spartan00054
Member
So I've reloaded a thousand rounds or so of .223 at this point using a Lee Challenger single stage press, and I've noticed a variance in case overall length of the rounds that are coming out. For instance:
Using 62 gr. FMJBTs from Widener's in fully processed once fired brass charged with 24.0 gr. of H335, my load data calls for cartridge overall length of 2.2550 in. When I have the die set to where most rounds are coming out at 2.2550 +/- 0.0020, I've seen variances from 2.2450 to 2.2610. Of course, I set the ones that are over 2.260 aside and seat them to within spec later. My question is why am I seeing this kind of variance? I understand that the bullets themselves will vary somewhat in length, but that shouldn't matter in terms of how much space exists between the bottom of the shellholder and the bottom of the die when the ram is shut, right? Also, in the past, when rounds fall below a certain length, I pull them and reseat them later. Should I be worrying about the ones that come out a little short?
TL,DR: I'm getting some variance in case overall length, why is this and how far off do they need to be before I pull and reseat the short ones?
Using 62 gr. FMJBTs from Widener's in fully processed once fired brass charged with 24.0 gr. of H335, my load data calls for cartridge overall length of 2.2550 in. When I have the die set to where most rounds are coming out at 2.2550 +/- 0.0020, I've seen variances from 2.2450 to 2.2610. Of course, I set the ones that are over 2.260 aside and seat them to within spec later. My question is why am I seeing this kind of variance? I understand that the bullets themselves will vary somewhat in length, but that shouldn't matter in terms of how much space exists between the bottom of the shellholder and the bottom of the die when the ram is shut, right? Also, in the past, when rounds fall below a certain length, I pull them and reseat them later. Should I be worrying about the ones that come out a little short?
TL,DR: I'm getting some variance in case overall length, why is this and how far off do they need to be before I pull and reseat the short ones?