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.223 brass

3K views 29 replies 12 participants last post by  Pawpaw40 
#1 ·
I bought some range picked up .223 brass.

When I try to run it through the expander die the case smashes bown causing buldge in the case just below2 the cone.

I have adjusted the die twice with no change.

I tried using bullet grease and it seemed to help a little.

Most of the cases I have so far a smashing.

Any iddeas what may be causing this.
 
#10 ·
More information.

These are range cases.
They were cleaned before I decapped and sized the case.
The process I am having trouble with is expanding the next to accept the bullet.
I use lube to size the case and tried lube to expand the neck.

Just below the angled part of the case, the case will buckle or smash down. Leaving a bulge all around the case.

I have a new smart phone and don't know how to take a picture and sent it yet, if ever.
 
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#15 ·
More information.

These are range cases.
They were cleaned before I decapped and sized the case.
The process I am having trouble with is expanding the next to accept the bullet.
I use lube to size the case and tried lube to expand the neck.
I am really, really, really curious what you are using to try and expand the case neck. As others have stated, you don't expand the neck to accept a bullet in a .223 case.
 
#11 ·
My suggestion to you is to take whatever "tool" you are using to try to expand the neck of the .223 brass to the nearest trashcan and drop it in. There is absolutely NO reason to bell the mouth on a piece of .223 brass.

Then go back to the press and screw in the bullet seating die, set the bullet on top of the sized piece of brass, push down on the handle and seat the bullet in your prepped brass.
 
#16 ·
Here is a video of a guy at RCBS showing how to set up a bullet seating/crimp die. To see how he sets the bullet on the case, go to the 3:00 mark and it shows him setting the bullet on the piece of brass. The brass is not belled (expanded). Tghis is not .223 but same principle.
There is no belling required on .223 cases, none.
I am really, really, really curious what you are using to try and expand the case neck. As others have stated, you don't expand the neck to accept a bullet in a .223 case.
All of this.
YOU DON'T BELL THE MOUTHS OF RIFLE BRASS.
 
#13 ·
I may be over simplifying this. If so please forgive me.
when resizing the brass should be clean and lubed. I know "they" say carbide dies don't require lube. Don't believe it. Your arm will thank me later. That said, too much lube can build up in the resizing die causing exactly what you are describing.
223 require little to no belling of the case mouth. So back that center screw on the die out until the problem stops.
what brand of dies are you using? That might help us walk you through proper setup.
a common mistake in new reloaders is to over flare the case mouth until it looks like a blunderbuss. Even with cast bullets you only need a barely visible flare.
 
#17 ·
More information.

These are range cases.
They were cleaned before I decapped and sized the case.
The process I am having trouble with is expanding the next to accept the bullet.
I use lube to size the case and tried lube to expand the neck.

Just below the angled part of the case, the case will buckle or smash down. Leaving a bulge all around the case.

I have a new smart phone and don't know how to take a picture and sent it yet, if ever.

Metal Table


Best picture I can get right now.
 
#18 ·
I can see the shoulder being smashed and even though it is blurry, I seem to see the mouth belled, the question is what are you using to cause that.

Now take a picture, blurry or not, of the tool you are using to expand the mouth, which is what is causing the shoulder to mushroom.

By the way, the stuff in the background is clear, back your camera up just a hair and it should be clear.

The process I am having trouble with is expanding the next to accept the bullet..
Let me try to explain this very slow You - do - not - have - to - expand - the - mouth - on - rifle - brass!
 
#21 ·
Here is what I found on that die:
Improves accuracy of cast and jacketed bullet reloads. Doesn't stretch cases as does standard expander button and extends case life. The die's expander plug has two steps. The first step expands the inside of the case neck to just under bullet diameter for precise case neck tension on the finished reload. The second step expands the case mouth to bullet diameter or slightly over. The allows the bullet to be started perfectly center in the case mouth and properly aligned with the axis of the case neck.

Looking at the pic the Op posted. It looks like he has it adjusted way to far out and it is squashing the case. It should only slightly bell the case mouth. But as I have said and others have said: Most do not expand or bell the case mouth for .223
 
#27 ·
Lyman .223 neck expander.

View attachment 234968
Throw that thing in the trash man it is not needed. Obviously as you see all it is goi g to do is destroy your brass. The "expander ball" in the deprime/resize dies does everything you need. I will say once again as many others have already said you do NOT flair a rifle case.
 
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#28 ·
I think I found out what the expanding die does.

It is not interned to put a bell mouth on the case it is to size the inside of the mouth.

I tried to load some shells with out it and the neck bulged on one side.
I started checking it out a little and there is no bell on the tool.

I loaded up some cartridges the other day using the neck sizer and all was good.
 
#30 ·
I have used a case mouth expanding die on 300BO, when loading cast bullets. When I did not "bell" the case mouth, it shaved lead and/or powder coating off the bullet. Actually, what I used was a 30 carbine bell die, the 30 carbine being a straight walled case, it needs it. I believe that some belling of case mouths is needed for all cast bullets that are not boat tailed, including rifle cartridges with a shoulder.
 
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