A few questions (while trying to develop my 223 loads)

[Jicko]

1) I am trying to establish my seating depth of my 77gr Nosler CC HPBT. The current OAL for me is somewhere between 2.258 - 2.260. When I tried to chamber them by releasing from an open bolt and extract them for inspection, I find that there are scratches and markings on the bullet itself. Some of them are quite deep, and i feel them with my finger. Is this an issue? Are those *normal*? Will they affect the accuracy of the bullet? Should I seat it deeper, and will that fix this issue?



(barrel is Colt 5.56 NATO)


2) I'm wondering if I can tumble my non-crimped 223s (after loading them)? Will/can tumbling actually seat the bullet further down? That may raise a pressure issue....


3) Regarding what's the max amount of powder to use, except not getting over the "recommended" max load and that the primer didn't pop out, what are other guidelines and signs to look for?


4) Has anyone do a study on the difference between Nosler Custom Competition .223 HPBT vs Sierra MatchKing .223 HPBT? For all the data I can find on them, they are pretty similar... in terms of dimensions and specifications.... so, basing my start loading numbers on one or the other should be safe, right? (always start low, and work it up.... )


5) The so call Sierra MatchKing OTM(open-tip match) is the same as their HPBT, right??


6) What's a good online forum specifically for "reloading"?

[Fjold]

1) I am trying to establish my seating depth of my 77gr Nosler CC HPBT. The current OAL for me is somewhere between 2.258 - 2.260. When I tried to chamber them by releasing from an open bolt and extract them for inspection, I find that there are scratches and markings on the bullet itself. Some of them are quite deep, and i feel them with my finger. Is this an issue? Are those *normal*? Will they affect the accuracy of the bullet? Should I seat it deeper, and will that fix this issue?

(barrel is Colt 5.56 NATO)


2) I'm wondering if I can tumble my non-crimped 223s (after loading them)? Will/can tumbling actually seat the bullet further down? That may raise a pressure issue....


3) Regarding what's the max amount of powder to use, except not getting over the "recommended" max load and that the primer didn't pop out, what are other guidelines and signs to look for?


4) Has anyone do a study on the difference between Nosler Custom Competition .223 HPBT vs Sierra MatchKing .223 HPBT? For all the data I can find on them, they are pretty similar... in terms of dimensions and specifications.... so, basing my start loading numbers on one or the other should be safe, right? (always start low, and work it up.... )


5) The so call Sierra MatchKing OTM(open-tip match) is the same as their HPBT, right??


6) What's a good online forum specifically for "reloading"?

1.) The scratches are from the bullet scraping the front of the magazine or the feedramp when feeding. They won't hurt anything. Reducing the overall length a couple of thousandths may reduce the scratching.

2.) Factory ammo is usually tumbled after loading to remove sizing lube but I like using a vibratory cleaner better. Unless you can see the bullet pushed in, it shouldn't affect the pressure appreciably unless you're running at or over Max to start with.

3.) A shiny ring 1/4" up from the case head, black powder stains around the primer cup, shiny spots on the casehead from brass flowing into the ejector hole, flattening of the writing on the case head. Buy a reloading manual like Hornady, Lyman, etc they have a pretty good explanantion of pressure signs.

4.) As long as you start at the starting loads then yes, use the data interchangably for both bullets.

5.) Yes

6.) Most gun sites have a reloading section but most assume that the people reading it are experienced relaoders. A good place to start reading is http://www.reload-nrma.com/ If you type "reloading forums" into a Yahoo search you get a list but most are all general gun sites that have reloading forums on them also.

[Gunsrruss]

This is what I do....

Rick, I load a lot of .223 Right now I am in the act of changing my load. I shoot 75 hornady HPBT match. I was using 23.5gr of 846. I found this tobe to light a load, because sometimes the bolt would short cycle on me during rapid fire So I have added an extra full gr to 24.5. I shot a match with it this last weekend with good results. 755 and 15 X's out of 800. That powder is like BLC-2. I'm also going to load up the 80gr Nosler J4's to 24.0gr from 23.5. I have always loaded the 75 and 77gr bullets to 2.25 OAL or 2.24 in that area This way I don't have any magazine issues with the rounds not fitting. This also may take away some of those scratches Good luck with your reloading. Also try to come out and shoot with us at Dulzura on the Second Sunday of the month. Make sure you check the compitition thread in case were not shooting,
Russ

[Jicko]

Rick, I load a lot of .223 Right now I am in the act of changing my load. I shoot 75 hornady HPBT match. I was using 23.5gr of 846. I found this tobe to light a load, because sometimes the bolt would short cycle on me during rapid fire So I have added an extra full gr to 24.5. I shot a match with it this last weekend with good results. 755 and 15 X's out of 800. That powder is like BLC-2. I'm also going to load up the 80gr Nosler J4's to 24.0gr from 23.5. I have always loaded the 75 and 77gr bullets to 2.25 OAL or 2.24 in that area This way I don't have any magazine issues with the rounds not fitting. This also may take away some of those scratches Good luck with your reloading. Also try to come out and shoot with us at Dulzura on the Second Sunday of the month. Make sure you check the compitition thread in case were not shooting,
Russ

Russ, thanks for the info. Feel free to post info in my other "request for recipe" thread. Thanks for the tip on the OAL, I'll defintiely give that a try, but for all the data that I've got right now, they generally stated like 2.260" OAL.... that's why those are my first 2 (no powder) fitting rounds I loaded...

Once I get my Bushmaster 20" upper, I'll try to come out to Dulzura again.... right now, all I have is the SPR with my 3-9x scope... and I know that you guys don't like those, in your match... ;-)

[1hotrod]

When my Dillon 223 dies comes in I am going to start my loading data on 55gr fmjbt from Montana Gold, and then move to 77gr Sierra MK.

I am going to trim my brass to 1.750, and oal of 2.250.

I will tumble clean, lube, deprime/size, trim, and then tumble again to get off the lube.

Most of the loading data that I reference is from the Sierra or Lyman manual, but I usually goto www.brianenos.com for some recipes.

[Fjold]

1hotrod,

You went back over a year to comment on this?

[Blue]

1hotrod,

You went back over a year to comment on this?

He used the search button

[mur]

He used the search button

dammed if they do and dammed if they don't

[1hotrod]

LOL...

I am kinda slow ya know, plus I just finished my taxes!!

[jandmtv]

LOL