223 reloading question

[drkphibr]

Reloading 223 for the first time and have a question about how "tight" a bullet should be. With a 45gr bullet, my COAL recommendations are between 2.155 and 2.200. Given the overall size/length of a 45gr bullet, that seats very little of the bullet in the cartridge. I'm using a Lee factory crimp die and after seating the bullet to about 2.165 and crimping it, it is still possible to "roll" the bullet around in the case (similar to what you can do with a .22 rimfire casing, but not as much). With enough force, I can actually pull the bullet out.

Is this a case of too light a crimp (even when I adjust it heavier, the bullet can still be rotated) or is that just normal for a smaller, 45gr bullet? Thanks.

[760practicalshooter]

I wouldn't proceed any further till this gets a more knowledgeable answer first.

Secondly, from what I've been reading on this, the head is not properly crimped tight, this can cause serious malfunctions in a semi-auto and even possible injury/death.

So please wait till someone more knowledgeable can address this.

[joefreas]

Did you resize the brass? What dies/bullets are you using? Are you sure the bullets are .224 dia and the bullet should defifntley not rotate or be able to be pulled by hand.

[cjskalka]

Not enough neck tension, the case neck should be doing all the work, you don't even need a crimp. If you can put sufficient pressure on the bullet and it moves deeper into the case (this is before any crimping is done) then you have insufficient neck tension. Assuming that the expander stem in your sizing die is of appropriate diameter, it sounds like you are not sizing enough and thereby not squeezing the neck down to below the stem diameter. Try reinstalling your sizing die following all the included instructions and see if the issue persists.

[uscbigdawg]

About a quarter to half a turn on the crimp die and done. Better still, I like to take a factory round, run the RAM up, die backed out a ways. Spin the crimp die until it contacts the round and lower the ram. Put your practice loaded around in and speak and test crimp. Adjust from there. There was an old rule of a loaded round should withstand x amount of pounds of pressure on a bathroom scale (tip down and press) but can't remember the weight.

Rich

[ireload]

Just make sure that the bullet you have is .224" in diameter and not .223". 22 Hornet uses .223" or .224" bullet. Also make sure that the resize die "squeeze" down the entire lenght of the case neck. Those are the only two factors that I can think of that can cause lack of neck tension.

A case gauge would come in handy.

[bootcamp]

It looks like it was not resized properly.

Crimp or no crimp I cannot PULL my projectile out of the brass unless i'm using a pair of pliers.

When you set the resizer die, top out the ram, then screw the die until it hits the shellplate, then lower the ram, and screw in the die another 1/8 turn. Raise the ram again and it should be holding the die tight. At this point, lock down the lock ring and you are set.

[bootcamp]

BTW, if you're a first time 223 loader, I would start off with 55gr projectiles with cannelures. Easier to deal with imho.

[drkphibr]

Problem solved

Thanks all for the quick, numerous and detailed responses, as they were truly helpful.

I reseated and verified my sizing die and discovered it was no quite low enough and therefore not giving me enough neck tension. Once I reseated it and tested it, I was not about to do anything to the bullet (turning, pushing in/pulling out) and that was before putting on the crimp. Post crimp it looks like it should and feels like it should.

Thanks again, much appreciated.

[bootcamp]

Good deal!

[bohoki]

i use lee rgb dies

and when i seat the bullet i can take it and knock it on the wood table and it doesn't move

i have never crimped and i use ar and mini 14

simple neck tension is all i need

its almost like your crimping is loosening your bullets

[GeoffLinder]

Thanks all for the quick, numerous and detailed responses, as they were truly helpful.

I reseated and verified my sizing die and discovered it was no quite low enough and therefore not giving me enough neck tension. Once I reseated it and tested it, I was not about to do anything to the bullet (turning, pushing in/pulling out) and that was before putting on the crimp. Post crimp it looks like it should and feels like it should.

Thanks again, much appreciated.

That was going to be my suggestion too. Check that case neck ID gets squeezed to at least 1-1.5 thousandths under the diameter of the expander plug, which itself should be 1.5 to 2 thousandths under the bullet size (.224). This set of specifications will give you the correct interference fit every time. This fit is all that is typically needed to hold the bullet solidly, crimp at that point is just insurance