OAL. confusion

[agd1953]

In the latest Lyman manual for .223 it shows an oal for the 52 gr hollow point as 2.25 and for the 60 gr v-max at 2.60. I loaded the 52 gr to that spec and the bullet came out on extraction and stuck in the rifling. popped right out no problem. I need an OAL of 2.200 to avoid this problem. At 2.1 the bullet moves forward on chambering. At 2.25 I can barely get the cartridge in the magazine. At 2.2 all problems are gone. The Lyman manual states testing was in a colt AR 15. whats up? I shoot a bushmaster Varminter.

 

[Grumulkin]

You have to seat the bullets deeply enough in the case to feed securely. They need to feed through the magazine. They have to be seated deeply enough to not engage the lands but almost touching the lands is best. If your cartridges meet all these specifications and the pressure is satisfactory, the OAL is right; forget about the minor discrepancy from what the manual says.

 

[mc223]

Sounds like not enough neck tension to hold the bullet in the case. Don't know what type of press or dies you are using, but you can in some situations remove the expander ball from the sizing die. Some people just polish the ball a bit to reduce the outside diameter. this will increase the neck tension on the bullet. If all else fails, a taper crimp die can be used. I also would recomend a VLD style chamfer tool. They make bullet seating very smooth.
In some magazines 2.25 is all you can squeeze in.

 

[Walkalong]

Adjust the O.A.L. to suit your rifle throat, magazine, etc. It can make a small difference in pressure loading a bit shorter so take that into consideration when you charge the case. Variables like this are just one reason everyone says reduce 10% to start etc. It's why the books give a minimum and a maximum. Start low and work up. No biggie.

At 2.2 all problems are gone.

Load it right there then.

For bullets with a cannelure the manufacturers set it where when you crimp into it with a properly trimmed case you are 99 times out of 100 OK on O.A.L. for all rifles it will be chambered in.

stuck in the rifling. popped right out no problem.

at 2.1 the bullet moves forward on chambering.

Did the cartridge pop right out of the gun OK or did the bullet pop right out of the case real easy? If the bullet is moving in the case real easily you definitely do not have enough neck tension here.

 

[agd1953]

I think I don't have enough neck tension also. I took out the ball from the die and polished it with JB bore cleaning compound. I also ordered a lee factory crimp die from Midway. At 2.200 oal. the round chambers fine and ejects with no problems. Another factor that may have effected the bullet going forward is that I lubed the ball and case neck (ran my finger over the top of the case) with Imperial lube wax and that stuff is so slick it may cause the bullet to move forward on chambering. I think I'll run a neck brush through the case prior to the seating operation. I hope all of the above will solve the problem. Any other suggestions would be welcome. I have loaded pistol cartridges before with no problems but the .223 is giving me fits. Thank for all your help.

 

[Walkalong]

Try getting a carbide sizer button for your die. They work real well for me. Redding has them. There may be other sources as well.

 

[taliv]

walkalong, what would using carbide change?


instead of the imperial wax, consider using the mica powder stuff. it's what i use and it works very well. just run the cases onto the brush and it dusts the inside of the neck. definitely not enough to cause the bullet to be loose