300 Fireball AR15 (Brass forming - post #150)

The problem I ran into was that the neck turning doesn't go far enough into the neck/shoulder junction, and I was left with the dreaded "donut".
I found the Wilson reamer the best choice and used it on the fired cases so it barely touched most of the (already outside-turned) neck; but cut away a surprising amount of brass at the neck base.
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I have the tools for outside turning but not an inside reamer so I am just gonna try it and see if it works. As long as the cases chamber, I don't really care what else is going on. I have about 200 brass made from cut down 223 that is otherwise useless to me so if it doesn't work I am not really worried as right now they are junk to me anyway.

My dies SHOULD be waiting for me when I get back home for days off...
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Your rifle will be waiting for you too. :)

After I finish processing the two additional .221 FB bags, I should have slightly fewer than 300 cases ready to rock. I'll prime 'em, and make my way out to the range with some bullets, my chrony, a powder scale and measure/trickler, and my Lee hand press to seat the bullets.

And a BIG logbook.
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And I hope some of that data is going to find its way back to me ......... ?
 
Whether case turning or neck reaming will be necessary will depend on neck diameter with bullet seated, compared with chamber neck diameter. If there is clearance, turning or reaming wouldn't be necessary. Not likely to be an issue with .221 cases, but could be serious with reformed .223s.
For significantly shortening cases, it is hard to beat a RCBS trim die. Run the case in, hacksaw, then file.
If the necks must be adjusted, I would suggest a RCBS reamer die.
 
Whether case turning or neck reaming will be necessary will depend on neck diameter with bullet seated, compared with chamber neck diameter. If there is clearance, turning or reaming wouldn't be necessary. Not likely to be an issue with .221 cases, but could be serious with reformed .223s.
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We already know that cut down 223 brass won't fit into the chamber we are using. This was the very first thing I tried. Hence the cutting and reaming.
 
I have found inside reaming to be faster and easier than turning. Run the case into the die, ream. No cranking, no adjusting. Same with using a trim die - run the case in, quick pass with a 32tpi hacksaw, run a fine file across.
 
Oops

Was screwing around with my neck turner and tried a round to see if it would fit after being turned.......... nope :confused:

Measured a factory round and a necked up Fireball round and the neck turned 223 was the same spec as those two but def would not chamber properly.

O .... K ........

What else could be different? Held up several rounds side by side and it was immediately obvious that the chopped down 223 cases were considerably longer. :(

Trimmed a 223 case to the same length as the 221 case and tried it. Chambers perfectly. Tried one not neck turned but trimmed to correct OAL and it chambers as well. :runaway:

Sooooooooooo. Turns out I screwed up. The chamber we are working with will accept trimmed down 223 cases without neck turning or reaming as long as the case is the correct OAL.

Carry on ..... :onCrack:
 
So if I'm picking up what you are laying down, I don't need my Wilson neck reamer then?

One less step is a good thing!

Suputin said:
Was screwing around with my neck turner and tried a round to see if it would fit after being turned.......... nope :confused:

Measured a factory round and a necked up Fireball round and the neck turned 223 was the same spec as those two but def would not chamber properly.

O .... K ........

What else could be different? Held up several rounds side by side and it was immediately obvious that the chopped down 223 cases were considerably longer. :(

Trimmed a 223 case to the same length as the 221 case and tried it. Chambers perfectly. Tried one not neck turned but trimmed to correct OAL and it chambers as well. :runaway:

Sooooooooooo. Turns out I screwed up. The chamber we are working with will accept trimmed down 223 cases without neck turning or reaming as long as the case is the correct OAL.

Carry on ..... :onCrack:
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What you want to watch out for is the thicker brass on 5.56 cases.

The .300 Fireball chambers are supposedly larger at the neck, to allow for thicker brass without case neck turning,
however,as always,
YPMMV

PS: are you using the Redding dies???
 
Suputin said:
Sooooooooooo. Turns out I screwed up. The chamber we are working with will accept trimmed down 223 cases without neck turning or reaming as long as the case is the correct OAL.

Carry on ..... :onCrack:
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I... f*cking... LOVE YOU RIGHT NOW!!! :D :D :D

That saves me so much pain in the ass.

1 - Chop .223 (rough).
2 - Size in .300 FB die.
3 - Trim to final length in RCBS trimmer with drill.

BOOYAH!

Meeeeeeee rikeeeeyyyyyyy!!! :p

-M
P.S. "Me rikey" when I get my DIES, that is... hurry up, Sinclair!!!
 
Just got a call from my mail service (I rent a box for parcels, since I keep odd hours and I'm NEVER home during the day to receive them... don't want guns and other expensive bits sitting on my doorstep until I get home after dark).

MY SINCLAIR PACKAGE IS HERE!!!

Delicious. I know what I'M doing this weekend...

-M
 
So now it becomes a race to find out who will get to shoot their 300 FB first. Yardie, Doc or Sup? I think Yardie might be out of contention if he doesn't get fired before this weekend. Doc has his rifle and is ready to rock but my rifle is close, ohhhhh so close.

It is so close I can feel it, it is like that feeling I get in the end of my ...... oh sorry. :)

Anyway, its clooooooose.
 
I bought 2 more bags of .221 FB brass ($68 @ P&D, board sponsor - if anyone's looking... compare at $84, Edmonton WSS) and am going to size them tomorrow. Spent the afternoon reloading .45 ACP so I could shoot tomorrow... but with the snow, I'm not too sure if it's going to be a go. Yes, it SNOWED in Edmonton today... serves me right for chuckling at the Calgary weather reports yesterday. :(





-M[/QUOTE]

Just to let you guys know.
I also have New Remington 221 Fireball brass in stock, $63.00/100
Also have lots of .308 bullets in stock too.
Regards, Henry
 
Suputin said:
My dies are Hornady New Dimension marked "300 Whisper JDJ". I have looked and can't find them anywhere so I don't know if the are even made anymore.
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Afaik these dies are still being built, but are only available from SSK industries. I have run across several threads on another forum, indicating that JDJ will not sell you a set of dies unless you buy a barrel, upper or rifle from his company.
 
Afaik these dies are still being built, but are only available from SSK industries. I have run across several threads on another forum, indicating that JDJ will not sell you a set of dies unless you buy a barrel, upper or rifle from his company.
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I got the dies as part of a package when I bought a TC Contender with a 300 Whisper barrel. I'm not sure where the barrel came from but it could well have originated from SSK.

I also have New Remington 221 Fireball brass in stock, $63.00/100
Also have lots of .308 bullets in stock too.
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At this point I have enough cases but would def be interested in pulled mil 150gr .308 bullets, especially M2 stuff.
 
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