First .223 test loads out of the RL550B

[15Krounds]

Well,

My first go around has been 2/3 successful. After careful case prep, trimming all the cases to 1.752", my M855 clones worked very well. I coincidentally had ordered a lot of 62 grain SS109 bullets before the scare. Those were powered with some Ramshot TAC.

My 55 grain Hornady spire point loads also worked great powered by Varget.

Lastly though, the 69 grain tipped Sierra's didn't work really at all out of the M&P 15 MOE. I had them seated so the overall length was between 2.25"-2.26". They would fit in the magazine, however wouldn't feed. Also, what seemed to happen is that the bullet would push into the case when the round would chamber. This is even with a good visible crimp. I'd think that the bullets with a cannelure would probably work better, but it looks like the crimp is right at the point where the bullet starts to taper, so a little bump causes the bullet to fall in.

Any suggestions appreciated to get these Sierra's to work.

Thanks all for the help here getting me started.

15K

 

[fredj338]

I don't crimp any of my 223 loads for three diff ar platforms, including a m&p. Who's dies? It's odd you would have set back problems with one bullet & not another. Try sizing w/o the expander, see if that solves the issue. If so, you need to polish the expander down 0.0005".

 

[fla_gun]

I don't crimp either. Maybe you are over crimping and making the seated bullet loose.

 

[AveragEd]

It sounds to me like your rifle's chamber is throated too shallow for those heavier, longer bullets.

Ed

 

[2hawk]

I would try a different magazine with the Sierra 69 gr. If they aren't feeding that's the first thing I would check.

And, as stated by fred above: I have turned down the expander ball on the resizing die so that I have good case neck tension. You could be over crimping in trying to compensate for insufficient case neck tension, and the resulting deformation in the bullet might be mucking things up.

Good luck, keep us posted. And congrats on having entered the handloading world!

 

[Engineer1911]

Painful lesson

Set your "Cartridge Overall Length" to what the reloading data specifies. If you set COL = 2.250" so it fits your AR mags, the loaded round may not chamber correctly.

I have done this twice. Both times the ammo chambered in an AR-15, but the bullets stuck in the barrel of a bolt action 223. Your AR may have a match chamber with a short (or no free-bore) barrel.

 

[Bruce51]

If your are trying to crimp at the bullet ogive you will loose case neck tension and the bullet will set back.

Place the bullet in your calipers and note where the ogive begins.

Make a mark where the straight shank ends and the ogive begins.

This will determine the shortest OAL that the bullet can be loaded too.

If it will fit in the magazine then check to see if the cartridge will chamber without set back.

If the bullet sets back then you need to try another brand of bullet.

The .223 neck is just to short to have a lot of room for error.

BLM

Oh, and just for the record, no crimp is required, as previously stated, unless there is a cannelure present and you feel the need to crimp.

 

[15Krounds]

I don't crimp any of my 223 loads for three diff ar platforms, including a m&p. Who's dies? It's odd you would have set back problems with one bullet & not another. Try sizing w/o the expander, see if that solves the issue. If so, you need to polish the expander down 0.0005".

This is with the Dillon, non-carbide steel dies. Regarding the expander ball on the resizing die, it did seem to push through awfully tough. You'd think the Dillon dies would work pretty well out of the box.

 

[15Krounds]

If your are trying to crimp at the bullet ogive you will loose case neck tension and the bullet will set back.

Place the bullet in your calipers and note where the ogive begins.

Make a mark where the straight shank ends and the ogive begins.

This will determine the shortest OAL that the bullet can be loaded too.

If it will fit in the magazine then check to see if the cartridge will chamber without set back.

If the bullet sets back then you need to try another brand of bullet.

The .223 neck is just to short to have a lot of room for error.

BLM

Oh, and just for the record, no crimp is required, as previously stated, unless there is a cannelure present and you feel the need to crimp.

That makes sense, yes it seems like the crimp is right at the very edge where the taper begins. I was thinking that if I trimmed the cases to the shortest allowable length it would help.

 

[MrG5122]

This is with the Dillon, non-carbide steel dies. Regarding the expander ball on the resizing die, it did seem to push through awfully tough. You'd think the Dillon dies would work pretty well out of the box.

The expander ball does its work on the upstroke. That is, while it's being pulled from the case.

 

[Clovishound]

Two thoughts on the tough push through. One, are you lubing the inside of the necks? This is a must on .223 IME. If it is on the downstroke, it may be crimped primers. Lots of 5.56/.223 brass from the range has crimped primers. This will require a lot more force to deprime than non crimped primers. Some are so tight I have to manually deprime with a spare decapping rod and a mallet. If I try and do these n the press, it will push my decapping rod through the collet no matter how much I tighten it. Still, I would rather have to readjust the pin, than break it.

 

[fredj338]

This is with the Dillon, non-carbide steel dies. Regarding the expander ball on the resizing die, it did seem to push through awfully tough. You'd think the Dillon dies would work pretty well out of the box.

Well even Dillon gets it wrong some times. Measure it or at least try sizing w/o the expander, see if that is the issue. The ball needs to be no bigger than 0.223" for a press fit.

 

[M29since14]

Don't crimp jacketed bullets that have no cannelure. It's an invitation to trouble - especially so with short-neck cartridges like .223/5.56.

I never size .223 brass on the Dillon. I do all my case prep elsewhere and just use the 550 to seat primers, drop powder, and seat bullets. For rifle cartridges, that's about all it is good for, as far as I am concerned - but it is great for that.

 

[Nevada Ed]

One reason why one bullet will not work vs another of the same weight is............

The bullets type of Ogive.
Long and pointy vs short and fat can make a big difference in the correct OAL, off the rifling or lands, in a rifle.

If a load is almost touching the magazine, it is usually too long......

Good luck.

 

[BruceM]

The ball needs to be no bigger than 0.223" for a press fit.

Actually, the expander needs to be .001" to .003" smaller than bullet diameter so that the case neck provides neck tension (bullet pull). .001" smaller may not provide enough tension and therefore allow for bullet push back.The interior of the case neck generally needs to be lubed in order to prevent the case shoulder from pushing back and partially collapsing during the expanding and bullet seating operations. If you think your barrel may have a short leade but don't have a tool to check it, try this. Build a dummy round using only a resized case and bullet seated to the depth you're currently trying. Smoke the bullet with soot from a wood match or aerosol sight black. Chamber the dummy round manually and then eject. If the bullet is engaging the rifling, there will be visible engraving marks thru the soot on the bullet. Always perform this operation when setting seating depth for rifles and skip the COAL length in the data as it is only provided in order to qualify the conditions used to derive the pressure data. Once you are sure the bullet is not contacting the rifling and fits in your magazines, load A FEW and check for feeding reliability and accuracy. Generally, the best accuracy is obtained by using the longest COAL which will fit your magazines and feed reliably in your rifle without having the bullet contacting the lands.

Bruce