooter
Member
Is there a chance that something became loose in your die setup after loading the first 50?
223 reloads won't chamber in AR
- Thread starter SSGCharlie
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Cemetery21
Member
I tried crimping some 223s back in the 80s and had the same problem. No internet then and I had a hard time figuring out the problem (slight shoulder swell that I could only see if the light was right). Tens of thousands of uncrimped 223s since then and no problems.
I know you can get a consistent and functional crimp if all your brass is identically trimmed and the neck thickness is uniform, but why bother when I can shoot 400 yard prairie dogs uncrimped (talking 24" - 26" custom bench ARs here).
It's also possible to get some shoulder swell seating flat base bullets in work hardened necks, but I've not had that happen (yet).
Resize one of the problem rounds after pulling the bullet and see if it will chamber with the same sizing die setup.
I know you can get a consistent and functional crimp if all your brass is identically trimmed and the neck thickness is uniform, but why bother when I can shoot 400 yard prairie dogs uncrimped (talking 24" - 26" custom bench ARs here).
It's also possible to get some shoulder swell seating flat base bullets in work hardened necks, but I've not had that happen (yet).
Resize one of the problem rounds after pulling the bullet and see if it will chamber with the same sizing die setup.
SSGCharlie
Member
Curator-I Seat & Crimp in separate steps.
Old Shooter-Rechecked my dies and all are tight.
Spade5-I will clean the dies and put the tool head for 223 back on and try.
Walkalong-I mic'ed the casings and all looks good but maybe not.
MEHavey-I have always been told to put a slight crimp in ammo for the AR so you won't get bullet push back.
Steelworker-Loaded on Dillon 550b. Will put 223 tool head back on as soon as I finish loading 45 Colt.
Tcoz-Where do you recommend I get the Sheridan gage I have never seen one.
Old Shooter-Rechecked my dies and all are tight.
Spade5-I will clean the dies and put the tool head for 223 back on and try.
Walkalong-I mic'ed the casings and all looks good but maybe not.
MEHavey-I have always been told to put a slight crimp in ammo for the AR so you won't get bullet push back.
Steelworker-Loaded on Dillon 550b. Will put 223 tool head back on as soon as I finish loading 45 Colt.
Tcoz-Where do you recommend I get the Sheridan gage I have never seen one.
I used to crimp my AR-15 ammunition when I was shooting Service Rifle Matches and found it was not necessary.
Now, I do not crimp any ammunition loaded for semi-auto rifles such as the AR-15 (many different cartridges), M1A and M1 Garand.
Crimping is not a substitute for neck tension.
Look here for Sherrdan Engineering gauges.
http://www.sheridanengineering.com/index-1.htm
Remember, the search function can be your friend.
I recommend checking resized but not yet loaded cases to see if they chamber in your rifle. If they do and then do not chamber when loaded, then you have a problem with your loading process.
If the resized but unloaded cases won't chamber, then you have a sizing problem.
I use the 55 gr Nobler Silver tip with no problems. Try backing on the crimp. I bought a factory crimp die and that is my final step. You can crimpn them as light as you eant. Mine were just tight but chambered. Now they just fall right in. I beleive they need to have s slight crimp so they don't move ehen get bumped. Doesn't affect the accuracy that I can tell.
Sport45
Member
If you feel you must crimp invest in a LEE Factory Crimp Die. You can mash the case mouth as deep as you want into the bullet without collapsing the shoulder back.
I have several that came with die sets and they worked well. But the only rifle loads I still crimp are for my lever guns.
I have several that came with die sets and they worked well. But the only rifle loads I still crimp are for my lever guns.
SSGCharlie
Member
Bumped the shoulder back just a hair and chambers just fine. Can't understand why the first box fired fine and the rest wouldn't.
I ordered the Sheridan slotted gauge and I want to thank everybody for the help and suggestions that you gave me. I hope I can help you all some day.
SSGCharlie
I ordered the Sheridan slotted gauge and I want to thank everybody for the help and suggestions that you gave me. I hope I can help you all some day.
SSGCharlie
Blue68f100
Member
Depending on the number times the brass has been fired, you will have different spring back. My guess is the 1st box had been reloaded less times. This is where annealing helps eliminating the spring back.
entropy
Member
That's how I avoided it in the first place.
tcoz
Member
Guys, i know that what I'm going to say will raise some peoples ire but i dont mean any disrespect, its just my opinion....
I feel in most cases that the use of small base dies in resizing for an AR is just putting a bandaid on a problem which often is related to die setup. Most battle rifles dont have chambers so tight that they require small base dies. There are some exceptions, most notably Noveske barrels which are known to have tight chambers. Non AR platform rifles are a different matter altogether.
The use of a Sheridan slotted gage can go a long way toward getting those dies adjusted. Basically, if your loaded rounds pass the gage, theyre virtually guaranteed to chamber.
I got my sunscreen applied so go ahead and burn me....I'm ready
I feel in most cases that the use of small base dies in resizing for an AR is just putting a bandaid on a problem which often is related to die setup. Most battle rifles dont have chambers so tight that they require small base dies. There are some exceptions, most notably Noveske barrels which are known to have tight chambers. Non AR platform rifles are a different matter altogether.
The use of a Sheridan slotted gage can go a long way toward getting those dies adjusted. Basically, if your loaded rounds pass the gage, theyre virtually guaranteed to chamber.
I got my sunscreen applied so go ahead and burn me....I'm ready
I give it as my fixed [general] opinion that:
- Small Base dies are a good idea with once-fired brass of unknown origin
- Small Base dies are not needed after 1st resizing and/or brass from your own rifle.
I have a further fixed opinion that:
- Crimping an autoloader round often causes more trouble that it's worth.
..(and it ain't needed anyway)
- Small Base dies are a good idea with once-fired brass of unknown origin
- Small Base dies are not needed after 1st resizing and/or brass from your own rifle.
I have a further fixed opinion that:
- Crimping an autoloader round often causes more trouble that it's worth.
..(and it ain't needed anyway)
Good advice.
AR-Bossman
Member
- Joined
- Feb 9, 2016
- Messages
- 351
Hornady Case comparator would have shown what was up from the very beginning.
Get the tools people and quit guessing.
Get the tools people and quit guessing.
Blue68f100
Member
It all depends on how the dies are spec. If you have a sizer on the large size, yes a change to SB may help so, would going to a tighter spec die. I have never needed SB sizer in the 40+ yrs of reloading. Just need to know how to setup your dies properly. With today's mfg process the tolerance should be tighter if the mfg care to do so. Some don't since it takes a little more time.
This.
I use a .223 trim die and run the completed round through it as well if I have any doubts about the round having issues that will keep it from chambering. You can feel the drag on the brass if something is not right. The trim die will resize the round to make it usable unless you have a really tight chamber. I have never used a small base die set, either.
kwg
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