reloading 223

a487019 · March 10, 2012, 09:39 AM

I am having a problem when I resize and decap 223 remington cases. For some reason about 10 % of the cases are coming out of the die with a bullet hole that is oversized so that the bullet falls down into the case. This is a new set of dies from RCBS. Can someone advise what I might be doing wrong?
Thanks

Mike38 · March 10, 2012, 09:47 AM

Best to post your question in the "Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting" section of the forum.

Discern · March 10, 2012, 09:47 AM

You will get a better response from the reloading section. Mods may move or close this post.

243winxb · March 10, 2012, 10:18 AM

Measure the expander. Should be .222" or smaller. Is the die making contact with the shell holder on sizing?

mrawesome22 · March 10, 2012, 10:44 AM

Fl or neck sizer?

Bushing die?

The only time I've had this happen with a standard fl die was with fc brass.

a487019 · March 10, 2012, 10:49 AM

FL dies

kraigwy · March 10, 2012, 10:56 AM

Change brass.

m&p45acp10+1 · March 10, 2012, 11:13 AM

Give the die about another quarter turn down, and then try sizing one of the cases that has no neck tension. Use a bullet to see if it gains any neck tension. Sometimes dies need a bit of cam over to get good neck tension.

If that fails to work then remove the decapping pin/expander. Size the round, then afterwards reinsert the expander, run it to just inside the neck enough to expand it. See if there is enough tension in the neck. If not then contact RCBS, and let them know what your problem is. They will more than likely mail you a new expander button.

It could also be a brass thing if they are all the same head stamp. Some brass has more spring back than others.

SQUAREKNOT · March 10, 2012, 12:20 PM

I was reading two different places-dumb XXX

ace4059 · March 11, 2012, 12:39 PM

What is happening is the brass you are using has a thin wall. The neck of the brass where the bullet seats is too thin for that brass.

I use a neck sizer with replaceable bushing for BR shooting. On new .223 brass I use .246 neck bushing and after I shoot it approximately 8 times then I have to use a .243 neck bushing to get the correct neck tension to seat the bullet. When the case "lengthens" and must be trimmed down. The "lengthening" is because the neck wall stretching causing the case to thin.

Since you have a Full length sizer, you do not have the option of using neck bushings. So you cannot do any adjustments on your part. If they are RCBS dies, then they are within spec and it is not the dies that you are having problems with.

Long story short.
Use different brass or a better quality.
I like winchester with has a .010 neck thickness when new. or even better use Hornady brass. it has an average neck thickness of .014 which will hold the bullet more firmly and will not allow the bullet to slip. plus you will be able to get more reloads with hornady brass.

a487019 · March 11, 2012, 07:39 PM

Thanks- I have some new brass that I will try.

March 10, 2012, 09:39 AM	#1
a487019 Junior Member Join Date: March 10, 2012 Posts: 4	reloading 223 I am having a problem when I resize and decap 223 remington cases. For some reason about 10 % of the cases are coming out of the die with a bullet hole that is oversized so that the bullet falls down into the case. This is a new set of dies from RCBS. Can someone advise what I might be doing wrong? Thanks

March 10, 2012, 10:49 AM	#6
a487019 Junior Member Join Date: March 10, 2012 Posts: 4	223 reloading FL dies

March 10, 2012, 10:56 AM	#7
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	Change brass. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

March 10, 2012, 11:13 AM	#8
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	Give the die about another quarter turn down, and then try sizing one of the cases that has no neck tension. Use a bullet to see if it gains any neck tension. Sometimes dies need a bit of cam over to get good neck tension. If that fails to work then remove the decapping pin/expander. Size the round, then afterwards reinsert the expander, run it to just inside the neck enough to expand it. See if there is enough tension in the neck. If not then contact RCBS, and let them know what your problem is. They will more than likely mail you a new expander button. It could also be a brass thing if they are all the same head stamp. Some brass has more spring back than others. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

March 10, 2012, 12:20 PM	#9
SQUAREKNOT Senior Member Join Date: July 16, 2008 Posts: 263	I was reading two different places-dumb XXX Last edited by SQUAREKNOT; March 11, 2012 at 10:42 PM. Reason: like the wife says I didn't listen

March 10, 2012, 09:47 AM	#2
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	Best to post your question in the "Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting" section of the forum.

March 10, 2012, 09:47 AM	#3
Discern Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Posts: 471	You will get a better response from the reloading section. Mods may move or close this post.

March 10, 2012, 10:18 AM	#4
243winxb Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,730	Measure the expander. Should be .222" or smaller. Is the die making contact with the shell holder on sizing?

March 10, 2012, 10:44 AM	#5
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	Fl or neck sizer? Bushing die? The only time I've had this happen with a standard fl die was with fc brass.

March 11, 2012, 12:39 PM	#10
ace4059 Member Join Date: October 5, 2010 Location: Wichita Falls, Tx Posts: 94	What is happening is the brass you are using has a thin wall. The neck of the brass where the bullet seats is too thin for that brass. I use a neck sizer with replaceable bushing for BR shooting. On new .223 brass I use .246 neck bushing and after I shoot it approximately 8 times then I have to use a .243 neck bushing to get the correct neck tension to seat the bullet. When the case "lengthens" and must be trimmed down. The "lengthening" is because the neck wall stretching causing the case to thin. Since you have a Full length sizer, you do not have the option of using neck bushings. So you cannot do any adjustments on your part. If they are RCBS dies, then they are within spec and it is not the dies that you are having problems with. Long story short. Use different brass or a better quality. I like winchester with has a .010 neck thickness when new. or even better use Hornady brass. it has an average neck thickness of .014 which will hold the bullet more firmly and will not allow the bullet to slip. plus you will be able to get more reloads with hornady brass.

March 11, 2012, 07:39 PM	#11
a487019 Junior Member Join Date: March 10, 2012 Posts: 4	Thanks- I have some new brass that I will try.

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