Loading .223, I have no experience

This was very successful, with minor-to-no primer flattening. Groups 3/4 MOA off sandbags manned by a shooter with just decent credentials. Didn't get a chance to chrono it today, but it's trajectory mimics the XM193 that I was shooting before.
 
Mitch Gibson said:
I finally got to make the cartridges today. I went with 24.7 gr of A2230, OAL of 2.200", with 55 gr Hornady FMJs. The cannelure on these projectiles is just as inconsistently placed as the reviews on Midway say that it is. Testing them tomorrow.
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I find the cannalure to be consistent but not the tips when measuring using strictly OAL. Just as a FYI, if you measure off the OGIVE of the bullet, (a more exact means for consistency) . I don't have my notes handy but using a Hornady Lock N Load Comparator set with a .224 insert. approx 1.185 inch will consistently seat at the cannalure of a Hornady FMJ with a final OAL of 2.200 +/- 0.006

 
Boxerglocker said:
I find the cannalure to be consistent but not the tips when measuring using strictly OAL. Just as a FYI, if you measure off the OGIVE of the bullet, (a more exact means for consistency) . I don't have my notes handy but using a Hornady Lock N Load Comparator set with a .224 insert. approx 1.185 inch will consistently seat at the cannalure of a Hornady FMJ with a final OAL of 2.200 +/- 0.006
Click to expand...

I'm not exactly sure what all this means, but most of the projectiles seated at the "top" of the cannelure. I just mentioned it because it is obviously located differently from projectile to projectile. Not a huge difference, but some are pretty far off toward the tip. With all the cases at uniform length and projectiles at uniform depth from the tip, some have the cannelure above the end of the neck. But it sounds like that's because the ogive is mislocated(?).
 
I forgot to mention that I chronographed today. 2942-2973 FPS out of my 16" barrel.
 
Mitch Gibson said:
I'm not exactly sure what all this means, but most of the projectiles seated at the "top" of the cannelure. I just mentioned it because it is obviously located differently from projectile to projectile. Not a huge difference, but some are pretty far off toward the tip. With all the cases at uniform length and projectiles at uniform depth from the tip, some have the cannelure above the end of the neck. But it sounds like that's because the ogive is mislocated(?).
Click to expand...

Sounds like you may have a small issue with your seating die in the way it locates on the ogive. I just loaded about 2500 of these Hornadys and had no issue. I seat mine at 2.210" length because I taper crimp and I like to see a touch of cannelure sticking out. That way I know it's crimped into it. Otherwise I'd just forgo the crimp altogether.

When I got through those I had MG 55 FMJBT to load. The OAL on those are 2.245", but you can set the MG and Hornady down with their bases on a flat surface and the cannelures are about identical in position. The difference is mostly in the ogive shape creating a different OAL. To put this in mind you have to consider what part of the bullet is touching the die when it's being seated.
 
No worries! The Ogive on the Hornadys is not miss-placed, it is just "mil-spec". I know a lot of folks look at mil -spec to be the bestest ever, but all it means is that it falls into acceptable range. You will find that the canalur to Ogive distance is fairly uniform while the "tip" of the bullet may or may not be uniform. Doesn't matter! If your over all length fits the magazine and you get the accuracy you want, it doesn't matter. If you want uniform get uniform bullets. I would think at that low a powder charge as your running it won't matter on seating depth much at all, but if it is accurate who cares?
 
Mitch, this is the beer talking.

You're over thinking this stuff, pour 25gr of 2230 in the case, stick a Hornady bullet in there such that it fits in your magazine, and go shoot. Crimp or don't, I really didn't see a difference either way.
 
Wow, thats no beer! That is the best advice you could ever get!!! I usually pour a bit more, but this is the Motts
 
Kurt, I was alluding to the remote possibility that his seating die might be pushing on the tip instead of the ogive. I see alot of people fretting over the OAL of their rounds varying .005" when measuring with calipers. The vast majority of that variance is the tips not being consistent just like you say.
 
Javier is unreliable on this. He was out at Warner-Robbins for the better part of a year and I didn't get a single bottle! Can you believe that?
 
Mitch Gibson said:
I'm not exactly sure what all this means, but most of the projectiles seated at the "top" of the cannelure. I just mentioned it because it is obviously located differently from projectile to projectile. Not a huge difference, but some are pretty far off toward the tip. With all the cases at uniform length and projectiles at uniform depth from the tip, some have the cannelure above the end of the neck. But it sounds like that's because the ogive is mislocated(?).
Click to expand...

Scott Hearn said:
Sounds like you may have a small issue with your seating die in the way it locates on the ogive. I just loaded about 2500 of these Hornadys and had no issue. I seat mine at 2.210" length because I taper crimp and I like to see a touch of cannelure sticking out. That way I know it's crimped into it. Otherwise I'd just forgo the crimp altogether.

When I got through those I had MG 55 FMJBT to load. The OAL on those are 2.245", but you can set the MG and Hornady down with their bases on a flat surface and the cannelures are about identical in position. The difference is mostly in the ogive shape creating a different OAL. To put this in mind you have to consider what part of the bullet is touching the die when it's being seated.
Click to expand...

You beat me to it... exactly what I was going to state. Check you seating die and make sure it fits your bullet profile correctly at the ogive not at the tip. I use a Redding competion seating die. Even with "Mil-Spec" Horandys and Montana Gold 55g FMJs. I have found that measuring from the ogive will give consistent seating at the cannaelure every time. Given you trim your brass all the same of course. I trim to 1.745 using mixed brass on my XL650 with RT1220 trimmer.
 
So I just kept going with this project, mainly because the cartridges I made are extremely accurate and I really like the way they cycle the gun. They do seem to make the noise from the compensator louder, though, so if I shoot them at H&H I think the person in the next stall will probably elephant dung their pants.

I am having some issue with random pieces of brass not being fully resized, but it's because they won't go all the way into the die. On most of these I can clearly tell it's because the end of the case near the web won't size down. The die I'm using right now is an RCBS steel die, and it's in a Lee single stage press. I wonder if I should just toss these brass out, as it's only maybe 7 cases per hundred, or if there is a better die shape out there.
 
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