Help! Smooshed "shoulder" on .223 case

[Flying Bones]

I'm new to reloading...just started.

*EDIT* "When loading the rounds into the AR" my case is "smooshing" or compressing at the shoulder, this is obvious by the slight bulging near the body side of the case.

I don't want to taint your thoughts so I'll hold back what my little experience leads me to beleive is wrong.

[Gunsrruss]

When ?????

While your sizing and decaping or when your seating the bullet???? These are things we must know....

[SLO_Ryan]

Please post pictures of the smooshed case

[Fjold]

It's probably that your seating die is adjusted down to low. The case mouth is hitting the the inside of the die where the crimp is and pushing the case mouth back compressing the case and bulging it at the shoulder.

Loosen the lock ring of the die and unscrew the die a couple of turns. Place an empty shell in the shell holder and raise the ram all the way. Screw the die down until you feel it touch the case. Now unscrew the die one whole turn and lock the ring.

Resize an empty case, prime it, charge it, start a bullet and keep adjusting the seating plug down until you get the OAL length right.

[bohoki]

did they look like this

this was the result of my first batch of 223s and i was so confused but then someone told me i was using too much lube

hasn't happened since

[joelogic]

Lubing is the art part to reloading. Thats why I like it so much. Half science, Half Art.

[Seesm]

Bones I would say the dies are set too low... I had the probem and a little adjustment and all is good. What lube are you using as well...?

[Flying Bones]

I bet this would help...
It happens when i'm loading the rounds in the AR. The bolt isn't even making it all the way home. OAL is 2.25

That's what I get for posting whilst running out the door.

[Beelzy]

Re-adjust the sizing die, and don't lube the shoulder of the case. It wouldn't
be a bad idea to use a paperclip or pin to clean the tiny hole on the side of the die as well. It probably has lube gumming it up.

[Flying Bones]

Re-adjust the sizing die, and don't lube the shoulder of the case. It wouldn't
be a bad idea to use a paperclip or pin to clean the tiny hole on the side of the die as well. It probably has lube gumming it up.

It happens when loading the rounds into the AR

[Blue]

Are you riding the bolt home or letting it slam? Did you clean the lube off of your reloads yet? Somethin stuck in the chamber?

[Flying Bones]

Are you riding the bolt home or letting it slam? Did you clean the lube off of your reloads yet? Somethin stuck in the chamber?

I cleaned the lube off...
I rode the bolt home and let it slam. When I would ride it home, the bolt didn't go all the way forward so I let it slam, it still didn't make it all the way in. The slamming caused the "smoosh." So the problem is the bolt isn't closing in. I'm perplexed.

[sargenv]

It appears that these are caused by the firing process. Personally I'd size em, load em, and the get a case gauge to make sure they would fit that. if they still had the dent and they case gauged ok, I'd fire them as is since the firing of said cases will cause the cases to "fire form" to the chamber walls. I'd then pick em back up, inspect them and if deemed to be reloadable, proceed to go through the loading process again. Repeat 3 to 5 times then scrap em. Cases get dented and beat up when going into or coming out of a semi auto. You likely would not have this issue in a bolt gun.

[Beelzy]

Feedramps on barrel and receiver don't match?

[ar15barrels]

"When loading the rounds into the AR" my case is "smooshing" or compressing at the shoulder, this is obvious by the slight bulging near the body side of the case.

Post a picture.
Are these fired cases?