I acquired a .223 max cartridge gage (Frankford Arsenal) to double-check all loads for an AR.
Well, it didn't take long to figure out only 1 of probably 20 resized and trimmed cases dropped into the gage. At first, I was concerned about headspace being an issue, the die being bad, etc.
A call to Lee cleared things up. It was the RIM on the once-fired brass I was resizing. It had burrs and extractor marks, and, long story short, if it wont go in (at least past the lip) backwards, then it wont fit forwards.
So what good are these gages, if just a burr or a little extractor mark makes it look like headspace or trim size is massively wrong?
I cant imagine trying to get the rims sanded/trued somehow on something like 900 cases. Don't the people who make these things use them?
I guess my only option is to open up the gage mouth a tiny bit, which will of probably mess it up. Maybe take it to my gunsmith and have him do it?
Since the rim is in the extractor, and not actually into the chamber, it shouldn't make any difference safety wise, should it?
Any help is appreciated
Well, it didn't take long to figure out only 1 of probably 20 resized and trimmed cases dropped into the gage. At first, I was concerned about headspace being an issue, the die being bad, etc.
A call to Lee cleared things up. It was the RIM on the once-fired brass I was resizing. It had burrs and extractor marks, and, long story short, if it wont go in (at least past the lip) backwards, then it wont fit forwards.
So what good are these gages, if just a burr or a little extractor mark makes it look like headspace or trim size is massively wrong?
I cant imagine trying to get the rims sanded/trued somehow on something like 900 cases. Don't the people who make these things use them?
I guess my only option is to open up the gage mouth a tiny bit, which will of probably mess it up. Maybe take it to my gunsmith and have him do it?
Since the rim is in the extractor, and not actually into the chamber, it shouldn't make any difference safety wise, should it?
Any help is appreciated
