.223 Shoulder length?

Sixer · March 9, 2009, 01:20 PM

Some of my .223 rounds are not cycling in my AR-15. I bought an L.E. Wilson case gage and they all seem to fit fine... but I'm a bit stumped, because I'm still getting rounds STUCK in the chamber.

It seems like the shoulder of some of the cases may be too "high"... Is there any way to lower the shoulder on a .223 case when resizing?

Alleykat · March 9, 2009, 02:15 PM

That's what your Wilson case gage is for, to tell you if the shoulder needs bumping. You sure what "fits in the Wilson case gage fine" really means?

If you're crimping your rounds, you could be slightly bulging the shoulder on some of your rounds, during the crimping process.

Shoney · March 9, 2009, 04:03 PM

Sixer
alleykat is correct in his post. You must "bump" their shoulders during full length resizing and make sure there is no possibility of the shoulder bulge.

Your first order of business is to determine whether or not you are bulging after the crimp process. Once this has been determined not to be the problem, read on.

The best way to "Just bump" the shoulder is to screw your sizing die out two full turns; run an unsized case in and look at the neck. You should be able to see the lower portion of the case neck is not sized.

Screw the sizing down in 1/4 turn increments using that same case. When the die has completely sized the neck, but not moved the shoulder, the case should be ideal for bolt weapons. However, for semi/auto weapons you need to size just a bit more so the dies sets the shoulder back a bit.

When you have achieved the complete neck sizing, turn the die down a quarter turn more, load up several rounds and see if they chamber flawlessly. If they don't, turn the die down another quarter turn and test a few more completed rounds. Continue turning the die down until the rounds feed perfectly.

March 9, 2009, 01:20 PM	#1
Sixer Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,891	.223 Shoulder length? Some of my .223 rounds are not cycling in my AR-15. I bought an L.E. Wilson case gage and they all seem to fit fine... but I'm a bit stumped, because I'm still getting rounds STUCK in the chamber. It seems like the shoulder of some of the cases may be too "high"... Is there any way to lower the shoulder on a .223 case when resizing?

March 9, 2009, 02:15 PM	#2
Alleykat Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2007 Posts: 3,668	That's what your Wilson case gage is for, to tell you if the shoulder needs bumping. You sure what "fits in the Wilson case gage fine" really means? If you're crimping your rounds, you could be slightly bulging the shoulder on some of your rounds, during the crimping process.

March 9, 2009, 04:03 PM	#3
Shoney Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2002 Location: Transplanted from Montana Posts: 2,311	Sixer alleykat is correct in his post. You must "bump" their shoulders during full length resizing and make sure there is no possibility of the shoulder bulge. Your first order of business is to determine whether or not you are bulging after the crimp process. Once this has been determined not to be the problem, read on. The best way to "Just bump" the shoulder is to screw your sizing die out two full turns; run an unsized case in and look at the neck. You should be able to see the lower portion of the case neck is not sized. Screw the sizing down in 1/4 turn increments using that same case. When the die has completely sized the neck, but not moved the shoulder, the case should be ideal for bolt weapons. However, for semi/auto weapons you need to size just a bit more so the dies sets the shoulder back a bit. When you have achieved the complete neck sizing, turn the die down a quarter turn more, load up several rounds and see if they chamber flawlessly. If they don't, turn the die down another quarter turn and test a few more completed rounds. Continue turning the die down until the rounds feed perfectly.