Do you crimp for your semi .223?
- Thread starter Brianma65
- Start date
Starting at 24 is a good bet.
Depending on what rifle you are loading for (bolt or auto), and the velocities you are looking to achieve, you are likely going to end up around 25 or more grains anyhow.
My AR load with H335 is with a 62/55 gr. bullet is 25.5 gr. at 3000/3100 fps respectively.
Depending on what rifle you are loading for (bolt or auto), and the velocities you are looking to achieve, you are likely going to end up around 25 or more grains anyhow.
My AR load with H335 is with a 62/55 gr. bullet is 25.5 gr. at 3000/3100 fps respectively.
Canadian_Zuk
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- Pickering, Ontario
Its normal to have to hold the projectile in place until it enters the die.
I would suggest that the original poster read the instructions on how to properly set up his sizing die. It sounds to me like he has only ajusted the die down in small increments untill the neck of the case was only sized far enough down to hold the bullet. Your sizing die should be tuned in untill it make contact with the shell holer when the ram is all the way up then it should be turned in another 1/8 to 1/4 turn.
here is a vid of how to set it up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKosnBtBlIs&feature=player_detailpage
here is a vid of how to set it up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKosnBtBlIs&feature=player_detailpage
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Thanks for all the help, the instructions were a bit unclear at first, but I got them figured out. I've got 10 cartridges made so far, and will test them later today. I started with 24 g of h335 and a 55 g vmax. I found the rbcs powder dispenser to be a little inconsistent, throwing charges from 23.5 to 24.5. I'm sure that I'm still a 1.5 under max and OA lenght is a bit under factory.
With H335 the case capacity will dictate your max... you can't overload it short off compressing the load... if your dispenser is +/- 1/2 grain, you need a new one or hand pour on a quality digital scale.... 23.5-24.5 will seriously impede your accuracy.
The dispenser is brand new, it came with the rbcs kit. I have a good digital scale , but it only weighs in grams. I'll more than Likely just order a quality dispenser and scale. As this is my first time reloading , I want to get a handle on the process, accuracy will have to wait until I get better gear, which will be soon... The 23.5 to 24.5 is just an estimate as I'm not exactly sure. My balance beam scale , which also came with my kit, didn't stay on the 0 , with every charge. It moves a bit above and below with each charge.
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Does your dispencer consistantly throw charges + or- 1/2gr or does it do that for the first 5 or 6 charges and then evens out? Most dispencers take a few charges to even out and throw more consistant charges. You should look at getting a powder trickler to get consistant charge weights because even the expensive powder dispencers aren't dead accurate with most powders
If your scale only weighs in whole grains it is useless for reloading... you will want to weigh to tenth grains as a minimum. The Hornady digital scale is pretty good for $30... and the Mastercraft digital caliper is on sale this week for $11... don't wait on these items.
You should still look at getting a trickler they only cost about $25 . Set the despencer so it thows chargers a few tenth under your charge weight and then use the trickler to get the exact charge weight desired. In a 223 a few tenths of a grain can make a hudge differance in accuracy.
Digital scale can be affected by such thigs as florecent lights, your furnace cutting in and many other factors. never rely on a digital scale ecspeacally the cheep ones. Your balance beem that you got with your kit is a far better scale than any of the cheap electronic ones.
The range that I shoot at has a few members that have been shooting bench rest for years and let me tell you they can shoot. Guess what scale they use? I will tell you every one of the has a RCBS 10-10 balance beam scale.
Digital scale can be affected by such thigs as florecent lights, your furnace cutting in and many other factors. never rely on a digital scale ecspeacally the cheep ones. Your balance beem that you got with your kit is a far better scale than any of the cheap electronic ones.
The range that I shoot at has a few members that have been shooting bench rest for years and let me tell you they can shoot. Guess what scale they use? I will tell you every one of the has a RCBS 10-10 balance beam scale.
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The only dumb question is the one you don't ask......
I would start at 24 grains and work my way up. It's very possible you'll find a load that works well (ie. accurate) in you rifle before you get to the max. I'm guessing this is for a 223 Rem cartridge? if so, I would make up some test loads in increments of .3 grains, up to whichever book maximum you trust. In a larger case, like a 308 Win, I would go up .5 grains at a time, then fine tune from there. You might be happy with the accuracy of one of your test loads, and not bother fine-tuning.
A decent caliper is a good thing to have. I avoid the electronic ones, even though I do have one, and use it occasionally.
A decent scale is essential, and, as others have mentioned, the balance-beam types are pretty robust.
Do not use a scale calibrated in grams. Grams have nothing to do with reloading. One gram equals 15.432 grains.
However, there is such a thing as converting grams to grains. Go here. Add the W's. Still not much use.
http://www.metric-conversions.org/weight/grams-to-grains.htm
Generally, the data on the bottle(that may be old) and in manuals reflect conditions on the day of the test only. Applies to Speer's manual too.
However, there is such a thing as converting grams to grains. Go here. Add the W's. Still not much use.
http://www.metric-conversions.org/weight/grams-to-grains.htm
Generally, the data on the bottle(that may be old) and in manuals reflect conditions on the day of the test only. Applies to Speer's manual too.
