223ai ISSUES

[Adam 6mm build]

I'm heading off to work and wont have time to return questions immediately so here goes the issue just purchased a rifle chamberd in 223ai 40° shoulder 246 neck I took new standard 223 brass turned the necks to 9 thousandths outside now measuring 239 seated a bullet it now measures 243 loaded now I'm ready to fireform WELL the bolt will not drop huh. Okay I did receive one peice of brass with the rifle that has been fireformed and that chambered with no issues I have tried everything and it will not chamber any standard neck turned 223 brass ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREAT THANKS ADAM

 

[STOMP442]

The parent case should have a crush fit. The bolt shouldn't be impossible to close but it shouldn't just drop into place either.

 

[paperpuncher]

Try the brass without the bullet seated that eliminates the possibility of oal length being too long. Might be as simple as a need to push the shoulder back just a little on your brass. Got a go gauge?

 

[Greg Y]

Stuff an empty sized piece of brass in it and get as close to closing as possible. You should see a ring on the shoulder. You're hoping for about. 004" crush. ....could be the web swelled on fired brass too.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

Check the datum line on the fired brass. Your chamber just might be a little short.
you might have to force the new brass just a little to get the bolt to close on it. After fireforming you'll probably be OK.

 

[clowdis]

Sounds like the 'smith subscribed to the theory that an Ackley chamber needs to be way undersize or somebody gets hurt. If you have the die you can push the shoulder back a couple of thousands until you get the cases to chamber. You'll still be fine.

 

[Adam 6mm build]

I put so much pressure on it with a neck turned case in it that I thought I was going to snap bolt handle and it still would not close I took a case a cut the it off body shoulder junction and even then it still closed hard but it did close I believe I have to have it rechambered and a good looking over it is for my 13 year old son and I don't want a catastrophic situation

 

[Ggmac]

I dont believe theres a std Ackley improved chamber . It could be as simple as pushing your shoulder back , or a little more , like a larger shoulder . Get a inexpensive lee die , cut 10-15 thou off the base and try .

 

[Adam 6mm build]

I have a Lee #4 shell holder and I took 25 thousand off and still doesn't make a difference

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Color the case with marker and find out where the contact is, that will help. Don't force anything, just move bolt enough to remove marker. Try it a couple times.

 

[TAJ45]

You probably did size the case but I don't remember reading that.
What is .200 dimension on the cases?

W new brass, a small base die shouldn't be needed....but....
I also agree w inking the case and looking for the "tight".
Keep us in the loop.

 

[Adam 6mm build]

I will keep POSTED off to work for the rest of week will be back at it Friday thanks everyone

 

[Greg Y]

Check the length on the brass too.

 

[JSH]

Are you using virgin brass or once fired? If once fired and a small base sized is used,still no guarantee it will fit.
Dyekem a case and see what shows. If all else fails get some cerosafe and do a chamber cast.

I bought a rifle some years back for cheap. They said the barrel was ruined and wouldn’t chamber a round. It had a broken off neck in the chamber.

 

[Shawnba67]

Size your new brass in the Ackley die. The Ackley uses the neck shoulder junction as datum, measure your 1 piece of fireformed brass there and see if your new is the same. You have the key to this puzzle in the piece that fits!

 

[jackieschmidt]

It’s probably a matter of just full length sizing and pushing the shoulder back until the case chambers.

That is, if the die will do it. Who ever did the barrel might have short chambered it too much.

 

[AckleymanII]

Jackie hit the nail on the head. A Forster 223 Neck sizer should do the job real well on bumping back the shoulder, otherwise, use a full length 223 sizer.

Work the numbers on the shoulder length with an ogive gauge that fit over the neck.

A. New Case =?

B. Shoulder Bumped new brass that chambers =?
I suggest that you smoke the shoulder and see where contact is, you want solid contact all the way around the shoulder, but not excessive where it take a lot of pressure to close the bolt. New brass will have a variation in shoulder lengths, and set your die accordingly

C. Fully fire formed brass dimension =?

D. Fire formed that needs full length sizing = ?

OP, I would much rather have a short chamber than a loose fit chamber, as you will have ZERO case stretching in your chamber!!!

 

[Adam 6mm build]

Okay so I have been working on this all morning I received some 223ai fireformed brass from a friend the brass he gave me and the peice of brass I received with the rifle are not even close oal is right 2 different shoulders so I got thinking seeing that the peice of brass I received with rifle is head stamp 223 took a new peice of 223 neck turned trimmed it down and i shoved it in a 222 rem fl die and it took the shoulder way and it fits in the chamber I BELIEVE THE GENTLEMAN I RECEIVED IT FROM NEVER FIRED IT WAS TOLD IT WAS A 223 AI VERSION OF SOME SORT AND I BELIEVE ITS A 222AI IM POSTING THIS PICTURE OF MY ASSUMPTION

 

[SecondsCount]

I had some 223AI brass given to me and it would not chamber in my rifle. Ended up annealing it, putting on a heavy layer of lube, cranking the down the die on a -.020 shell holder, and sizing it before I had success.

 

[Greg Y]

Feed the one that chambered some cream of wheat and find out what you have.....unless you can cast it.