Little Help

[b-wingpilot]

Hopefully one of you might be able to help me out with this problem (kinda new to reloading). I've been experiencing difficulty when trying to unload reloaded .223 rounds from my ARs (36gr and 77gr, 2.20" and 2.25" OAL respectively). The bolt doesn't want to rotate on primary extraction when being unloaded via the charging handle, although when the rounds are fired there is no problem with extraction. Brass is federal, primers are winchester, and dies are lee.

Thanks in advance.

 

[JBD]

It's not clear from your post what the problem is. My guess is if you are able to fire the cartridge then it is sized properly so it is not a sizing issue. What I think might be happening is you are loading to excessive pressure. This will cause the casing to get stuck in the chamber. It might be time to calibrate whatever scale you are using.

By the way this happened to me using a lee safety scale.

 

[Winnipeg Toymaker]

I also use a .223 caliber savage and have found the Lee loaded brass difficult to use. I switched to RCBS dies and problem cured. Also I agree that maybe you have loaded too hot. Lower the powder charge a couple grains and try about 10 rounds , try 1/2 grain more powder for 10 and so on.(but NEVER exceded the max load) and you will find what load your gun likes.

 

[saskgunowner101]

Hopefully one of you might be able to help me out with this problem (kinda new to reloading). I've been experiencing difficulty when trying to unload reloaded .223 rounds from my ARs (36gr and 77gr, 2.20" and 2.25" OAL respectively). The bolt doesn't want to rotate on primary extraction when being unloaded via the charging handle, although when the rounds are fired there is no problem with extraction. Brass is federal, primers are winchester, and dies are lee.

Thanks in advance.

I'm new to reloading as well, but only pistol. None the less, I've read up a bit on rifle reloading. If I'm reading your post correct, there is NO problem when chambering rounds. Your problem happens when you manually try to eject a live cartridge from the chamber. Are you neck sizing only or full length?? From what I've read, if the rifle is a bolt action, you only need to neck size, but if its running through a semi-auto, it needs a full length resize. Seems to me that a bolt carrier and spring might have enough energy to drive it into the chamber, but it could be sticky trying to manually kick it out. Food for thought.

 

[BattleRife]

How on earth can hot loads cause sticky extraction of UNFIRED rounds? Read it again, boys, fired cases are extracting just fine.

Your loaded cartridges are somehow misformed, and the AR is ramming them into the chamber. The pressure of firing them is forming them to the chamber, so they behave normally after firing, but unfired rounds are jammed in there too tightly to be pulled out easily.

Some possibilities:
- The cartridge is too long and the bullet is sticking in the rifling. If you are feeding from the magazines, this shouldn't be the issue.
- You are applying a heavy roll crimp, this is causing the shoulder to buckle, and creates a bulge at the body-shoulder junction. I have done this on loads for my .250 Savage.
- Your case is not being sufficiently sized at the head.

My suggestion is that you take a problem round or (better and safer) a dummy loaded the same way, and use a black marker to colour the tip of the bullet, the shoulder and neck area, and the case web area. Let the ink dry and chamber the cartridge, making sure the bolt goes all the way forward. Now, remove the cartridge and see where the ink is rubbed off. That is your trouble point.

 

[River Rat]

Some possibilities:
- The cartridge is too long and the bullet is sticking in the rifling. If you are feeding from the magazines, this shouldn't be the issue.
- You are applying a heavy roll crimp, this is causing the shoulder to buckle, and creates a bulge at the body-shoulder junction. I have done this on loads for my .250 Savage.
- Your case is not being sufficiently sized at the head.
or
Semi Auto you should be using small base dies if not this could be the problem

 

[b-wingpilot]

Thanks for the help guys, I'm going to try your little trick Battlerife, and hopefully that will explain things. Also some additional info: reloaded brass length = 1.75" factory = 1.74" I also had I tough time pulling out the brass from the die when decapping/resizing.

 

[Etter]

I also had I tough time pulling out the brass from the die when decapping/resizing.

Stupid question, but did you lube the brass & inside the neck? Definitely eliminates the sticky brass in the die & helps the expander ball come out easier without stretching the neck.

 

[sunray]

"...tough time pulling out the brass from the die..." Lube the inside of the case mouth a wee bit. I've always just stuck the mouth into my lube pad every 5 or 10 cases. Usually when the expander button sticks a bit.
I'm with BattleRife, your cases are fine, but I'd bet the COL is too long. Max OAL is 2.260". Measure your loaded ammo.
You should be full length resizing every time too. You don't absolutely need an SB die though. A regular FL die will work just fine.
If you're crimping, you can lose it altogether if the case necks are holding the bullet sufficiently with neck tension too.

 

[woodchopper]

check one of the unfired bullets you've ejected, if you see marks from the lands on the bullet then your OAL is the problem. If not then you looking at one of the other problems that Battlerifle outlined

Some possibilities:
- The cartridge is too long and the bullet is sticking in the rifling. If you are feeding from the magazines, this shouldn't be the issue.
- You are applying a heavy roll crimp, this is causing the shoulder to buckle, and creates a bulge at the body-shoulder junction. I have done this on loads for my .250 Savage.
- Your case is not being sufficiently sized at the head.

oh and trim you cases that may help