I loaded my first ever rifle ammo today.

[HAWKEYE10]

Well it's taken me long enough with trying read all I can and ask questions on this forum. Thanks for all your help you sure helped move things along quicker. I was loading for my .223 and used Hornady's 53 grain bullet and their 60 grain V-MAX. For the powder I used Ramshot TAC with middle of the road loads. Things went pretty good but not very fast. I loaded 25 rounds of each bullet and weighed my powder a lot. I didn't know if my powder measure would be accurate as I haven't used this powder before. The biggest thing that slowed me down was getting the bullet started. Both are flat based bullets and I had to be careful feeding them into the die. Yes I did bevel the case mouth. What do y'all think about using a boat tail bullet to help speed things up? Don

 

[bigmoose]

Boattail bullets will help, but you could try expanding the mouth just a little bit more. I also rotate the case as a slight amount of pressure is first applied to seating the bullet. I may rotate a 1/4 turn, push a little, rotate another 1/4 turn etc. This tends to "re-align" the bullet with the case mouth if I suspect that the bullet did not stay quite in its upright position as the cartridge was on its upward travel into the die. This whole procedure takes just a couple of seconds. I only do this on rounds that I think need it. If they all need it, it tells me I need to expand the mouth more or use a deburring tool etc.

 

[Rule3]

AH yes, the joy's of loading 223 BT help a LOT.

Kinda of a balancing act and guide the bullet straight until it is in the die.

There is no expanding or flaring of the 223 brass neck??

If I recall you are using Lee dies? This is new full sized brass?

After you shoot these, just neck size. (for the same rifle)

Do you use the Lee Collet crimp (FCD) die?

 

[Gamer]

Congrats~!

 

[HAWKEYE10]

AH yes, the joy's of loading 223 BT help a LOT.

Kinda of a balancing act and guide the bullet straight until it is in the die.

There is no expanding or flaring of the 223 brass neck??

If I recall you are using Lee dies? This is new full sized brass?

After you shoot these, just neck size. (for the same rifle)

Do you use the Lee Collet crimp (FCD) die?

I am using new Lake City brass and I full length resized and trimmed the brass then beveled and deburred the case mouth. I do have Lee dies and have a neck sizing die but no crimp die. Do I need to crimp these? Don

 

[mosquito]

I am using new Lake City brass and I full length resized and trimmed the brass then beveled and deburred the case mouth. I do have Lee dies and have a neck sizing die but no crimp die. Do I need to crimp these? Don

NO CRIMP NEEDED, or recommended ON .223 if they are sized correctly!

 

[bigmoose]

As long as the bullet is seated firmly you should not have to crimp the .223. There is not much recoil to cause the unfired rounds in the magazine to "walk out". The other concern would be if they were crammed into a tube fed magazine, which obviously the .223 is not. So you should be ok.

 

[geddylee10002000]

My experience with rifle reloading is with bolt guns. First time is full length resizing. Then neck sizing after that. Auto's I think you have to you use small base dies to ensure reliable feeding.

 

[txbirdman]

Did you champher the inside of the case mouth. That usually makes it easy to seat bullets if they are aligned correctly.

 

[Rule3]

I am using new Lake City brass and I full length resized and trimmed the brass then beveled and deburred the case mouth. I do have Lee dies and have a neck sizing die but no crimp die. Do I need to crimp these? Don

No, it is not necessary. As mentioned if the rounds where banging around, hunting or large caliber recoil then it can help.

The Lee Collet crimp die is a different animal than the handgun FCD.

For your use in a bolt action and feeding one round at a time there is no real reason if you have good neck tension on the bullet.

I run mine through (set lightly) just because

 

[Jswiney9]

We have been putting a light crimp on our 55gr hornady boattailed bullets for shooting through our AR's. We pretty much throw them in an ammo box and bang them around a bit.