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A little trouble with the base of .223

Reloading for my .20 tactical which I have reloaded this brass several times. I always anneal after about 3 reloadings. What I am noticing is when I put the shell into the shell holder some of the brass is starting to get hard to just slide into the shell holder. I turn it just a little and it will slide into the shell holder. Cause? Should I throw away this brass?
 
Reloading for my .20 tactical which I have reloaded this brass several times. I always anneal after about 3 reloadings. What I am noticing is when I put the shell into the shell holder some of the brass is starting to get hard to just slide into the shell holder. I turn it just a little and it will slide into the shell holder. Cause? Should I throw away this brass?
The case head has expanded past the SAMMI head dimension. You can measure just ahead of the extractor groove on the case to see what your case head dimension is compared to the SAMMI dimension. Use a micrometer or caliper with a resolution of .0001". If you have more than .001" expansion, throw them away. Annealing does not change this dimension.
 
Check that, if all is well you need to full length resize your brass, IMO and check to see if they chamber in your rifle again? also make sure there is no ring inside the cases with a pick, if so your about to have a case head separation!
 
Like jds holler is saying, was there any problem sizing on the previous cycles?
You didn't mention what kind of action you are using?
Is this by chance a gas gun, or bolt action?

When a gas gun isn't happy, it is hard on the brass and rims.
If this is a bolt rig, I am wondering what pressure you are running?
 
How is the extraction of spent brass ??? are any of the s bit sticky/clicky ?

I've had this issue with 308win Lapua brass. First few reloads seemed amazing accuracy wise. Then after annealing a couple times I started getting s sticky bold on extraction,.. and then the primer pockets loosened just a hair, enough to notice, but nothing alarming. But by that time the brass was overworked around the head and there was nothing I could do except to scrap the brass due to hard ejection regardless of powder charge weight.
 
Long time ago, I had a Hornady shell holder for 223 that was very snug - the cases almost 'clicked' into place. Seemed neat at first, but rapidly got annoying when different brands of brass sometimes wouldn't fit at all. Shell holder got pitched in the trash, problem solved.

Moral of the story: if it's a new shell holder, or a new brand of brass you haven't used before... tried a different brand / shell holder just to rule that out before you get too wound up chasing something else.
 
If this is a bolt rig, I am wondering what pressure you are running?
Savage action, bolt gun.
Okay, care to tell us what pressure level you think you have?
I would also wonder what brand of brass you are using as well?

If you aren't sure of your pressure, share the load recipe and we can estimate it for you.
For example, if you are at 50 KSI, we go down a different path to troubleshoot than we do if you are above 55 KSI.
 
Long time ago, I had a Hornady shell holder for 223 that was very snug - the cases almost 'clicked' into place. Seemed neat at first, but rapidly got annoying when different brands of brass sometimes wouldn't fit at all. Shell holder got pitched in the trash, problem solved.

Moral of the story: if it's a new shell holder, or a new brand of brass you haven't used before... tried a different brand / shell holder just to rule that out before you get too wound up chasing something else.
DING DING DING!!! Winner Winner!! I had another shell holder and they slide right in. I check the tight ones in the other shell holder I had. They worked like nothing was wrong. Good post memilanuk! Thanks for posting.
 
Okay, care to tell us what pressure level you think you have?
I would also wonder what brand of brass you are using as well?

If you aren't sure of your pressure, share the load recipe and we can estimate it for you.
For example, if you are at 50 KSI, we go down a different path to troubleshoot than we do if you are above 55 KSI.
.20 Tactical
40 grain Remington accutip-v
23.5 grain N133
.01 off the lands
 
Taking a wild ass guess, I'd say your load is right around 56,000 psi, thus nothing to worry about.

Are you using once fired brass or virgin brass ??? I don't trust fired 223 brass,.. too much of a headache.

One more thing to remember,.. brass fired from semi-auto rifles can chew on the rim eventually enough to make it a snug/hard fit into the shell holder. I've come across this many times after just a handful of reloads.
 
So I hope you get your problem solved as I’ve had that issue too now and again mostly with military brass. I am interested in the bullet you’re using. A Remington bullet?

Thanks, John.
 
I did figure out the issue. I tried another shell holder and no issues at all. They are both RCBS but one of them it is a little tighter. I also looked real close on the shell holder that was a little tight. I found I had some gunk in one area so that was possibly causing a little issue too.
 
So I hope you get your problem solved as I’ve had that issue too now and again mostly with military brass. I am interested in the bullet you’re using. A Remington bullet?

Thanks, John.
Yes the person I purchased the rifle from included several hundred Remington 40 grain accutip-V. They shoot great in my gun. They look like a V-max with a gold colored tip. I have measured them and they are different than the V-Max and a Nosler. Most of the time its a very tight group. The problem is they are discontinued. So I have to find another 40 grain.
 

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