223 rem loads = bolt not close very easy...

[FAL_Freak]

I am loading some 223 remington today. Things are going well with the Hornady L-n-L AP except the rounds coming out are a bit harder to close the bolt on. The case head is being pressed a bit as evidenced by the new shinney patches on the case head. I have marked all around the neck, shoulder and base to see what is out of spec.

It appears that the shoulder is a bit too wide. I have gradually moved the die up all the way till I am not crimping at all, and still have a fairly stiff close. The sizing die is adjusted all the way till it almost touches the shell plate. I'm baffled and confuses at this problem!

This also might not be something to get worried about, the bolt does close. It just doesn't close as easily as the UltraMax 55 gr softpoint nor the Ultramax 55 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips ammo I had laying around. I does seem to chamber fine in my AR15. (haven't shot it out of it yet to verify fuctioning but the bolt does close on it. (looser tolerances are nice sometimes )

 

[larryw]

Are you able to chamber and close the bolt on a case that's only been resized? If so, take a close look at the shoulder after you seat a bullet (prior to crimp), is it bulging out a bit and are you still able to chamber? I've had that area get deformed and pressed out by the seating die being too deep.

 

[dakotasin]

when was the last time you trimmed, or at least checked case length?

a long case can cause your symptoms.

 

[Phil in Seattle]

The sizing die is adjusted all the way till it almost touches the shell plate.

How close is almost?

Your symptom is characteristic of not resizing the case far enough. The sizing die has squeezed the case and pushed the shoulder forward, but you aren't pushing the case far enough into the die to move the shoulder back.

Others have pointed out that you might be collapsing the shoulder, this would be caused by having your seating die screwed in too far and thus trying to apply the crimp before the bullet has been seated and you are then tryingto seat a bullet into a crimped case. However since you have told us you have screwed your seating die out this is unlikely to be a problem.

Check your case length then I would resize a fired case that you know will chamber easily, then try to chamber that. If it is hard to chamber then you know that the problem is with your sizing die adjustment.

I'll bet you'll find that you have to screw that sizing die down some more.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Quote:
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I have gradually moved the die up all the way till I am not crimping at all
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Crimping in most rifle cartridges is not necessary at all and can cause exactly the problems you describe.

It can be caused by lack of lubrication or insuffient lubrication, which causes excess strain on case walls (the walls transmit the force during sizing.)

Another possible culprit is the expander ball -- a tiny bit of lube on the case mouth will make the expander ball pull through the case mouth more easily. A hard downward stroke is a clue the expander is stretching the case as it comes backward through the case neck.

Finally, look at trim length -- it maybe that the case mouth is entering the area just before the lede -- and that's a dangerous situation.

 

[FAL_Freak]

Oops, left this thread alone too long. I'll try and cover any questions previously presented. If I miss yours, just remind me.


I did trim this batch of brass before feeding to the progressive press. I trimed them to .002" under the "trim-to" length expecting about that much growth in lemgth due to sizing. So, in this case 1.748". I was pretty close, most if not all cases come out of the sizer at 1.752 - 1.753", none were over the 1.760" max length.

I tried a few fresh out of the sizer. No joy. Still stiff closing.

The sizing die is within a hair of the shell plate. I can't measure it (or don't know how I'd go about that) If I were to guess, I'd say 1/32" is larger than the gap. It's so close it for all intents and purposes should be consider touching. (IMHO)

The lube I'm using is Hornady One-Shot aresol spray stuff. I might be a tad light on the lube. I sprayed one side making sure to get some in the case mouth, then rotated and sprayed the other side, not making as much of an attemt to hit the mouths. I also hosed down the sizing die beforehand as directed. I'll lube the heck out a couple and give that a whrill. That has to be the prob.

Thanks for the great responses thus far guys. I may still need your help in a bit though.

 

[Phil in Seattle]

You can try sizing one without the decpapping rod/expander ball in place to see if the friction from it being pulled back through the neck is pulling the shoulder forward on you.

I'd also try screwing the sizing die in until it is touching the shellholder. You'd be suprised how a seemingly small amount of space between the bottom of the sizing die and the shellholder will leave that shoulder a little too far forward.

I have one 308 that I have to size like that for.