I am having a problem reloading .223
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nitesite
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Is your rifle chambered for .223 Remington or .223/5.56mm?
Off hand, and without a book handy, isn't the case mouth supposed to measure .2530?
Off hand, and without a book handy, isn't the case mouth supposed to measure .2530?
Chawbaccer
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The trick is to take a sooty candle and hold a cartridge over it untill it is black and then carefully chamber and remove said cartrige and you will see where it is fitting too tight.
nitesite
Member
Make up a dummy cartridge exactly as you did the problematic ones, with no primer or powder. Then soot it like Chawbaccer said.
Yes, please use a dummy round.
http://www.handloads.com/articles/cartridge.htm
Cartridge drawings at handloader.com
Good call nitesite
nitesite
Member
Also, according to this data
a .223 Rem case shoulder should be .354" and your cartridge is .358"
I really don't know at all what is causing your dilema, I'm just mumbling....
a .223 Rem case shoulder should be .354" and your cartridge is .358"
I really don't know at all what is causing your dilema, I'm just mumbling....
I have several observations
#1 The trim to length for the case 1.750 with a max of 1.760 that causes concern, you have to trim the cases.......:banghead:
#2 it is it possible you are trying to seat and crimp at the same time?
This operation would bung things up and set the shoulder back. Seating and crimping are two seperate operations. This can be done but you need uniform length cases to do it.
#3 Get case gauge from Dillon or Wilson to see if you are sizing the cases enough to begin with before loading the case?
#1 The trim to length for the case 1.750 with a max of 1.760 that causes concern, you have to trim the cases.......:banghead:
#2 it is it possible you are trying to seat and crimp at the same time?
This operation would bung things up and set the shoulder back. Seating and crimping are two seperate operations. This can be done but you need uniform length cases to do it.
#3 Get case gauge from Dillon or Wilson to see if you are sizing the cases enough to begin with before loading the case?
RecoilRob
Member
Agree that case is too long.
OAL is short by .020+ which, combined with long case, puts the cannelure into the neck.
Crimping overlong case above cannelure crushes and bulges neck.....which is where you are sticking.
Solution: Trim cases to 1.750, seat projo to 2.250 or so (adjust depth to center cannelure on case mouth), crimp case only into cannelure and don't over-do it and bulge the neck.
OAL is short by .020+ which, combined with long case, puts the cannelure into the neck.
Crimping overlong case above cannelure crushes and bulges neck.....which is where you are sticking.
Solution: Trim cases to 1.750, seat projo to 2.250 or so (adjust depth to center cannelure on case mouth), crimp case only into cannelure and don't over-do it and bulge the neck.
Clark
Member
I had a Professional Ordinance AR15 Type 97 handgun that 1000 gunshow handloads I got, jammed in it so tight it was major work to get them out of the chamber.
My AR15 rifles did not seem to care.
There are two ways you could be jammed; the bullet jams or the case jams.
If it is the case, you may need small base dies.
RCBS .223 Remington small base die sizer part number 11131
http://www.huntingtons.com/dies_smallbase.html
I could resize MY my 1,000 rounds but grinding off the top of a Lee RGB .223 and just sizing up to, but not including, the neck.
My AR15 rifles did not seem to care.
There are two ways you could be jammed; the bullet jams or the case jams.
If it is the case, you may need small base dies.
RCBS .223 Remington small base die sizer part number 11131
http://www.huntingtons.com/dies_smallbase.html
I could resize MY my 1,000 rounds but grinding off the top of a Lee RGB .223 and just sizing up to, but not including, the neck.
Phillip Allen
Member
get the small base dies...
RecoilRob has it nailed.
I've seen that look before. Been there done that sort of thing. Make sure the cannelure is in the right place. (right O.A.L.) Crimping into the bullet any place else will buldge like that. Seating and crimping at the same time works fine if the O.A.L. is right and gets the cannelure where it needs to be.
Cases MUST be trimmed for consistency here.
dmftoy1
Member
Just curious about trimming "technique" used by most people. Do you just trim every case in a batch or are you using the case gauge after resizing to sort into "need to trim" and "don't need to trim"? I've been mic'ing everything after resizing but that's pretty slow and painful.
Have a good one,
Dave
Have a good one,
Dave
Pick your length you wish to trim to. Trim all of yor cases. Some will require more trimming than others. If there is one that is to short toss it. Deburr and chamfer all cases after trimming. Dump out the brass trimmings that managed to get into the cases. Tumble all cases afterwards to help polish the case mouths and get rid of any little brass pieces left in cases. Chances are this batch will not need anything again. Occasionally you will get a soft case which streches and becomes too long again. Get a carbide button for your sizing die which will help stop case neck streching during sizing.
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