Who else has quit loading .223, & why?

[bruceflinch]

My Buddy is loading some .223 on my Dillon 650.

He is having some difficulty in feeing confidence in the process.
Has new resize/decal die. They still don?t fit the case gauge very well. Headstamp seems a bit high.

In the past, I have loaded a few thousand rounds of it and had about a 2% failure rate. Not shooting much 2 to 3 lately and still have lots of ammo loaded.

He had loaded some previously and went to a practical shooting course. His ammo was DQ?d for being unreliable. He has another course coming up & wanted to try loading 223 again. I can tell he?s getting frustrated but I can?t look over his shoulder and hold his hand. Lol

Share your 223 moments

[Tripplet918]

I feel confident about my process.

I set up the sizing die using a case gauge. I size a case, plunk it into a case gauge, and if it passes, I’ll do it two more times and validate the sizing dies adjustment.

There is a lot of case prep involved in 223 reloading. Swaging primer pockets, trimming cases, etc. You also didnt specify what kinda failures u get.

Hard to say whats going on from the available info.

I get about a 0.5% reject rate, primarily from primers inserted askew. I attribute that to the 650. I probably wont get it on a 750.

[bigbossman]

I load on a RCBS Rockchucker. Solid loads every time, no hassles, no issues. Mixed headstamp brass, 55gr FMJ bullets. I use a .223 Small Base die - if they are not going into battery, maybe that might help your friend?

[L4D]

My Buddy is loading some .223 on my Dillon 650.

He is having some difficulty in feeing confidence in the process.
Has new resize/decal die. They still don?t fit the case gauge very well. Headstamp seems a bit high.

In the past, I have loaded a few thousand rounds of it and had about a 2% failure rate. Not shooting much 2 to 3 lately and still have lots of ammo loaded.

He had loaded some previously and went to a practical shooting course. His ammo was DQ?d for being unreliable. He has another course coming up & wanted to try loading 223 again. I can tell he?s getting frustrated but I can?t look over his shoulder and hold his hand. Lol

Share your 223 moments

How is ammo checked to be determined as unreliable for a DQ?

[NapalmCheese]

I load on a RCBS Rockchucker. Solid loads every time, no hassles, no issues. Mixed headstamp brass, 55gr FMJ bullets. I use a .223 Small Base die - if they are not going into battery, maybe that might help your friend?

Same, but on a turret press.

Adjusted the dies as per the instructions. Tumble, size, trim, primer pockets, tumble, load.

I've just about convinced myself that Hornady One Shot case lube doesn't affect how hard it is to pull bullets so might just omit the second tumble even. Case prep is the worst part, anything I can do to shorten that part of it is welcome.

[bigbossman]

Same, but on a turret press.

Adjusted the dies as per the instructions. Tumble, size, trim, primer pockets, tumble, load.

I've just about convinced myself that Hornady One Shot case lube doesn't affect how hard it is to pull bullets so might just omit the second tumble even. Case prep is the worst part, anything I can do to shorten that part of it is welcome.

I skip the first tumble, and go straight to resizing, trimming, and tumbling clean. Primer pockets get reamed once for the military crimp, but after that I do not do anything to the primer pockets ever again. I've done it that way for decades, and have never ruined a die. Unless you're picking up filthy bras that's been laying out, there really isn't a need to tumble them before processing.

I don't enjoy case prep, either.

[baih777]

If you have brass that does not fit the case guage after resizing. You need a small base die.
Are you using range brass or your own fired brass.

I resize my brass. Check the first three. Keep going till i fill up the tray. Check three random pieces. All good. Empty the tray into a bucket.

223 is the easiest to reload.

But dont forget about the crimped primer pockets.

[Tommy Gun]

Rifle rounds are so more involved than pistol rounds. Even if I had a progressive I probably would never use it for 223/556 or 308. I use turret but as a single stage as I treat each step separately.

I was having case issues with extraction and bought small base dies for 223 and 308 and so far no issues but haven't shot my entire lot yet. I usually case prep 600+ in a session, I'm doing case prep as I write this.

I reload everything I shoot. Haven't purchased ammo in store for about 7 years+.

Purchase small base dies for more reliable chambering.

[bohoki]

not sure how you are trimming lubing sizing

i use the lee rgb dies

the only thing i would be doing progressive would be priming charging and seating

[Elgatodeacero]

I do not enjoy trimming cases, and if you send out 1000-2000 cases for processing then it is actually not hassle to load .223.

[kcstott]

Sounds like someone needs a small base die.

[NapalmCheese]

I skip the first tumble, and go straight to resizing, trimming, and tumbling clean. Primer pockets get reamed once for the military crimp, but after that I do not do anything to the primer pockets ever again. I've done it that way for decades, and have never ruined a die. Unless you're picking up filthy bras that's been laying out, there really isn't a need to tumble them before processing.

I don't enjoy case prep, either.

Half my brass comes from stuff people leave on BLM and I just toss it in with the rest of my brass because I'm too lazy to separate it when I'm shooting.

Except for that starline brass I bought brand new

[hambam105]

If you are a reloader and having difficulty properly resizing the .223 case, then stop! That's right, Alto!

Resizing bottle neck rifle cases has to be the least complicated procedure in assembling components into a .223 cartridge.
Stand back a evaluate your skills and knowledge.

Ask yourself this:
When was the last time someone had issues resizing .223s with a quality non-chinese made single stage press? Small
Base dies or no small base dies?

[golfish]

Sounds like someone needs a small base die.

This is my guess as well.

[anyracoon]

I pre-process all my 223 brass on my Dillon Super 1050. First station decapping die, next station swage, than Dillon carbide trim die with a Dillon 1500 trimmer, last station I run a 223 expander to clean out any burrs. Then a trip to the Rebel tumbler with stainless pins, Dawn and a touch of citric acid. Then load them up on the 650 or 550. Finally, Bang, Bang!