question on reloading .223

[kevykev707]

I am reloading some .223 for my OLL. I've read through the speer reloading manual and hornady manual to compare specs. After doing that, I decided to take measurements on factory ammo with my calipers. I've gotten fairly close to spec (but not over any maximums) and decided to make some dummy rounds to see if they will chamber in my OLL.

I'm concerned with this, because each round will chamber smoothly, just fine. However, when I pull the charging handle back to extract the dummy round, i get a little resistance as if something is stuck, but I am still able to extract the round. Factory ammo doesn't do this - anyone have any suggestions? thanks for your time.

[ocabj]

Assuming the bullet seating depth is within spec, then it's the resizing die.

You'll need to thread the full length sizing die a little bit farther down to get the proper resizing for your chamber. I'd only go an 1/8th of a turn or so and reconfirm.

Get a LE Wilson or Dillon case gauge for a method of quick checking of your cases.

[C.G.]

Get a LE Wilson or Dillon case gauge for a method of quick checking of your cases.

+1 on Wilson gauges.

BTW, this should be in the reloading section.

[Jicko]

What's ur OAL then? Try to seat your bullet a little lower... instead of 2.260 (OAL), try something like 2.240 or even deeper.... AE223 is around 2.200, XM193 is around 2.245

PS. you really should have a case gauge... i am developing Mk262-like rounds now, i case gauge every round... right after i size, and right after i complete the whole round...

[thmpr]

Or the case gauge from JP...

[kevykev707]

i'm seating bullets so that the OAL is about 2.205, i measured some AE223 and it was right around there give or take a thousandth.

[C.G.]

Or the case gauge from JP...

Don't have any of them but they are flashy.

[ar15robert]

are you using small base dies?If not this can help out too.

[Jicko]

I am reloading some .223 for my OLL. I've read through the speer reloading manual and hornady manual to compare specs. After doing that, I decided to take measurements on factory ammo with my calipers. I've gotten fairly close to spec (but not over any maximums) and decided to make some dummy rounds to see if they will chamber in my OLL.

I'm concerned with this, because each round will chamber smoothly, just fine. However, when I pull the charging handle back to extract the dummy round, i get a little resistance as if something is stuck, but I am still able to extract the round. Factory ammo doesn't do this - anyone have any suggestions? thanks for your time.

1) please list your equipment (setup, die, etc..)

2) please list your components (brass, bullet, etc..)

3) update your location in your profile, so some local people may be able to offer help

4) what's the brass's case length, did you trim?

5) (mentioned before) get a case gauge, and see how the round measure up against the case gauge

[rayra]

Get a case guage to verify your sizing is correct.

Then consider that the ogive of your new bullets might be different and even though you are loading for correct OLL, you might still be engaging the rifling. Try a couple thousandths shorter OLL and see if it still sticks.
Or if everything checks out dimensionally, don' tworry about it, as they aren't supposed to come back out of the chamber with the bullet still in them.