222 Magnum from 204 Ruger...

[NPhillips]

Has anyone ever made 222 Magnum from 204 Ruger brass?

I tried this evening and got the first one right...I think, but the next 5 the shoulder came out crimped. I should add that I lubed the case with Lee Lube and put some in the neck, trying to keep away from shoulder. I also tried it without lube, but with no luck...

Any ideas, suggestions?

Thanks,

Norman

 

[KellyP]

Clean out the dies. It sounds like there is too much lube and its causing a "pressure" build up that will cause the neck to "wrinkle". I came across this doing 308 a long time ago, clean everything out and use the smallest amount of lube to help with the friction.

 

[c-fbmi]

,,,

 

[NPhillips]

Will do, and let you know. Thnx

 

[just having some fun]

Is it worth the extra Work ??
Sell the 204 and buy 222

I have never had to do it but
Neck will be thicker and you might have to neck turn

 

[tbdtp]

Is it worth the extra Work ??
Sell the 204 and buy 222

I have never had to do it but
Neck will be thicker and you might have to neck turn

He is going the other way. Necking 204 up to 222 mag. And those dimples will iron themselves out when they go bang. They just look bad.

 

[NPhillips]

ok, so I was able to figure out how to form the 204R brass without crimping or crushing the shoulder, BUT...90% of the cases will NOT chamber now. They are not longer than what they should be...

Any ideas???

 

[Pete G]

You will eventually get them to work.....must be some more fine tuning to be done....maybe OAL s/b reduced a few thou ?? Have you changed bullets ? Different shape may require change in OAL.
I have been lucky doing mine .......just ran the new winchester 204 brass through my 222 rem mag sizing die and got perfect brass for my .222 Remington Magnum.Using Speer 52 grain HP bullets.
Having lots of fun shooting my 1962 BDL with 20 inch barrel which was standard in 62 and 63 ,the first 2 years of BDL production.

 

[dan belisle]

Smoke the cases and try one. See where it interferes. Adjust your resizing procedure accordingly. - dan

 

[Cleftwynd]

Smoke the cases and try one. See where it interferes. Adjust your resizing procedure accordingly. - dan

this^^^^

You might need to bump the shoulder back a bit, or possibly resize the base a little more.... Smoking the case will show you exactly.

 

[NPhillips]

this^^^^

You might need to bump the shoulder back a bit, or possibly resize the base a little more.... Smoking the case will show you exactly.

Thanks for all the tips...I'm new to reloading so appreciate the help when offered. So...when you say smoke the cases, should I color them with black smoke and then chamber??? Makes sense to me!

 

[Cleftwynd]

Thanks for all the tips...I'm new to reloading so appreciate the help when offered. So...when you say smoke the cases, should I color them with black smoke and then chamber??? Makes sense to me!

Yup!! Or color them with a sharpie, that's what I do.

 

[Longwalker]

Smoke from a regular wax candle works well.

 

[NPhillips]

Thanks, used a sharpie. Ended up just screwing the sizing die deeper. Works like a charm now!!!

No more overpriced 222 mag brass/ammo.

 

[Pete G]

Thanks, used a sharpie. Ended up just screwing the sizing die deeper. Works like a charm now!!!

No more overpriced 222 mag brass/ammo.

Totally agree......The ready availability of various Ruger 204 brass makes the inconvenience / expense of shooting the pretty much obsolete 222 Remington magnum a non issue for a hand loader. I think that the 222 Rem Mag is a very good cartridge and is a nice fit between 223 and 22-250.......Too bad that it has disappeared from current production.