What Ammo gauge do I need??

AbHobbyist

AbHobbyist

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Hello all!!

I have been reloading for quite some time now for manual action type rifles. I got my self an AR and started reloading 223.

I reloaded a large batch of ammo, and have had some issues, with some rounds chambering properly. I know what the issue is and what the fix is, however, I do know that a good portion of the ammo will work, and simply need to weed out the bad reloads.

I know the best way is to manually check each and every round by chambering it in my rifle, however I am not comfortable doing this in my basement where my reloading room is.

Is there some type of gauge I could use to instead?? And if so, where do I get it??

Thank you in advance for your help!!

Regards

AbH
 
This is a valid thought.

However, I do not get to the range as often as I like, and would prefer to spend that precious time shooting rather than spending time on reload QC, if there is a viable alternative.

regards and all the best

AbH
 
Are you using new brass, fire-formed brass or unknown/range pick-up? Are you full-length resizing or simply neck sizing? Do you have a caliper? Are you seating bullets to the proper OAL? Properly loaded ammo doesn't need to be "checked" by manually cycling it through your rifle before use.
 
X-Man

This brass I am using is once fired winchester brass.

All brass is tumbled, full length resized With RCBS 223 dies, trimed to length, with the case mouth champfered both inside and out, with the primer flash whole debured from the inside of the case.

I have both digital and dial calipers, know how to use them, and the OAL is well with in spec, and will work in the 10 round LAR mags I have.

I am using Winchester 55 fmj and roll crimping the bullets in place.

In the future to prevent this hassel I will go to Small base dies, and ease off on the crimp some what. I belive I was crimping to hard, and just slightly flaring the sholder, and this what is preventing proper chambering.

Like I said, I have a pretty good idea what I am doing, and just looking for a way to cull the bad ones as this batch. This batch was done over several re-loading sessions.

As for a manual check, I belive that you will find many competative shooters do manually check each and every round. In my case, you never know when murphy's law will strike, and its best to do all you can to help prevnt it.

regards and all the best

AbH
 
Check into getting the Lee Factory Crimp Die for Crimping rather than Roll Crimping perhaps.

The Factory Die uses a collet to squeeze the crimp which should not flare out the neck/shoulder.
 
I am new to the .223 caliber;

I have picked up the following info about reloading .223:
  • For bolt-action's; neck sizing is sufficient
  • For semi-auto's; full length sizing is required
As for crimping, I have been reloading for years and have found it is always best to do a LIGHT crimp. Heavy crimping will cause chambering issues.

I look forward to shooting all this .223 stuff I have loaded up. Don't have the rifle as yet! LOL
 
Ok so then why do none of my reloading manuals suggest a crimp? I am shooting my reloads now but in a bolt and the manuals pretty much all say that crimping the bullet in is only required for tube feed mags. Tha ARs have a DM so why the crimp. Mine shoot in my bolt without a crimp just fine. I am using 223 RP and Winnie brass so far with FMJ 55gr.
 
AbHobbyist said:
X-Man

This brass I am using is once fired winchester brass.

All brass is tumbled, full length resized With RCBS 223 dies, trimed to length, with the case mouth champfered both inside and out, with the primer flash whole debured from the inside of the case.
[snip]
In the future to prevent this hassel I will go to Small base dies, and ease off on the crimp some what. I belive I was crimping to hard, and just slightly flaring the sholder, and this what is preventing proper chambering.

AbH
Click to expand...

You're just missing the case gauge. The critical measurement is the neck length which is indexed from the case shoulder; the OAL of the case won't tell you this critical detail. Forget any small base dies, and crimping is likely to do more harm than good.

If you full-length resized properly lubed cases with a full-length sizing die, then chamfered and deburred as you mentionned, then you should have had no problems. Since the cases aren't belled, you have to hold the bullets as they enter the seating die, which pretty well eliminates crooked seating. That leaves some crimping snafu.

Nonetheless, on subsequent reloads, the case gauge has a step machined at the neck opening which gives a min/max range. With Winchester brass I get about 3 resizings before the neck needs cutting again. Still, each case has to be gauged after full-length resizing, since there will be the odd case that stretched beyond the max.

I use the Dillon gauge: Murray Gardner in BC usually stocks it mdgardner.com. Wilson make excellent gauges as well.
 
I almost never crimp. the exception would be the 375 H&H withthe 300 gr bullet, 45-70, 444 Marlin, etc.

Don't crimp at all and your problem will go away.

The guage you want is an old 223 barrel. Just shove the rounds into the chamber. they should go in and out easily. A hacksaw can shorten it to a 6" handy tool.

If you don't have one, your local gunsmith may have a scrap barrel laying around. While you are at it, cut a 1' piece off the muzzle end to make a little "hat" for measureing the OAL using the distance to the bullet ogive.
 
I would not chamber any live cartridge in my rifle in the basement. Very bad idea.
The usual way is to make a dummy roound exactly like you load. That is, size it the same as your loads, seat the bullet the same, but don't have a primer or powder in the case. If that one chambers OK, why wouldn't all the rest that are loaded the same way?
 
Here's Dillon's, available from any stocked Canadian Dillon dealer:
w ww.dillonprecision.com/#/content/p/9/pid/23612/catid/3/_223_Dillon_Stainless_Steel_Case_Gage

Midway has a Lyman model:
w ww.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=268983

Sinclair Int'l has all the cool AR and Precision reloading goodies. Their website makes stuff hard to find, but their print catalogue is excellent and they are Canada friendly:
w ww.sinclairintl.com/catalog2.html
enter "wxcg" in search box
 
AbHobbyist said:
Cyan1de:

A good thought, have you had good reults, and is using this die a seperate step from seating??

regards

AbH
Click to expand...

Yes it is a separate step from seating. I don't shoot Semi-Auto so I don't use the crimper per-se. I have used it just to try it as I have one of the dies that I got with a set.
 
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