Resizing military cases for .223 problem

Lilswede1 · November 6, 2008, 12:05 AM

I have casings from several different mfgs. PAC - Win - S&B - LC ete.
Use a Dillon 550B Progressive loader.
On the Sizing Die. Most of my brass fits pretty tight in my CZ 527. Some rounds wont go at all. Problem is in the shoulder area.
If I lower the sizing die to make even the S&B casings (longest shoulder of all my casings) fit well into the chamber can I leave it at that setting for the rest of my casings?
Logic tells me to make the longest case I've got fit nicely into my gun and the others should be fine at that setting.
I'm prettty new to reloading and have found out there is no such thing as a dumb question.
The Lake City casing and new Win casing chamber with little of no resistance at all.

totalloser · November 6, 2008, 12:44 AM

If the cases are not chambering, I would say they should be full length sized (FL). I only own semis, so I don't recognize your CZ, but I am gonna assume it's a bolt gun. If you want to neck size only, you really need to full length size first, then shoot it off, and then neck size for fireformed cases for your rifle. If I understand correctly, they will sooner or later still need to be fl sized again. As I only own semis, I always FL size.

Your die set should have instructions, and usually it is something like 1/2 turn after firm contact with the ram all the way up. The length of the shoulder is set by the die. Backing it out will bump the shoulder less, but may also become inconsistent.

Hopefully some bolt gun guys will chime in on this.

fourrobert13 · November 6, 2008, 01:38 AM

Bolt gun or semi-auto? Either way, you should invest in a case guage. I use a Dillon case guage, and if the case fits in the guage, it will fit in your gun.

Lilswede1 · November 6, 2008, 08:30 AM

The CZ 527 is a bolt - and yep I have a case guage and have trimmed ammo to .175"
I set up the FL resizing die according to Dillon instructions.
This works well for the casings that are not too long.
Then I have lowered the FL sizing die to make the longer casings work.
Now I have run into some S & B casings that are longer still so will have to lower sizing die again to compensate for those.
Once I have the longest shoulder length casing I have necked down to fit well into the rifle chamber do I leave the die at that point permanately or do I readjust it for the shorter casings?
Logic tells me once I have the die set for the longest casing and that finished round fits snugly in my little gun I should leave the die at the setting and load all rounds that way and let the gun do its job of making all my casings the same shoulder length. I guess that is what is called "fireforming"?

30Cal · November 6, 2008, 11:54 AM

Was this brass previously fired in your rifle?

You shouldn't really need to change the die from one brand to the next. I suspect your problem is not at the shoulder, but at the case head.

November 6, 2008, 12:05 AM	#1
Lilswede1 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2008 Location: NW Wash State Posts: 216	Resizing military cases for .223 problem I have casings from several different mfgs. PAC - Win - S&B - LC ete. Use a Dillon 550B Progressive loader. On the Sizing Die. Most of my brass fits pretty tight in my CZ 527. Some rounds wont go at all. Problem is in the shoulder area. If I lower the sizing die to make even the S&B casings (longest shoulder of all my casings) fit well into the chamber can I leave it at that setting for the rest of my casings? Logic tells me to make the longest case I've got fit nicely into my gun and the others should be fine at that setting. I'm prettty new to reloading and have found out there is no such thing as a dumb question. The Lake City casing and new Win casing chamber with little of no resistance at all.

November 6, 2008, 12:44 AM	#2
totalloser Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2007 Location: Fort Bragg, CA Posts: 679	If the cases are not chambering, I would say they should be full length sized (FL). I only own semis, so I don't recognize your CZ, but I am gonna assume it's a bolt gun. If you want to neck size only, you really need to full length size first, then shoot it off, and then neck size for fireformed cases for your rifle. If I understand correctly, they will sooner or later still need to be fl sized again. As I only own semis, I always FL size. Your die set should have instructions, and usually it is something like 1/2 turn after firm contact with the ram all the way up. The length of the shoulder is set by the die. Backing it out will bump the shoulder less, but may also become inconsistent. Hopefully some bolt gun guys will chime in on this. __________________ You only truly believe in freedom if you believe in the freedom of those you disagree.

November 6, 2008, 01:38 AM	#3
fourrobert13 Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: South West Ohio Posts: 336	Bolt gun or semi-auto? Either way, you should invest in a case guage. I use a Dillon case guage, and if the case fits in the guage, it will fit in your gun. __________________ Be aware of yourself and everything around you.

November 6, 2008, 08:30 AM	#4
Lilswede1 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2008 Location: NW Wash State Posts: 216	YEP The CZ 527 is a bolt - and yep I have a case guage and have trimmed ammo to .175" I set up the FL resizing die according to Dillon instructions. This works well for the casings that are not too long. Then I have lowered the FL sizing die to make the longer casings work. Now I have run into some S & B casings that are longer still so will have to lower sizing die again to compensate for those. Once I have the longest shoulder length casing I have necked down to fit well into the rifle chamber do I leave the die at that point permanately or do I readjust it for the shorter casings? Logic tells me once I have the die set for the longest casing and that finished round fits snugly in my little gun I should leave the die at the setting and load all rounds that way and let the gun do its job of making all my casings the same shoulder length. I guess that is what is called "fireforming"?

November 6, 2008, 11:54 AM	#5
30Cal Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2002 Posts: 1,264	Was this brass previously fired in your rifle? You shouldn't really need to change the die from one brand to the next. I suspect your problem is not at the shoulder, but at the case head.