Reloading issues with .223

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Tacticalsniper

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Ok so here's my problem. I'm reloading .223 for my XCR and for some reason most of the cartridges are "sticky" inside the chamber. All cartridges are 2.246 give or take and the brass is measured under size as well so they shouldn't be too long but......
The cartridges shoot well and don't jam but when I cycle the action to take a cartridge from the mag and cycle it again to eject it it takes some force to open the bolt.
I am using lee dies and a lee loadmaster press. Would small base dies fix this? I'm lost guys so any advice would be helpful.
 
Tacticalsniper said:
Ok so here's my problem. I'm reloading .223 for my XCR and for some reason most of the cartridges are "sticky" inside the chamber. All cartridges are 2.246 give or take and the brass is measured under size as well so they shouldn't be too long but......
The cartridges shoot well and don't jam but when I cycle the action to take a cartridge from the mag and cycle it again to eject it it takes some force to open the bolt.
I am using lee dies and a lee loadmaster press. Would small base dies fix this? I'm lost guys so any advice would be helpful.
Click to expand...

Reduce your OAL. Try 2.240"
 
I am tried wiping the lube off some off the rounds to see if it made any difference and it didn't. And I am full length sizing and it only happens with my handloads.
 
was the brass first time fired in your rifle?
is a unloaded but resized case just as sticky as your reloads or does it get sticky after you load?
 
You nailed the problem... you need to use small base dies. Many autoloaders aren't happy without them. My AR is one and it looks you your XCR is too.
 
toxic said:
You nailed the problem... you need to use small base dies. Many autoloaders aren't happy without them. My AR is one and it looks you your XCR is too.
Click to expand...

Get the Dillon Carbide dies in .223Rem. They are small base. While the carbide doesn't eliminate the need for lube, it does make a little go a long way. Dillon spray lube applied sparingly works well.
 
Small base dies are a must for my Bushmaster 5.56 marked barrel, but full length are okay for my DPMS 223 marked barrel.

Something else to consider is case trimming - what is your case length?

I believe that SB dies are your answer tho'.
 
All cases were shot in an XCR but not mine and i have tried it seating the bullet at different depths so the OAL is not the problem. As for the case length they are all under 1.759 so that should be good as well. I guess I'll need to try the SB dies. I just hope that is the problem cause it would suck to spend the money on them and the problem still exist.
 
sb dies for semi's lol.

other chamber could be just slightly larger then yours at the base causing the brass to be sticky in your chamber.

gotta love cheap or free once fired brass :D
 
Tacticalsniper said:
All cases were shot in an XCR but not mine and i have tried it seating the bullet at different depths so the OAL is not the problem. As for the case length they are all under 1.759 so that should be good as well. I guess I'll need to try the SB dies. I just hope that is the problem cause it would suck to spend the money on them and the problem still exist.
Click to expand...

Yep, size in a SB die, then trim to 1.750. Light taper crimp at the rear edge of the canelure if you have 55gr fmjbt's and you're laughing.
 
Dumb question but what exactly are small based dies? When you FL size the case is a little narrower at the base?
 
KDX said:
Dumb question but what exactly are small based dies? When you FL size the case is a little narrower at the base?
Click to expand...

Pretty much. They are of no benefit to bolt action shooters, as they work more of the case than is needed in most cases.
 
Take a shell holder and grind 10 thou off the top.It will let the brass go in the die farther.You will probably have to grind more off but start there.

Rich
 
Take the barrel and bolt out of your XCR. Use them to set your die, keep resizing the brass until you can easily chamber the resized brass in your barrel with the bolt BY HAND. There should be a little wiggle room, by that I mean you should be able to move the bolt with resized brass in the chamber. You shouldn't have to force the bolt lugs to seat. I hope I have explained myself. You shouldn't need small base dies .
 
I gave up neck sizing my brass fired in my Nork AR, to many jams, going full size for all of the brass seems to work.
 
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