.22 TCM reloading woes

tlawler · Dec 6, 2020

I’ve reloaded a few hundred rounds of .22 TCM in the past with new brass and didn’t have any problems. With new .22TCM brass unobtainable now, I found a source of once fired brass and ordered a bunch. When I went to resize one, it got stuck in my sizing die and ripped out of the shell holder, despite being well lubed. I tried a few more, not as far in and literally slick with lube, and they are all like that. I had about 150 cases that were my once fired and mixed them in with the ones I bought, but I’m pretty sure my brass is the same as what I bought. I shoot them through an RIA 1911 Commander; could the chamber of the RIA be so loose that the brass is over expanding? Do I need to get a new sizing die(I have a Lee set now)? Here’s some pictures of the brass with the ripped rim, one of my previous reloads that passes the plunk test, and one of the once fired cases that won’t chamber. Anyone have results that are similar? Is .22TCM a new brass reloading proposition only?

CZU · Dec 6, 2020

I have a 22 TCM9R I shoot in a CZ75 variant. Went thru 50 rounds of Nickel plated ammo and only got through about 15 rounds of the brass variety before I had a problem with a stuck case in the chamber. Rather than send the pistol back to RIA I had my gunsmith polish the chamber and I haven't had any problems since. I know it doesn't help with your reloading problem but maybe it might give you an idea or somethng else to think about. I love this little hot rod, practically no recoil but is a little noisy.

Krogen · Dec 6, 2020

What kind of lube are you using? Some cartridges or brands of cases are more demanding on the kind of lube. Imperial sizing wax is the best lube I've found for those recalcitrant cases.

tlawler · Dec 6, 2020

I started out with Hornady one shot like I normally use. When that didn’t work, I tried some 30 weight oil. Went in a little further, I didn’t want to get it stuck again, so I would go in a little, then back out, in again...etc. finally got it stuck and had to drive it out with a punch. Then I tried some moly grease and lubed it really well. Same thing, stuck and ripped out of the shell holder. I even tried my .223 sizer. Same deal. Man, I really don’t want to write off this brass

Warren Sear · Dec 6, 2020

^^^ There is your problem. Get some proper re-sizing lube. I also use Imperial Resizing Wax.

hunter5567 · Dec 6, 2020

You might need to polish the inside of the dies as well. Or you may have to get some Hornady dies. When I had one when they first came out in 2014, I had the Hornady dies and loaded the cases 2 or 3 times. I did have to cam over the dies when resizing to get that extra little bit of extra shoulder set back. Definitely a better round to reload than the 5.7x28 with a much better bullet. I shot a 2 liter bottle filled with water at around 20 yards and it blew the top half of the bottle off. The 5.7 is about as boring as watching paint dry compared to this round.

tlawler · Dec 6, 2020

Ok, I just got back and read your replies. Thank you for the input. I’ve been working on this through the afternoon. I was trying to size on my SS Lee press with the Lee shell holder. I put the sizer in my 550 and the combination of greater leverage and better grip with the shellplate and lube made it doable, but still tough. I’ll pick up some imperial wax tomorrow. I made up six dummy rounds to see if I could get them to feed. I had to run them back through the sizer after seating the bullet to get a good chambering. At least I can salvage this batch of brass. I am a little concerned about the ring left around the base of the case. Is that a cause for concern?

Erocksmash · Dec 6, 2020

Looks like the same thing my Lee .40/10mm decap/resize die did....

I sent photos to Lee and the explained to me that the die wasn't polished....

tlawler · Dec 6, 2020

Erocksmash said:
Looks like the same thing my Lee .40/10mm decap/resize die did....

I sent photos to Lee and the explained to me that the die wasn't polished....

Could be, but I was getting the same resistance from the cases when trying to run them through my .223 die. I tried some .22TCM that I loaded a couple of months ago, and it slid in and out of the die easily. I did polish the inside of the die by wrapping a small piece of garnet scotchbrite pad around a 1/4” drill bit, chucking it in a drill and spinning it. Cleaned it up pretty good, but still a lot of resistance. I’m working near a Bass Pro tomorrow, so I’ll see if they have any imperial wax in stock.

mckenney99 · Dec 6, 2020

That brass could have been fired in firearm with a slightly oversized chamber. The brass may not have been resized when you got it, if it had been de-primed, it could have just been run thru a universal de-priming die. Since that case is based off the 223/556 case, you might check around to see if you can find someone that has a "small base" sizing die for 223/556 that might get the brass back to spec. I'm not sure if there is any type of "bulge buster" or "push thru" die available for 223/556, like there is for 9mm & 40 S&W that can help to resize the case all the way down. Those dies certainly help remove the slight bulges you see on some pistol brass fired in oversized chambers.

Warren Sear · Dec 6, 2020

It will be interesting to me to see how much of a difference the Imperial wax makes. I have used it for years, and it is the best there is IMHO.

Erocksmash · Dec 6, 2020

Tom,

I've got some imperial if ya wanna give it a try and can't find it... I had to lube my 4570s up good almost got stuck...

I've also got a blue buster if ya wanna try that as well... should work for the 22tcm...

tlawler · Dec 6, 2020

Erocksmash said:
Looks like the same thing my Lee .40/10mm decap/resize die did....

I sent photos to Lee and the explained to me that the die wasn't polished....

Erocksmash said:
Tom,

I've got some imperial if ya wanna give it a try and can't find it... I had to lube my 4570s up good almost got stuck...

I've also got a blue buster if ya wanna try that as well... should work for the 22tcm...

Yeah, Erik...that would be great!

tlawler · Dec 8, 2020

A big thank you to Erocksmash for loaning me his Imperial wax and bulge buster. The wax is definitely making a difference. While still pretty stiff with resistance, I have managed to get a pretty good amount done. I put the sizing die by itself in a spare toolhead and just run the cases through assembly line style since it’s the same motions I’m accustomed to while reloading. I set the bulge buster up with a 9mm factory crimp die since the .22tcm FCD is a different style and the 9mm base is close enough in size to the .22tcm that it takes out the larger bulges. Not quite perfect, but it allows them to chamber.

Warren Sear · Dec 8, 2020

Something is still not correct. It should not be hard to re-size those cases.

tlawler · Dec 8, 2020

Warren Sear said:
Something is still not correct. It should not be hard to re-size those cases.

These are my before and after sizing case dimensions. The sizing die is taking them down in size a pretty significant amount. Once I got into the routine of it, they aren’t so hard. The greater leverage of the Dillon and using the sizing wax is making a huge difference over the Lee SS “O” press and the one shot lube.

Sevens · Dec 8, 2020

The Hornady One-Shot lube has a value and I use the stuff, more about that in a moment. But if you could somehow magically transport yourself on to the scene of EVERY stuck case or case lube involved problem in the last 20 years, I’ll bet you’ll find that well more than half of all the problems have Hornady One-Shot aerosol case lube involved.

Quick, easy, speeds things up...? -YES- when it works. As as purpose-built sizing lube, it is the WORST on the market. And Imperial may very well be the best.

Yes, I use Hornady One-Shot. I spray it in to a gallon freezer bag with a slew of pistol/revolver brass. Used this way (with carbide sizing die!), it smooths and helps to process the brass in a progressive machine.

I would NEVER use it on anything bottle neck, never on rifle brass, never with a non-carbide sizing die and NEVER EVER with .30 Carbine brass.

SMSgt · Dec 8, 2020

I was having a problem sticking .223 cases in my RCBS die using RCBS lube. Switched to Imperial sizing wax and haven't got close to sticking one since. Takes very little, but do ensure you apply to the entire case as my cases were sticking at the head, not the neck/shoulder area.

tlawler · Dec 9, 2020

I’d like to thank everyone for their input on my reloading dilemma and especially Erocksmash for the gracious loan of his Imperial wax and bulge buster. Well...after a couple of extra steps in the process and a whole extra day, I finally finished loading my 500 once fired cases. If I had a 5-station press at my disposal, it would have been a little quicker, but I made do with my 550 and Lee SS “O” press. All passed the plunk test and now I’m ready to move on to another caliber.

.22 TCM reloading woes

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