Resize Live .223 Ammo

karpins · March 13, 2005, 11:55 PM

I have 700 rounds of Olympic ammo with the neck diameter oversize by about .005.
Is it possible for me to resize these ?

I have a Lee Loadmaster Press and a Lee single station Classic press too.

Please help, I am new to reloading.

You help is appreciated.

Thanks.

Jbar4Ranch · March 14, 2005, 09:42 AM

Please explain the problem in more detail.

If the ammo won't chamber because of being .005" oversize, and yet the bullet is gripped tightly in the neck, then your brass needs to be neck reamed. Trying to swage the bullet/case neck down .005" isn't the answer.

MADISON · March 14, 2005, 09:46 AM

I am not sure you can sucessfully get the job dun. Try this and see if it solves the problem:
[1] Remove the decapping stim from your sizing die.
[2] Re-adjust the die until it sizes the neck "litely".
[3] If this works, you have rounds that need to be CRIMPED.
The #2 process is "taper crimping".

karpins · March 14, 2005, 09:55 AM

The Olympic ammo that I purchased has a neck size that is .005 larger than it should be.
The rounds often jam in my Bushmaster AR while chambering.
I have been using the cheap Wolf ammo now and have not experienced a single jam but I still have about 700 rounds of the Olympic ammo that I cant use. I was hoping that I might be able to size (swage) the necks, perhaps with something like a Lee crimp die ?
I checked the Olympic ammo in a Frankford Arsenal gauge block and not a single round fit.
After checking the dimensions of the ammo, I found that the neck size was typically .005 oversize.

**Mal H** · March 14, 2005, 09:56 AM

I think you're going to end up with a severely jammed case in your press if you try to resize a case with a bullet already seated in it.

The solution - sell the rounds to someone who has a chamber/throat reamed for the Olympic ammo and go buy the correct ammo.

Jbar4Ranch · March 14, 2005, 09:59 AM

A Lee crimp die might work, but attempting to resize loaded ammo in a standard resizing die is going to result in a stuck case. When a case is resized, the neck is squeezed down slightly smaller than the bullet diameter so that when a bullet is seated, it is gripped tightly by the neck. After the bullet is seated, the case neck is now expanded slightly larger than the sizer die. A loaded round can probably be forced into the die, but it will then become a more or less permanent part of the die.

Poygan · March 14, 2005, 11:37 AM

Assuming the bullet fits tightly in the neck, aren't you going to have to size the bullet down as well? Conceivably the round could chamber but the bullet would be undersized. Personally, I like the idea of selling the entire lot to someone who have a sufficiently generous chamber to use this ammo. Otherwise, you have a lot of work ahead of you with doubtful results. I don't think the Lee crimp die would solve your problem.

bikenjam · March 14, 2005, 12:31 PM

i tried a box of olympic 223 ammo in my AR-15 with the same problem. I just got sick of it and never touched it again. Luckly it was only 10 bucks for the ammo, but i'd never use that brand again. If i were you i might just try and sell it.

Remington UMC and Winchester USA ammo both work very good and are pretty darn accurate for a FMJ at budget price

klgreene · March 15, 2005, 05:18 AM

If I understand you correctly.......Resizing live ammo...If it is possible...May cause some extremely excessive pressures. Was this ammo fire formed for another firearm, and neck sized only? If so it probably would give you problems chambering. It may be that the shoulder just needs to be bumped a bit. I would suggest pulling the bullets, disposing of the powder (unless you're positive of the age and type), FL size one or two of the cases, reload with a charge and pill that you are sure of...and see if you still have the same problem. If so...file 13 the whole lot. Or turn the necks and try again.

G56 · March 16, 2005, 12:38 AM

If you want to resize it you would need to take the ammo down first, instead either use a taper crimp die or the Lee Factory Crimp die, both of those are designed to work on loaded ammunition.

Try that to see if you can salvage that junk ammo, if you can't you will have to mark it up to lessons learned the hard way, Olympic ammo is JUNK!

March 13, 2005, 11:55 PM	#1
karpins Junior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Posts: 4	Resize Live .223 Ammo I have 700 rounds of Olympic ammo with the neck diameter oversize by about .005. Is it possible for me to resize these ? I have a Lee Loadmaster Press and a Lee single station Classic press too. Please help, I am new to reloading. You help is appreciated. Thanks.

March 14, 2005, 09:46 AM	#3
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Resizing live 223 ammo.? I am not sure you can sucessfully get the job dun. Try this and see if it solves the problem: [1] Remove the decapping stim from your sizing die. [2] Re-adjust the die until it sizes the neck "litely". [3] If this works, you have rounds that need to be CRIMPED. The #2 process is "taper crimping". Last edited by MADISON; March 14, 2005 at 09:48 AM. Reason: To add more infoormation

March 14, 2005, 09:59 AM	#6
Jbar4Ranch Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Near Helena, Montana Posts: 1,719	A Lee crimp die might work, but attempting to resize loaded ammo in a standard resizing die is going to result in a stuck case. When a case is resized, the neck is squeezed down slightly smaller than the bullet diameter so that when a bullet is seated, it is gripped tightly by the neck. After the bullet is seated, the case neck is now expanded slightly larger than the sizer die. A loaded round can probably be forced into the die, but it will then become a more or less permanent part of the die. __________________ Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced... SASS 47015

March 15, 2005, 05:18 AM	#9
klgreene Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 16	resizing live ammo??? If I understand you correctly.......Resizing live ammo...If it is possible...May cause some extremely excessive pressures. Was this ammo fire formed for another firearm, and neck sized only? If so it probably would give you problems chambering. It may be that the shoulder just needs to be bumped a bit. I would suggest pulling the bullets, disposing of the powder (unless you're positive of the age and type), FL size one or two of the cases, reload with a charge and pill that you are sure of...and see if you still have the same problem. If so...file 13 the whole lot. Or turn the necks and try again. __________________ The Roman Empire was not built nor did it prosper and come to be feared by all the land by doing paperwork or having meetings....It accomplished this by killing all that opposed it! There are no "stupid questions"...There are, however... Alot of "inquisitive idiots!"

March 16, 2005, 12:38 AM	#10
G56 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 302	If you want to resize it you would need to take the ammo down first, instead either use a taper crimp die or the Lee Factory Crimp die, both of those are designed to work on loaded ammunition. Try that to see if you can salvage that junk ammo, if you can't you will have to mark it up to lessons learned the hard way, Olympic ammo is JUNK! __________________ John

March 14, 2005, 09:42 AM	#2
Jbar4Ranch Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 1999 Location: Near Helena, Montana Posts: 1,719	Please explain the problem in more detail. If the ammo won't chamber because of being .005" oversize, and yet the bullet is gripped tightly in the neck, then your brass needs to be neck reamed. Trying to swage the bullet/case neck down .005" isn't the answer. __________________ Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced... SASS 47015

March 14, 2005, 09:55 AM	#4
karpins Junior Member Join Date: March 13, 2005 Posts: 4	The Olympic ammo that I purchased has a neck size that is .005 larger than it should be. The rounds often jam in my Bushmaster AR while chambering. I have been using the cheap Wolf ammo now and have not experienced a single jam but I still have about 700 rounds of the Olympic ammo that I cant use. I was hoping that I might be able to size (swage) the necks, perhaps with something like a Lee crimp die ? I checked the Olympic ammo in a Frankford Arsenal gauge block and not a single round fit. After checking the dimensions of the ammo, I found that the neck size was typically .005 oversize.

March 14, 2005, 09:56 AM	#5
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,949	I think you're going to end up with a severely jammed case in your press if you try to resize a case with a bullet already seated in it. The solution - sell the rounds to someone who has a chamber/throat reamed for the Olympic ammo and go buy the correct ammo.

March 14, 2005, 11:37 AM	#7
Poygan Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2004 Posts: 125	Assuming the bullet fits tightly in the neck, aren't you going to have to size the bullet down as well? Conceivably the round could chamber but the bullet would be undersized. Personally, I like the idea of selling the entire lot to someone who have a sufficiently generous chamber to use this ammo. Otherwise, you have a lot of work ahead of you with doubtful results. I don't think the Lee crimp die would solve your problem.

March 14, 2005, 12:31 PM	#8
bikenjam Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2004 Posts: 194	i tried a box of olympic 223 ammo in my AR-15 with the same problem. I just got sick of it and never touched it again. Luckly it was only 10 bucks for the ammo, but i'd never use that brand again. If i were you i might just try and sell it. Remington UMC and Winchester USA ammo both work very good and are pretty darn accurate for a FMJ at budget price