real stupid question,,try not to laugh too hard

johnnyreb65

johnnyreb65

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Just started playing around with my press...I have RCBS FULL RESIZE .223 TWO DIE SET

I set up the die as per instructions, case comes out real sweet ( when I don't overlube) but the mouth doesn't expand enough to accept the bullet. I can't find any info on how to adjust the expander... Help:redface:

Also only powder the store had was Hodgson Bl-C (2) so I bought a pound ( how many grains are in a pound anyways?) with a box of hornady .55 SP
anyone have a good load for this compo.

THANKS
 
There are 7000 grains in one pound... what do you mean the mouth doesn't expand enough... you have to press the bullet in place with a seating die.
 
johnnyreb65 said:
Just started playing around with my press...I have RCBS FULL RESIZE .223 TWO DIE SET

I set up the die as per instructions, case comes out real sweet ( when I don't overlube) but the mouth doesn't expand enough to accept the bullet. I can't find any info on how to adjust the expander... Help:redface:

Also only powder the store had was Hodgson Bl-C (2) so I bought a pound ( how many grains are in a pound anyways?) with a box of hornady .55 SP
anyone have a good load for this compo.

THANKS
Click to expand...

You shouldn't be able to insert a bullet... by hand.
Your seating die will do this work for you.
Chamfer the case mouth a little... This will help the bullet seating..

There are 7000 grains in a pound.
 
Take the expander ball out and measure it. I found I was essentially sizing the case mouth with the bullet. Helps to use boat tail bullets.

There are 7000 grains to a pound. Most .223 cases hold a max of 26 grains. You'll need 3+ pounds to load 1K.
 
Nothing wrong with BC-2 in a 223, I always perferred ball powders in that case.
Get a couple good loading manuals for recipes, I'd suggest a Hornady manual because that's the most common bullet you'll come across & a Lyman manual.
 
johnnyreb65 said:
I set up the die as per instructions, case comes out real sweet ( when I don't overlube) but the mouth doesn't expand enough to accept the bullet.
Click to expand...

Not the first time this has happened.
If the dies are used that is... Parts get lost and expander balls are pretty small and have a tendency to dissapear...

Get your calipers out and measure the outside dimeter of the expander ball then report back to us.

It could be a replacement part or a stock part that is faulty. It happens and should be covered by warranty. The part usually doesn't cost more than $12 if you need a new expander ball. No worries.
 
667 said:
You shouldn't be able to insert a bullet... by hand.
Your seating die will do this work for you.
Chamfer the case mouth a little... This will help the bullet seating..

There are 7000 grains in a pound.
Click to expand...

I understand that a bullet shouldn't be able to inserted by hand, but shouldn't it be expanded enough to at least hold the bullet in place until the seating die does it's shctick? The manual in the pistol section says the mouth must be expanded to accept the round and belled if using lead.Is rifle different? I can't even fit the bullet into the mouth after resizing. THEY'RE brand new dies.
 
Relax. Your question is not stupid, it is a real good one.

Brass rifle cases need to be "prepped" once. This involves using a champfering tool to champfer the case mouths. This allows the bullet to enter the case without collapsing the case mouth.

If you use a boat tailed bullet, it will enter the case and start real easily. A flat based bullet has to be held in place until it starts into the seating die. The die will then take over and push the bullet home.

That is a good powder for the job. It will meter so well there is no need to weigh each charge.

If you load lead bullets in a rifle case, the mouth has to be belled a bit so as to not shave lead when seating. You won't be loading lead bullets in a 223.

But say you want to load lead 30-30 bullets. Use a bigger caliber decapping die with an expander die to kiss the mouth with the expander button. I use a 303 or a 8mm die to open 30 cal mouths.

If you do not have a loading manual, buy one or two and read all the preambles. Very educational and you will enjoy your hobby even more.
 
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GANDERITE said:
Relax. Your question is not stupid, it is a real good one.
Click to expand...
GANDERITE said:
Thanks

Brass rifle cases need to be "prepped" once. This involves using a champfering tool to champfer the case mouths. This allows the bullet to enter the case without collapsing the case mouth.

I have a Lee chmpfer tool, gave it a few quick turns and the bullet will now enter enough to stand on it's own..Does this champfering have to be done every reload and does it reduce case life?


While I got your attention, case trimming, does it always have to be done or can it be ommited as long as the case is between the trim to length of 1.75 and the factory spec of 1.76 after resizing. Most of the cases I've resized are coming in between 1.753 and 1.761, I'm guessing I don't have to trim.

I watched this video on youtube about .223 resizing and the guy uses castrol Syntec motor oil as a case lube, he only lubes every 10 cases,,you heard of this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THOL_S7Hngs&feature=related

Thanks for your help everyone,,,I'll be asking alot of questions as your combined experience is a gold mine of information
Click to expand...
 
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difficulty seating bullets

All my brass gets trimmed regularly and run through an RCBS 5 position case prep machine. Hornady has recently come out with a case prep machine as well. Only way to go for any amount or quality reloading. Beats the hell out of hand twirling cases as I did for years.

I have gone to RCBS 'Competition' dies for .243, .30-'06 and .308. First tried them in .308 and now prefer them to standard dies, especially for flat based bullets. These dies have a window in the side of the die where you place the bullet into a sliding collet. Concentric seating is assured. I doubt any serious accuracy buff is using anything but dies of this type. Redding makes a good one as well.
The BPCR crowd has long since gone to such dies to minimize lead bullet base damage which throws accuracy out the window.

No more problems in getting bullets started off squarely and no little shavings of lead or bullet jacket.
 
I have a steven's 223 and a group of 5 shot form 100yds can be covered with a quarter from the bench. I use the same powder (Hodgson Bl-C (2) 26gr) and the same bullet (hornady .55 SP) works great....
 
Canuck223 said:
Take the expander ball out and measure it. I found I was essentially sizing the case mouth with the bullet. Helps to use boat tail bullets.

There are 7000 grains to a pound. Most .223 cases hold a max of 26 grains. You'll need 3+ pounds to load 1K.
Click to expand...

the expander ball measures .2225 after resizing the inside of the neck measures .2218, much smaller than the diameter of the bullet.
 
.2225-.2218=.0007, which is a bit light for spring-back (.001 is more typical) - could be measuring error, but close enough.

You want a max of about .003 grip. Your grip ( difference between bullet od .224 and case id .2218 ) is .0022, which is fine.
 
I am having the same problem, I chamfered and tried to seat a bullet. Bullet seats about 3\4 of the way at which point it starts to collapse the case. Any ideas? I could post pictures if someone tells me how. It comes out looking like a Weatherby case.
 
B said:
I am having the same problem, I chamfered and tried to seat a bullet. Bullet seats about 3\4 of the way at which point it starts to collapse the case. Any ideas? I could post pictures if someone tells me how. It comes out looking like a Weatherby case.
Click to expand...

Your seating die is set too deep into the press and you are collapsing the case with the crimp portion of the die.
 
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